Announcing Partnership with the HBCU Brilliance Initiative and Senator Sonya Halpern to Support Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Senator Sonya Halpern announces partnership with HBCU Brilliance Initiative to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This announcement was originally scheduled to be made at Reinvestment Fund’s HBCU Brilliance Round Table Discussion, which was postponed on September 27th due to weather.
Atlanta, GA —In a significant move to bolster support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Senator Sonya Halpern announced a new partnership between her office and the HBCU Brilliance Initiative (Brilliance Initiative). The collaboration aims to enhance funding, resources, and opportunities for HBCUs, empowering them to continue their vital role in the community.
“I’m thrilled to announce this partnership as a testament to my commitment to advancing HBCUs across the country,” said Senator Halpern in a recent statement. “Earlier this year, I introduced Senate Bill 235, which aimed to elevate and support these historic institutions. Although the bill advanced through the Georgia House of Representatives, it stalled in the Senate. Nevertheless, I remain dedicated to its objectives and will continue advocating for transformative changes.”
The Brilliance Initiative is housed within Reinvestment Fund, a community development financial institution (CDFI). The Brilliance Initiative will play a crucial role in this partnership, driving programmatic innovation and expanding access to essential technical assistance and capital funding. Together, Senator Halpern’s office and the Initiative will work to bridge gaps and break down barriers that have historically hindered HBCUs from reaching their full potential.
“This partnership demonstrates what we can achieve when we come together for a common cause,” added Senator Halpern. “By enhancing the financial support available to HBCUs, we can boost local economies and address systemic disparities, making us a powerful force for community development and institutional empowerment.”
As the partnership progresses, it aims to collaborate with stakeholders to build a brighter future for HBCUs and the communities they serve.
“We’re so excited to embark on this journey with Senator Halpern’s Office,” stated Christina Alexis, HBCU Brilliance Initiative Program Director. “Together, we WILL sustain our historic and beloved HBCUs.”
For more information on the partnership and future initiatives, please contact Senator Halpern’s office and the HBCU Brilliance Initiative team.
Media Contact: media@reinvestment.com
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About the HBCU Brilliance Initiative
Since 2018, Reinvestment Fund has loaned nearly $35 million to HBCUs to support the financial health of these institutions and fund capital projects.
The Brilliance Initiative is structured to resource HBCUs with knowledge, loan capital and credit enhancement, while building the capacity of HBCUs to attract and retain permanent assets that promote sustainable institutional prosperity. The Brilliance Initiative also aims to help HBCUs build their networks, policy advocacy and research to enhance the relationship between HBCUs and the communities in which they reside.
The Brilliance Initiative is deeply rooted in the belief that HBCUs are invaluable institutions that have played a critical role in shaping the academic, cultural, and social fabric of our society.
By focusing on providing targeted financial support, we aim to elevate HBCUs to new heights, enabling them to continue their legacy of producing exceptional leaders, scholars, and changemakers who positively impact their communities and the world.
HBCU Brilliance Initiative — Reinvestment
About Reinvestment Fund
Reinvestment Fund is a mission-driven financial institution committed to making communities work for all people. We bring financial and analytical tools to partnerships that work to ensure that people in communities across the country have the opportunities they strive for: affordable places to live, access to nutritious food and health care, schools where their children can flourish, and strong, local businesses that support jobs. We use data to understand markets and how transactions can have the most powerful impact, which has consistently earned us the top Aeris rating of AAA for financial strength and four stars for impact management. Our asset and risk management systems have also earned us an AA- rating from S&P. Since our inception in 1985, Reinvestment Fund has provided over $3.2 billion in financing to strengthen neighborhoods, scale social enterprises, and build resilient communities.
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