Stephone

Coward II

Financial Advocate

StephoneAbout

I am a systems strategist dedicated to transforming the structural determinants of our economy. A decade ago, I transitioned from banking to confront a critical systemic failure: an extractive economic model designed to concentrate wealth rather than sustain life.

I connect the dots between the deep-seated beliefs that drive our behavior and the policy structures that perpetuate inequality. By translating complex economic data into clear, actionable strategies, I help people understand exactly how the economy affects their health, safety, and future.

I do not just advocate for change; I help institutions and communities make an explicit choice: to divest from extraction and invest in restoration. This means shifting our money away from systems that extract wealth and into those that build it.

To guide this transition, I utilize a comprehensive framework designed to decode the intersection of capital and justice. My integrated methodology bridges systems science with human needs, ensuring that economic strategy aligns directly with community well-being.

Through this lens, I build ecosystems where capital flows are redirected to meet the essentials of life—stability, health, and agency—ensuring that wealth is built within communities rather than drained away.

I believe that a just economy is not a dream; it is a practical necessity. My mission is to equip us with the power to disrupt vicious cycles of poverty and engineer a regenerative system that truly supports our well-being for generations to come.

"It’s expensive to be poor, and that’s unjust. Having experienced financial insecurity and economic inequality firsthand, I'm committed to using my personal and professional knowledge to change the system for good."

VolunteerismAction

  • 2016 - Current

    BankBlackUSA & The COWRIE Initiative

    Co-Founder
  • 2023 - Current

    Stop The Money Pipeline

    Steering Committee Member
  • 2023 - Current

    Equitable Banking Standards

    Advisory Council Member
  • 2019 - 2022

    Impact Ventures

    Board Member
  • 2018 - 2022

    FSG Finance

    Advisory Board Member
  • 2018 - 2022

    Mansfield Cedar Hill Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc

    Guide Right Chairman
  • 2008 - 2010

    Kappa Alpha Psi Federal Credit Union

    Associate Board of Directors

Curated ListMEDIA

Resting Bliss Face: Still in Motion

Refinery29: Black Ownership Is The Future Beyond DEI. These Are The Black Leaders Taking Matters Into Their Own Hands

Common Dreams: Justice for All: Road-Tested Strategies for Building a Bigger Movement

Beyond Tulsa: The Historic Legacies and Overlooked Stories of America’s “Black Wall Streets”

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