Episode forty: The Economic Wealth Gap

The More We Know Community Show with Dr. Sylvia

Gary Cunningham, the President and CEO of Prosperity Now, a national organization dedicated to advancing racial and ethnic economic justice sits down with host Dr. Sylvia to share his perspective and experience with systemic structures designed to prevent people from building economic wealth and power. Gary explains how targeted universalism can inform efforts to close the racial wealth gap and the strategic framework and data tools Prosperity Now is creating to drive systems-change solutions that will completely transform our economy.

Gary is a recognized and respected expert on entrepreneurship, job creation, racial wealth equity, housing and economic development and is a sought-after thought leader on building a more inclusive economy. A native of Minneapolis, MN, he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Policy from Metropolitan State University and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. For more than 20 years, Gary has served as a top leader of philanthropic, health care, public policy, and educational organizations. In addition to leading NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center, he was Associate Superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools, the Deputy Director of Civil Rights for the City of Minneapolis and CEO of the Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA) — a minority entrepreneurial organization — and Chaired the Community and Economic Development Committee for the Metropolitan Council the Twin Cites Planning and transportation agency