Simone Friedman
Showing 1–3 of 3 transcripts.
- Milken Institute33 min
Opportunity Zones 2.0 and Next Generation Public-Private Partnerships | Finance Forum 2025
Rachel Reilly, Simone Joy Friedman, Michael Novogradac, Toby Rittner, Ja'ron Smith, Simone Friedman, Mike Novogratik
Facing an impending 2025 expiration, policymakers and community leaders are rallying to reform Opportunity Zones through a "2.0" framework that prioritizes permanent status, mandatory impact reporting, and a shift from real estate speculation to operating businesses. Success stories in locations like Harrisonville, South Carolina, demonstrate that layering federal tax incentives with state conformity, workforce training, and technical assistance can generate substantial local employment and economic stability. As the program's future takes shape, experts advocate for an integrated toolbox approach that combines Opportunity Zone equity with tools like New Markets Tax Credits and CDFI lending to maximize capital deployment in underserved communities.
- Milken Institute1h 2m
How the Next Generation Is Redefining Social Impact
Maura Donlan, Simone Friedman, John Kluge, Jr., Suzanne Sinegal McGill, John R. Seydel
The panel "How the Next Generation is Redefining Social Impact" convened leaders from Rwanda, the financial sector, philanthropy, and Atlanta's municipal government to outline strategies for addressing 2050 demographic shifts and climate crises. Presenters detailed proven models including Rwanda's girls' STEM school that drives economic stability, The Light Fund's high-repayment refugee microloans, and Atlanta's urban resilience plan tackling poverty traps through clean energy and food security. Ultimately, the discussion urged emerging investors and consumers to deploy capital as an instrument of justice and adopt conscience-based habits to prevent mass displacement and systemic instability.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Innovators Improving Access: Creating Healthier Links in the Food Chain
Kevin Boylan, Matt Barnard, Lee Anne Grant, Dariush Mozaffarian, Sam Polk, Josh Stevens, Simone Friedman, Jeffrey Davis, Ambassador Compson
Leading entrepreneurs from Everytable, Plenty, Day2, and Brandless, alongside Tufts University Dean Dr. Dari Mozaffarian, convened to debate scalable solutions for a U.S. food system that drives 70% of annual deaths through diet-related chronic disease. The panelists presented contrasting strategies ranging from Everytable's dual-tier pricing and Plenty's water-efficient vertical farming to Day2's machine learning-driven personalized nutrition, while challenging the federal government's $46-to-one research funding disparity between nutrition and pharmaceuticals. Ultimately, the discussion highlighted a critical pivot toward integrating healthy food into healthcare infrastructure and expanding global operations to address the 1,400 daily cardiovascular and diabetes deaths attributed to dietary factors.