Project Update
Since launching my project, "Examining the Factors Behind Unbanked Households in America," in April, I have been actively researching and reaching out to potential leads. The project started slowly, so I decided to extend the timeline to explore new avenues and connect with the right people on the ground in key locations, specifically Mississippi and New Orleans. I received my first significant lead through a referral after I posted about the project on LinkedIn. This led to a Zoom meeting with a nonprofit law firm in Mississippi that supports underserved communities. The preliminary interview provided great insights, revealing the ongoing struggles faced by communities in the U.S. and the reasons behind them.
I am using the 2021 FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households as the centerpiece of my work, which prompted me to identify a specific group of individuals from particular communities. This presented a significant challenge, primarily since most of my outreach was conducted online. My biggest breakthrough came when I connected with Sheena Allen, the founder of CapWay and Sheena Allen Apps. While I have conducted numerous interviews, Sheena is the first official interviewee secured for the documentary. She will also be featured in the upcoming "Future Money" podcast series and was a highlighted presenter at a workshop I led during the Interledger Summit 2024. The workshop received positive feedback, with many attendees expressing that they learned valuable information from the session.
I learned that building trust is an integral part of doing this work. As a part of my project, I wanted to dig deeper into why this issue impacted Black and Latino communities more than their white counterparts. These communities are often disenfranchised and more complicated to reach. I found that referrals and LinkedIn Navigator have been the most effective ways to initiate conversations and breakthrough barriers.
Community Support
Presenting my work at the Summit was a great experience. I not only shared what I have learned but also discussed my struggles, providing a deeper insight into the work I am doing. As a result, I've connected with people in the community willing to introduce me to individuals in their networks. This experience has motivated me to continue sharing brief monthly updates via Slack, informing the community about my progress.
What's Next
What’s next for me? I am currently working on additional podcast episodes to facilitate deeper conversations with the experts featured in the documentary. Over the next few months, I plan to capture more footage to complete the project. My goal is to create an informative and engaging documentary that helps audiences understand why over 5.9 million people are unbanked in America.
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