Episode 5 – The Inclusive Capital Council & Catalytic Capital: Advancing Income and Wealth Equity

Episode Summary

In this episode of Live with Living Cities, host Justin Charles explores the power of catalytic capital and how the Inclusive Capital Council (ICC) is working to transform not just how capital flows—but who controls it and who benefits from it.

You’ll hear from Daniel Nissenbaum, CEO of the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF), and Mileyka Burgos-Flores, founder and executive director of the Allapattah Collaborative CDC in Miami. Together, they share how bold, equity-centered investments are challenging the status quo of traditional finance and fueling community-led economic development.

From national capital strategies to neighborhood-level innovation, this episode unpacks the role of catalytic capital in closing income and wealth gaps, shifting power to community-based capital allocators, and building a more inclusive economy—one investment at a time.

Whether you’re a funder, policymaker, entrepreneur, or advocate for equitable growth, this conversation offers powerful insights into what it takes to disrupt extractive systems and reimagine capital as a tool for justice.

Key Topics Discussed

• Catalytic Capital and Community-Led Investment
  Daniel and Mileyka explore how catalytic capital—deployed through CDFIs and community-rooted organizations—is shifting who controls financial resources and enabling local ownership, especially in historically excluded communities.
• Allapattah: A Community Fighting Displacement with Ownership
  The conversation spotlights Allapattah, a historic Miami neighborhood using creative tools like the Commercial Acquisition Fund to resist gentrification, retain cultural heritage, and empower small businesses to stay rooted.
• Trust, Risk, and the Hidden Cost of Capital Access
  Guests unpack how perceived financial risk often overshadows reality, and how building trust—grounded in experience and proximity—can unlock capital for entrepreneurs too often overlooked by traditional institutions.
• The Role of CDFIs in an Uncertain Economy
  Dan explains how Community Development Financial Institutions serve as stable, long-term partners in both high and low tides—stepping in where banks can’t or won’t, and offering flexible, equity-centered financing.
• Democratizing Capital Through Ecosystem Building
  From technical assistance to co-designed financial products, the episode illustrates how high-touch, community-rooted support systems are crucial to helping small businesses and nonprofits access and manage capital.
• Philanthropy, Boldness, and the Need for Guarantees
  Mileyka and Dan call on philanthropic and private funders to move beyond cautious grantmaking and embrace bold, trust-based strategies—including guarantees—to de-risk projects and drive systemic impact.
• Collaboration Across Sectors for Lasting Change
  The group discusses how inclusive economic progress requires intentional collaboration among local governments, financial institutions, philanthropy, and community leaders—each playing a role in building equitable systems.
• Data, Impact, and Accountability in Lending
  The episode explores how organizations like LIIF are developing internal equity frameworks and impact assessment tools to ensure lending decisions align with community needs and long-term outcomes—not just traditional financial metrics.
• Disaster Recovery, Resilience, and the Future of Cities
  Dan and Mileyka emphasize the urgent need to reimagine disaster funding not as a reset to the status quo, but as a chance to build back better—resilient, equitable cities prepared for future challenges.