Stories of Philanthropic Leadership in Advancing Regional and ...

PART II:Perspectives on Advancing Regional and Neighborhood EquityJust years after emerging as a coherent concept for socialand economic transformation, the regional andneighborhood equity framework is rapidly gainingcurrency as the foundation of a burgeoning movement.None would know better what it has taken to bring thisevolving field to this point than those at its center.Seven leaders in the field contributed their perspectiveson the status of regional and neighborhood equity in aseries of interviews conducted for this report.The Current SituationManuel Pastor has seen evidence of the emergence ofthe regional equity movement in his work as thedirector of the Center for Justice, Tolerance, andCommunity at the University of California, SantaCruz. “The movement is starting to show signs ofmaturity. Ten years ago we saw a glimpse of policiesthat were connecting low-income communities toregional debates, with scattered cheerleaders for change.Now regional equity has really flowered.” AngelaGlover Blackwell, founder and CEO of PolicyLink,agrees. “During the past five to six years there has beena conscious focus on pursuing regional equity. Peoplehave begun to think of themselves as a field, broad andinterconnected. Confidence is growing that this can bemore than framing and aspirations.”Myron Orfield is recognized as one of the pioneers inthe use of data to demonstrate geographic inequities.As the founder and president of American Researchand Geographic Information Systems (Ameregis) andauthor of Metropolitics: A Regional Agenda forCommunity and Stability, he has had firsthand exposureto the growing applicability of the regional equityanalysis. “It’s becoming more of a broadly acceptedframe for people thinking about a variety ofdevelopment issues. It has put civil rights on more of aregional scale.” Carl Anthony, acting director of theCommunity and Resource Development Unit at theFord Foundation, cites more practical evidence that thefield is evolving. “The concept of regionalism is morepolitically viable than ever,” he notes. “Those elected inthe suburbs have more of a stake in the future of theirgeography and a broader political base from which todraw.” David Rusk, consultant on urban and suburbanpolicy, author of Inside Game/Outside Game, and one ofthe early advocates of equity through housing policy,draws an even starker example of its growingimportance. According to Rusk, “Some of the mosttangible evidence comes from the emergence of theGamaliel Foundation as a national network of faithbasedcoalitions committed to bringing about regionalchanges. They can raise the moral dimensions, andperhaps more importantly, they mobilize people by thehundreds and by the thousands on these issues. Whenthose committed members pour off the bus, thepoliticians pay attention. That is decisive.”Blackwell points out another importantdevelopment. “The past five years have witnessed areturn of well-educated planners and developers toequity work. They have been attracted by theregional frameworkand they have seenthat their skills andvalues are highlysought. There is realopportunity forleadership andmeaningful work.”The ChallengeAheadAs with any emergentmovement, myriadchallenges must befaced. Pastor observes,“To be effective,“The past five years havewitnessed a return of welleducatedplanners anddevelopers to equity work.They have been attractedby the regional frameworkand they have seen thattheir skills and values arehighly sought. There is realopportunity for leadershipand meaningful work.”—Angela Glover Blackwellcommunity-based organizations now have to understandcomplex transportation and affordable housing issues.Beyond making projects work politically, they have toknow how they pencil out. You have to understand youreconomic context.” Nor is the path to equitabledevelopment unimpeded. “This work is comingtogether in the face of some of the most entrenchedforces in society,” notes Blackwell. “Resistant developers,homeowners, local elected officials suspicious of anyregional agenda—even straight prejudice. Overcomingthose forces is the next push. We are not naïve about thechallenge this presents. It will take political will andauthentic alliances.”Ben Starrett agrees. As executive director of theFunders’ Network for Smart Growth and LivablePart II: Perspectives on Advancing Regional and Neighborhood Equity6