The Federal Reserve Bank of New York recently named 11 new members to its Commnity Affairs Advisory Council.

The Council is an information-sharing group intended to elicit ground-level intelligence on conditions and challenges for low- and moderate-income communities. The New York Fed's Community Affairs Office will use the valuable feedback and information gathered through the Council in itsknowledge building and outreach efforts relating to low- and moderate-income communities. 

"The Council is an effective way for us to hear a broad range of perspectives about our communities in a regular and consistent ay from local experts," said Kausar Hamdani, vice president and head of the Community Affairs Office at the New York Fed.

Through its Community Affairs Office, the New York Fed provides financial institutions, not-for-profit organizations and others with information and technical assistance on issues related to community and economic developmet, access to capital and credit for low and moderate-income communities, and the Community Reinvestment Act. 

Council members include community development professionals, bankers and scholars with broad industry expertise and who are actively engaged in issues relating to low- and moderate-income communities.  Council members serve two-year terms and meet three times a year at the New York Fed.  The Council convened with its new members for the first time in July.  The current Council members are: 

• Vicki Been, Director, NYU Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy
• Deborah Boatright, Northeast District Director, NeighborWorks
• Maurice Coleman, Senior Vice President, Bank of America
• Gina Harman, President and CEO, ACCION USA
• Michael Hickey, Executive Director, Center for New York City Neighborhoods
• Cathie Mahon, Executive Director, Office of Financial Empowerment, NYC Department of Consumer Affairs
• Dan Nissenbaum, Chief Operating Officer for the Urban Investment Group, Goldman Sachs
• Luther Ragin, Vice President, F. B. Heron Foundation
• Clifford Rosenthal, President and CEO, National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions
• Abby Jo Sigal, Vice President and NY Director, Enterprise Community Partners, Inc.
• Mark Willis, Resident Scholar, Ford Foundation 

For more information about the New York Fed's Community Affairs Office, visit this site.