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Stories of Philanthropic Leadership in Advancing Regional and ...

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PART II:Perspectives on Advanc<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Regional</strong> <strong>and</strong> Neighborhood EquityJust years after emerg<strong>in</strong>g as a coherent concept for social<strong>and</strong> economic transformation, the regional <strong>and</strong>neighborhood equity framework is rapidly ga<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>gcurrency as the foundation <strong>of</strong> a burgeon<strong>in</strong>g movement.None would know better what it has taken to br<strong>in</strong>g thisevolv<strong>in</strong>g field to this po<strong>in</strong>t than those at its center.Seven leaders <strong>in</strong> the field contributed their perspectiveson the status <strong>of</strong> regional <strong>and</strong> neighborhood equity <strong>in</strong> aseries <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>terviews conducted for this report.The Current SituationManuel Pastor has seen evidence <strong>of</strong> the emergence <strong>of</strong>the regional equity movement <strong>in</strong> his work as thedirector <strong>of</strong> the Center for Justice, Tolerance, <strong>and</strong>Community at the University <strong>of</strong> California, SantaCruz. “The movement is start<strong>in</strong>g to show signs <strong>of</strong>maturity. Ten years ago we saw a glimpse <strong>of</strong> policiesthat were connect<strong>in</strong>g low-<strong>in</strong>come communities toregional debates, with scattered cheerleaders for change.Now regional equity has really flowered.” AngelaGlover Blackwell, founder <strong>and</strong> CEO <strong>of</strong> PolicyL<strong>in</strong>k,agrees. “Dur<strong>in</strong>g the past five to six years there has beena conscious focus on pursu<strong>in</strong>g regional equity. Peoplehave begun to th<strong>in</strong>k <strong>of</strong> themselves as a field, broad <strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>terconnected. Confidence is grow<strong>in</strong>g that this can bemore than fram<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> aspirations.”Myron Orfield is recognized as one <strong>of</strong> the pioneers <strong>in</strong>the use <strong>of</strong> data to demonstrate geographic <strong>in</strong>equities.As the founder <strong>and</strong> president <strong>of</strong> American Research<strong>and</strong> Geographic Information Systems (Ameregis) <strong>and</strong>author <strong>of</strong> Metropolitics: A <strong>Regional</strong> Agenda forCommunity <strong>and</strong> Stability, he has had firsth<strong>and</strong> exposureto the grow<strong>in</strong>g applicability <strong>of</strong> the regional equityanalysis. “It’s becom<strong>in</strong>g more <strong>of</strong> a broadly acceptedframe for people th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g about a variety <strong>of</strong>development issues. It has put civil rights on more <strong>of</strong> aregional scale.” Carl Anthony, act<strong>in</strong>g director <strong>of</strong> theCommunity <strong>and</strong> Resource Development Unit at theFord Foundation, cites more practical evidence that thefield is evolv<strong>in</strong>g. “The concept <strong>of</strong> regionalism is morepolitically viable than ever,” he notes. “Those elected <strong>in</strong>the suburbs have more <strong>of</strong> a stake <strong>in</strong> the future <strong>of</strong> theirgeography <strong>and</strong> a broader political base from which todraw.” David Rusk, consultant on urban <strong>and</strong> suburbanpolicy, author <strong>of</strong> Inside Game/Outside Game, <strong>and</strong> one <strong>of</strong>the early advocates <strong>of</strong> equity through hous<strong>in</strong>g policy,draws an even starker example <strong>of</strong> its grow<strong>in</strong>gimportance. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to Rusk, “Some <strong>of</strong> the mosttangible evidence comes from the emergence <strong>of</strong> theGamaliel Foundation as a national network <strong>of</strong> faithbasedcoalitions committed to br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g about regionalchanges. They can raise the moral dimensions, <strong>and</strong>perhaps more importantly, they mobilize people by thehundreds <strong>and</strong> by the thous<strong>and</strong>s on these issues. Whenthose committed members pour <strong>of</strong>f the bus, thepoliticians pay attention. That is decisive.”Blackwell po<strong>in</strong>ts out another importantdevelopment. “The past five years have witnessed areturn <strong>of</strong> well-educated planners <strong>and</strong> developers toequity work. They have been attracted by theregional framework<strong>and</strong> they have seenthat their skills <strong>and</strong>values are highlysought. There is realopportunity forleadership <strong>and</strong>mean<strong>in</strong>gful work.”The ChallengeAheadAs with any emergentmovement, myriadchallenges must befaced. Pastor observes,“To be effective,“The past five years havewitnessed a return <strong>of</strong> welleducatedplanners <strong>and</strong>developers to equity work.They have been attractedby the regional framework<strong>and</strong> they have seen thattheir skills <strong>and</strong> values arehighly sought. There is realopportunity for leadership<strong>and</strong> mean<strong>in</strong>gful work.”—Angela Glover Blackwellcommunity-based organizations now have to underst<strong>and</strong>complex transportation <strong>and</strong> affordable hous<strong>in</strong>g issues.Beyond mak<strong>in</strong>g projects work politically, they have toknow how they pencil out. You have to underst<strong>and</strong> youreconomic context.” Nor is the path to equitabledevelopment unimpeded. “This work is com<strong>in</strong>gtogether <strong>in</strong> the face <strong>of</strong> some <strong>of</strong> the most entrenchedforces <strong>in</strong> society,” notes Blackwell. “Resistant developers,homeowners, local elected <strong>of</strong>ficials suspicious <strong>of</strong> anyregional agenda—even straight prejudice. Overcom<strong>in</strong>gthose forces is the next push. We are not naïve about thechallenge this presents. It will take political will <strong>and</strong>authentic alliances.”Ben Starrett agrees. As executive director <strong>of</strong> theFunders’ Network for Smart Growth <strong>and</strong> LivablePart II: Perspectives on Advanc<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Regional</strong> <strong>and</strong> Neighborhood Equity6

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