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Real estate development conjures up images of gentrification with sleek buildings and polished store fronts often built under the guise of urban revitalization. Far too often, these projects displace long-standing residents and communities of color. What would it look like if real estate development were led by the people who already live in the neighborhood? In this episode, Laura interviews South Bronx native Majora Carter who decided to stay where she grew up and rewrite the playbook for neighborhood development. A self-described “chick from the hood… with zero experience in real estate,” she’s a MacArthur “genius award” recipient, owner of the hip hop themed Boogie Down Grind Cafe that has survived and even thrived during Covid, thanks to a bit of help from Beyoncé. Carter is author of Reclaiming Your Community: You Don’t Have to Move Out Of Your Neighborhood To Live In A Better One, just out from Berrett-Koehler.
