‘Poverty Is a Systemic Failing, Not an Individual Failing’: Aisha Nyandoro Is Seeding a Movement to Liberate Financial Capital and Support Black Moms’ Economic Freedom
“Education is the cornerstone for better health outcomes
and lifetime economic security.
As AI advances, unequal access to quality education
riskswidening disparities further.”
“The foundation of a healthy democracy and economy is built on accessible, high-quality public education, and destabilizing this core institution brings cascading impacts across all facets of American life. Without federal oversight from the Department of Education, essential programs would fragment or vanish altogether.”
When it comes to building wealth and security in America, too many families — especially those living paycheck to paycheck — are left out of the conversation. For low-income households, retirement planning often feels like a distant luxury, and the pathways to financial empowerment can seem inaccessible. In this candid Forbes Q&A, I speak to Thasunda Brown Duckett, President and CEO of TIAA and one of just two Black women to helm a Fortune 500 company currently, to discuss the systemic barriers that keep millions from building a secure future and to share actionable strategies for closing the retirement gap. Our conversation offers insights and practical advice for individuals, organizations, and policymakers committed to making retirement security a reality for all Americans.
“In the end, the “Big Beautiful Bill” is a misnomer. Its legacy is instead set to be the creation of a larger deficit, greater inequality, and higher long-term costs for American society. If the goal is a more efficient and effective government, the real path forward lies in preserving—and strengthening—investments in health, nutrition, and opportunities for all Americans, not just the fortunate few.”
“As we consider changes to our nation’s safety net, let’s ground our decisions in evidence and shared economic interests. Work requirements for Medicaid may sound appealing, but the data show they are a costlymistake—one our economy cannot afford.”
Springboard is included in this article, alongside other leaders and organizations, who are working to help shift the narrative for how and why we should listen to Black women in our country.
“If we are to build a future where democracy endures and prosperity is shared, we must start by centering Black women—not just in rhetoric, but in resourcing and results. That means listening to what Black women have long been saying, and investing in what they have long been building: communities rooted in belonging, economies rooted in fairness and leadership rooted in care.”
