Participants: Christine Desan, Michael Swack, Don Morgan
In November 2025, Leo Gottleib Professor of Law Christine A. Desan, Harvard Law School, convened the Conference on Public Banking for Community Development, an event designed to promote public banking as a tool for community development and economic justice. The conference, a joint effort with the Center for Impact Finance at the University of New Hampshire, included dozens of participants: public bank organizers, officials from community development financial institutions (CDFIs), along with members of Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey’s administration, advocates, financial experts, and representatives from civic organizations. Don Morgan, the president and chief executive officer of the Bank of North Dakota, and Michael Swack, University of New Hampshire professor and former founding director of its Center for Impact Finance, were featured speakers.
0:00 – 26:12 — Opening remarks by Leo Gottlieb Professor of Law Christine Desan, Harvard Law School
26:38 – 40:40 — University of New Hampshire Professor Michael Swack, former founding director of Center for Impact Finance
43:53 – 1:41:03 — Don Morgan, president and CEO of the Bank of North Dakota
Read more on Harvard Law Today: Public Banks: An Old Idea with New Possibilities