Washington, D.C.  –  Better Markets is pleased to announce that Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, Chief of Membership, Policy and Equity at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, and Donnel Baird, Co-Founder and CEO of BlocPower, have joined the Board of Directors.

Dennis Kelleher, Co-founder, President and CEO of Better Markets, says both executives have extensive experience advocating for financial and racial economic justice for all Americans, and their knowledge and leadership will be invaluable to Better Markets and its board.

“Dedrick and Donnel are both passionate about helping those who are struggling and being excluded from realizing economic security because today’s financial and economic systems create and perpetuate unfair treatment, inequality and injustice,” Kelleher says. “Their dedication and commitment to bring economic power to Main Street Americans and others who are disenfranchised align with Better Markets’ mission to fight for a financial system that supports the real productive economy, jobs and growth for all Americans where everyone has equal and fair access to credit, capital, financial and banking services.”

“We all need to see and seize the moment we have to make deep and durable change so that everyone can fully participate as equals in our economic and financial systems. Better Markets has been in the forefront of that fight for more than ten years and I look forward to working with them to address the racial wealth divide and create more opportunities for targeted wealth creation in disenfranchised communities vs. the wealth extraction that is too common,” says Asante-Muhammad.

“Getting the government and the private sector to propel inclusive and equitable change that makes the world a better place for everyone has been my life’s work. I’m excited about joining Better Markets to bring a climate entrepreneur’s focus to their important work. We all need a financial system that is strong, stable and fair, but it must serve society and spread economic security, opportunity and prosperity to all,” says Baird.

Mr. Asante-Muhammad is a long-time thought leader focused on racial economic inequality. Throughout his career, he has been dedicated to helping low-and-moderate income people achieve financial security by advocating for responsible change in the community and in government. He joined NCRC in 2019 and oversees membership, organizing, research, policy and CRA. During his prior work as Chief of Race, Wealth and Community, he oversaw Fair Housing, Fair Lending, the Women’s Business Center of DC, the National Training Academy, the Housing Counseling Network and started the Racial Economic Equity Department. Prior to NCRC, he was the Senior Fellow of the Racial Wealth Divide Initiative at Prosperity Now where he was recognized for his racial economic inequality analysis as it relates to the racial wealth divide. He also served as the Senior Director of the Economic Department and Executive Director of the Financial Freedom Center for the NAACP.

Mr. Baird is a social entrepreneur who has spent his career helping underserved and marginalized communities have access to affordable, green energy and jobs. This includes managing a national Change to Win/LIUNA campaign to leverage the Department of Energy efficiency financing to create green constructions jobs for out of work populations. He also partnered with the Washington Interfaith Network to generate a $100 million government investment in underserved communities in Washington, D.C. In 2014, he co-founded BlocPower to market, finance and install solar and energy efficiency technology to help nonprofits, small businesses and multifamily projects slash their energy costs.

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Better Markets is a non-profit, non-partisan, and independent organization founded in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis to promote the public interest in the financial markets, support the financial reform of Wall Street and make our financial system work for all Americans again. Better Markets works with allies – including many in finance – to promote pro-market, pro-business and pro-growth policies that help build a stronger, safer financial system that protects and promotes Americans’ jobs, savings, retirements and more. To learn more, visit www.bettermarkets.com.