Who We Are

Americans for Fairness in Lending is a collaborative effort.  We are made up of the following organizations and individuals:

Our Partner organizations are national and regional organizations who provide the vision and expertise needed to run the campaign.  In addition to providing ongoing guidance and support, the Partners meet twice per year in Washington DC.

AFFIL Allies are locally focused organizations from around the country.  Some allies provide services for consumers in their communities, and some organize campaigns to reform lending practices in their states and municipalities, and some do both.  Find Allies in your state, or find out how your organization can become an AFFIL Ally!

AFFIL Members are individuals around the country who believe we need to reform the nation’s lending industry.  You can join our mailing list and become a member today!

AFFIL’s Board of Directors is made up of leading consumer advocates from around the country.  The Board is currently chaired by Cathy Lesser Mansfield, a professor of law at Drake University.

AFFIL has a tiny staff so that as many of its resources as possible are spent raising awareness and working for reform.  See staff bios below.

Staff

Jim Campen

Executive Director

Jim Campen is professor emeritus of economics at the University of Massachusetts Boston, where he is currently a Senior Research Associate at the Mauricio Gaston Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy.  Jim serves on the boards of the Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston and the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance, is a member of the Mortgage Lending Committee of the Massachusetts Community and Banking Council, and was a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s Community Development Advisory Council from 1996-98.  His publications include numerous studies of mortgage lending, particularly in Boston and Massachusetts.  He has a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University.

Sarah Byrnes

Campaign Manager

Sarah has worked in a variety of educational and faith-based non-profits in the past, including the Center of Concern, the Thomas Merton Center, Bidwell Training Center, and the Vincentian Service Corps.  She also worked at the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Pittsburgh.  Sarah earned a Bachelor’s degree at Boston College and a Masters of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School, where she focused on comparative social and economic ethics.

Sally Brzozowski

Staff Organizer

Sally comes to AFFIL from a political background, having worked on a variety of campaigns on the local, state, and national level.  Most recently, she served as Field Director for Dian Slavens for State Representative in Michigan’s 21st District on behalf of EMILY’s List.  Sally earned a Bachelor’s degree at Mount Holyoke College, where she majored in English and minored in Politics.