Photo credit: Diana Goldsmith
As the United States grapples with the significant widening of the racial wealth gap – which has been persistently climbing for more than 50 years – concerns grow over its implications in the socio-economic landscape. A recent study by the Pew Research Center highlights this widening divide, revealing that in 2021, the typical white household held 9.2 times more wealth than the typical Black household.
Americans experience the impact of this divide on many levels, including access to homeownership – a primary source of building generational wealth in the United States and a key indicator of social and economic equity.
Ensuring fair access to economic opportunities is critical to narrowing the racial wealth gap in the United States – a cause Diana Goldsmith MPP ’23 champions daily. In her role as senior specialist of economic opportunity & financial empowerment at the National League of Cities (NLC) in Washington, DC, Goldsmith collaborates with municipal governments and their local institutions as a liaison with a focus on improving local outcomes. She aims to ensure equitable access to economic opportunities and promote wealth-building initiatives for all residents.
Goldsmith finds her current projects very compelling. “I am heading up our team’s efforts on narrowing the racial wealth divide, convening a learning community of cities across the country and sharing their challenges and successes in shrinking the racial wealth gap in their municipalities.” Goldsmith recently co-authored a blog post on this topic.
During her final semester at SPP, Goldsmith’s work as a Maryland General Assembly Department of Legislative Services fellow with the Maryland Legislative Latino Caucus during the 2023 general session provided her with invaluable experience, equipping her with the needed skills to excel in her position at NLC.
In her fellowship role, she worked with elected officials and community-based organizations to research and support policies and legislation as well as learn the ins and outs of how state government functions. “My background working with elected officials and my understanding of the legislative process has been extremely helpful as I communicate with city officials and their partners,” says Goldsmith.
Prior to her fellowship, Goldsmith’s coursework laid a solid foundation for her future career. Many policy classes equipped her with skills and knowledge that she uses daily in her career. PLCY699I: Leading Through State and Local Policymaking shaped the way Goldsmith thought about the role municipal governments play and revealed the degree to which residents’ daily lives are impacted by decisions that happen at the city level. Many of the conversations Goldsmith holds regularly with city staff are related to developing public-private partnerships, which she learned about in PLCY698T: Managing Across Sectors. “I am constantly referring back to our semester-long role play assignment where my classmates and I acted as various government, corporate, nonprofit and community stakeholders working to revive a disinvested city.”
Today Goldsmith is working in collaboration with cities to examine residents’ levels of economic mobility and analyze the effectiveness of municipal programs. Working with local governments is where Goldsmith witnesses the tangible impact of her efforts, directly influencing the day-to-day lives of residents. “It is so rewarding to serve as a connector … to improve outcomes locally and nurture thriving communities that ensure equitable access to economic opportunities and wealth building for all residents.”
