1. 1 Building a Community of Opportunity: Addressing Challenges and Creating Opportunity Around Broad Street Presbyterian Presentation to Adult Education Forum at Broad Street Presbyterian Church, Columbus. November 20, 2005 john a. powell Williams Chair in Civil Rights & Civil Liberties, Moritz College of Law Executive Director, Kirwan Institute of Race and Ethnicity The Ohio State University

2. 2 Today’s Discussion Linking Spirituality to Social Justice Understanding the Dynamics of Opportunity Is Broad Street Presbyterian in a Community of Opportunity? How do we build Opportunity around Broad Street Presbyterian

3. 3 Spirituality and Social Justice What responsibility do churches and congregations have in alleviating racial inequalities and promoting social justice?

4. 4 “We are all caught up in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever effects one directly effects all indirectly.” -The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

5. 5 Common Humanity Racialized disparity, segregation and exclusion harm more than just people of color, they harm everyone Racialized disparity, segregation and exclusion harm more than just people of color, they harm everyone A new arrangement works to lift us all, spiritually and pragmatically A new arrangement works to lift us all, spiritually and pragmatically A civil rights agenda is NOT SOLELY a means to lift up the poor and people of color; but a recognition and embracing of our differences within our greatest commonality: Humanity A civil rights agenda is NOT SOLELY a means to lift up the poor and people of color; but a recognition and embracing of our differences within our greatest commonality: Humanity

6. 6 Spirituality and Social Justice What is the relationship between spirituality and social justice? What is the relationship between spirituality and social justice? We usually focus on how spirituality inspires social justice work, but not on how working for social justice informs spirituality We usually focus on how spirituality inspires social justice work, but not on how working for social justice informs spirituality Spirituality  Social Justice Spirituality  Social Justice

7. 7 The Meaning of Self Social justice work & spirituality calls for an expansion of our understanding of self & society Social justice work & spirituality calls for an expansion of our understanding of self & society Current paradigm of a Hobbesian, isolated view: Current paradigm of a Hobbesian, isolated view: Perceives individuals as autonomous-independent selves Perceives individuals as autonomous-independent selves egoistic, possessive, separate, isolated, rational egoistic, possessive, separate, isolated, rational role of state: protect individualism and individual property role of state: protect individualism and individual property This leads to increasing isolation and fear of the other This leads to increasing isolation and fear of the other The price we pay is denigration of part of ourselves The price we pay is denigration of part of ourselves

8. 8 Connectedness The alternative is a model of connectedness The alternative is a model of connectedness This model perceives individuals as part of something bigger. This model perceives individuals as part of something bigger. Inter-being, unified, not egoistically separate Inter-being, unified, not egoistically separate This perspective is at the heart of spirituality This perspective is at the heart of spirituality The racialized space and identities we have organized ourselves around are toxic and need to be reconstructed The racialized space and identities we have organized ourselves around are toxic and need to be reconstructed However, because identity is not constructed solely at the individual level, it cannot be reconstructed solely at the individual level However, because identity is not constructed solely at the individual level, it cannot be reconstructed solely at the individual level Collective Imagination!

9. 9 Suffering Suffering is a central concern of both spirituality and social justice Suffering is a central concern of both spirituality and social justice Existential/ontological (Spiritual Suffering) Existential/ontological (Spiritual Suffering) Sense of lack Sense of lack Disillusionment Disillusionment Separation from each other, the whole that is our unified selves Separation from each other, the whole that is our unified selves Inherent in existence Inherent in existence “Surplus” (Social suffering) “Surplus” (Social suffering) The result of social and institutional arrangements/structures The result of social and institutional arrangements/structures Visited on people and groups unequally Visited on people and groups unequally Segregation, structural racism, spatial racism are all forms of social suffering Segregation, structural racism, spatial racism are all forms of social suffering

10. 10 Spirituality & Segregation from Opportunity If one of the foci of spirituality is to engage suffering and its causes, spirituality must also be concerned with how institutions and structures function in society If one of the foci of spirituality is to engage suffering and its causes, spirituality must also be concerned with how institutions and structures function in society Segregation and exclusion from opportunity cause suffering, this suffering is a call to the spiritual to combat these structures Segregation and exclusion from opportunity cause suffering, this suffering is a call to the spiritual to combat these structures

11. 11 Understanding the Dynamics of Opportunity How does access to opportunity and neighborhood quality impact our lives?

12. 12 The Dynamics of Opportunity The truth about housing Where you live is often as important as what you live in! Neighborhood conditions and proximity to opportunities impact our abilities for self improvement and well-being Housing (in particular its location) is the primary mechanism for accessing opportunities in our society

13. 13 Neighborhood Conditions Are Critical Decades of experience and research illustrate that neighborhood conditions can have significant impacts on the life chances of people ………neighborhood quality plays an important role in positive outcomes for families. Stable housing in an unstable neighborhood does not necessarily allow for positive employment and child education outcomes. Federal demonstration programs enabling the poor to move from distressed city neighborhoods to lower-poverty communities underscore the potent impact of neighborhood quality on family stability. From “Meeting our nation’s housing challenges”. Report of the Bipartisan Millenial Housing Commission, Appointed by the Congress of the United States. Page 11 (2002)

14. 14 The Web of Opportunity Opportunities in our society are geographically distributed and often clustered throughout metropolitan areas This creates “winner” and “loser” communities or “high” and “low” opportunity communities Opportunities exist in a complex web and are often reinforcing, magnifying conditions in low and high opportunity areas

15. 15 The Web of Opportunity: Where we live impacts our access to many critical opportunity structures Housing Childcare EffectiveParticipation Employment EducationHealth Transportation

16. 16 The Web of Opportunity Consider how where you live determines the quality of your life in multiple areas The quality of schools that children can attend The quality of public services that we receive Access to employment, transportation and child care Public safety, environmental health and public health Wealth building, neighborhood quality determines how much equity homeowners can build

17. 17 Geography of Opportunity Why does neighborhood quality and opportunity vary across metropolitan areas? Why does neighborhood quality and opportunity vary across metropolitan areas? Spatial racism Spatial racism What is spatial racism? What is spatial racism? The cumulative impact of policies and structures that work to segregate people of color from opportunity and strip away resources from inner city (and sometimes inner suburban) communities of color The cumulative impact of policies and structures that work to segregate people of color from opportunity and strip away resources from inner city (and sometimes inner suburban) communities of color

18. 18 Geography of Opportunity Communities of color are disproportionately segregated from opportunity Communities of color are disproportionately segregated from opportunity This is the impact of spatial racism This is the impact of spatial racism People of color are disconnected from opportunities such as good schools, meaningful employment, safe and stable neighborhoods People of color are disconnected from opportunities such as good schools, meaningful employment, safe and stable neighborhoods Racial Segregation = Opportunity Segregation Racial Segregation = Opportunity Segregation

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21. 21 Communities of Opportunity How can we remedy the disparities in access to opportunity in our metropolitan areas? Assure access to communities of opportunity for all people, especially people of color and low income families/households Provide affordable housing opportunities in high opportunity communities Bring opportunity to low opportunity communities Build opportunities in low opportunity areas

22. 22 Broad Street Presbyterian and Opportunity Is Broad Street Presbyterian located in a community of opportunity?

23. 23 Broad Street Presbyterian and Opportunity Is Broad Street Presbyterian located in a community of opportunity? Is Broad Street Presbyterian located in a community of opportunity? Requires looking at nearby opportunity structures Requires looking at nearby opportunity structures Opportunity mapping Opportunity mapping What could be depressing opportunity? What could be depressing opportunity? Housing Housing Education Education Proximity to Jobs Proximity to Jobs

24. 24 Neighborhoods of Opportunity in Franklin County Indicators of opportunity suggest that Broad Street Presbyterian is located in a lower opportunity area Indicators of opportunity suggest that Broad Street Presbyterian is located in a lower opportunity area Why is this the case? Why is this the case? A few potential reasons A few potential reasons Housing Housing Education Education Neighborhood Trends Neighborhood Trends

25. 25 Housing Two housing challenges exist in the Near East area of Columbus (area closest in proximity to Broad Street Presbyterian) Two housing challenges exist in the Near East area of Columbus (area closest in proximity to Broad Street Presbyterian) 1. A large number of cost burdened households: Almost half of all households are low income and nearly a third are burdened by housing cost 2. A concentration of subsidized housing creating conditions of concentrated poverty: See next slide What is the answer (requires two approaches) What is the answer (requires two approaches) More affordable housing opportunities provided throughout the Columbus region More affordable housing opportunities provided throughout the Columbus region More homeownership opportunities in the neighborhood (to help struggling households gain assets and wealth) More homeownership opportunities in the neighborhood (to help struggling households gain assets and wealth)

26. 26 Subsidized Housing And Opportunity Subsidized housing in Franklin County (public housing and Section 8 housing identified as dots on this map) are concentrated in low opportunity areas Subsidized housing in Franklin County (public housing and Section 8 housing identified as dots on this map) are concentrated in low opportunity areas What are the implications of this trend? What are the implications of this trend? Extreme concentrations of subsidized housing create concentrations of poverty in these neighborhoods Extreme concentrations of subsidized housing create concentrations of poverty in these neighborhoods

27. 27 Education Another challenge in the neighborhood is provision of adequate educational opportunities Another challenge in the neighborhood is provision of adequate educational opportunities Most schools in the area are high poverty Most schools in the area are high poverty What is the significance of this? What is the significance of this? One of the biggest factor predicting success or failure in school is the economic status of the student body One of the biggest factor predicting success or failure in school is the economic status of the student body Middle class students in poor schools will perform more poorly that poor students in middle class schools Middle class students in poor schools will perform more poorly that poor students in middle class schools Poor children learn best when surrounded by middle-class classmates Poor children learn best when surrounded by middle-class classmates

28. 28 Racial Segregation and High Poverty Schools: Near Broad Street Presbyterian (and other east side communities) most schools are high poverty (yellow and red dots).

29. 29 High Poverty Schools Create Low Student Achievement

30. 30 Connectivity to Job Growth in Columbus The areas represented in black illustrate where jobs will grow in Columbus by 2030 These areas are isolated from affordable subsidized housing (green, red and blue dots) The area near Broad Street Presbyterian (and its subsidized housing) is detached from most of the region’s projected job growth

31. 31 Building Neighborhood Opportunity How can we create a community of opportunity around Broad Street Presbyterian?

32. 32 How can we Build a Community of Opportunity Near Broad Street Presbyterian? Strategic interventions Strategic interventions Looking for the “turning point” Looking for the “turning point” Supporting key community assets and anchor institutions Supporting key community assets and anchor institutions Support an economically diverse community Support an economically diverse community Support revitalization not gentrification Support revitalization not gentrification Think and act both regionally and locally Think and act both regionally and locally

33. 33 Strategic Interventions Strategically address issues that challenge opportunity in the neighborhood Strategically address issues that challenge opportunity in the neighborhood Requires an assessment of what opportunities are available and depressed in the community Requires an assessment of what opportunities are available and depressed in the community It is critical to ask: It is critical to ask: Does the neighborhood have diverse and affordable housing opportunities? Does the neighborhood have diverse and affordable housing opportunities? Is the neighborhood located near employment opportunities, or does it otherwise have sustainable employment? Is the neighborhood located near employment opportunities, or does it otherwise have sustainable employment? Does the neighborhood have accessible transportation options? Does the neighborhood have accessible transportation options? Do neighborhood schools support school readiness and stability? Do neighborhood schools support school readiness and stability? Does the neighborhoods housing and physical environment support the health of residents? Does the neighborhoods housing and physical environment support the health of residents? Does the neighborhood support the creation of wealth? Does the neighborhood support the creation of wealth?

34. 34 Looking for the Turning Point The Turning Point The Turning Point Instead of focusing on the tipping point, we need to better define what neighborhoods require to reach the turning point Instead of focusing on the tipping point, we need to better define what neighborhoods require to reach the turning point What convergence of positive actions will accelerate the neighborhoods revitalization? What convergence of positive actions will accelerate the neighborhoods revitalization? Pushing development beyond the turning point threshold requires an intervention strategy to positively transform the neighborhood’s physical, social, economic, and political environment Pushing development beyond the turning point threshold requires an intervention strategy to positively transform the neighborhood’s physical, social, economic, and political environment

35. 35 Supporting Key Community Assets and Anchor Institutions Support and strengthen neighborhood anchor institutions Support and strengthen neighborhood anchor institutions Support key institutions that can draw people into the neighborhood and provide stability in distressed areas Support key institutions that can draw people into the neighborhood and provide stability in distressed areas What are anchor institutions? What are anchor institutions? Anchor institutions are significant community or regional institutions that serve a specific community or regional need and become magnets for other opportunities Anchor institutions are significant community or regional institutions that serve a specific community or regional need and become magnets for other opportunities Areas near these institutions become dense clusters of opportunity; conversely, losing these institutions can destabilize multiple opportunity structures Areas near these institutions become dense clusters of opportunity; conversely, losing these institutions can destabilize multiple opportunity structures

36. 36 Assets and Anchor Institutions Think about the assets and key institutions in the community Think about the assets and key institutions in the community Places of worship Places of worship Historical structures Historical structures Community buildings Community buildings Arts and cultural sites Arts and cultural sites Commercial areas Commercial areas

37. 37 The King-Lincoln District Building a Neighborhood Anchor The development around the King-Lincoln District provides an example of a policy to build a neighborhood anchor institution The development around the King-Lincoln District provides an example of a policy to build a neighborhood anchor institution Creating a magnet for clustering opportunities Creating a magnet for clustering opportunities

38. 38 Support an Economically Diverse community Building an economically diverse community is essential to create a community of opportunity Building an economically diverse community is essential to create a community of opportunity Why Why Concentrated poverty creates conditions that hinder opportunity Concentrated poverty creates conditions that hinder opportunity Gentrification produces opportunity but creates an exclusionary community that is not economically diverse Gentrification produces opportunity but creates an exclusionary community that is not economically diverse This requires activities to revitalize the neighborhood, but also requires monitoring and policies to avoid gentrification This requires activities to revitalize the neighborhood, but also requires monitoring and policies to avoid gentrification Gentrification creates opportunity exclusion Gentrification creates opportunity exclusion Revitalization brings opportunity to the community while being inclusionary Revitalization brings opportunity to the community while being inclusionary

39. 39 Gentrification vs. Revitalization Important to understand the difference between gentrification and revitalization Important to understand the difference between gentrification and revitalization Gentrification: Neighborhood in transition to exclusive upper income white community Gentrification: Neighborhood in transition to exclusive upper income white community Large scale displacement of low income residents by influx of high income residents Large scale displacement of low income residents by influx of high income residents Disruption of social networks and services for traditional residents Disruption of social networks and services for traditional residents Revitalization: Neighborhood in transition to mixed income, mixed wealth, multi-racial community Revitalization: Neighborhood in transition to mixed income, mixed wealth, multi-racial community A community of choice available to a wide range of households A community of choice available to a wide range of households Social networks and services for traditional residents maintained and improved Social networks and services for traditional residents maintained and improved

40. 40 How do you Avoid Gentrification while Revitalizing the Neighborhood? Monitoring for gentrification is critical (consider an early warning monitoring system for the neighborhood) Monitoring for gentrification is critical (consider an early warning monitoring system for the neighborhood) Many strategies/policies exist to counter gentrification (displacement) Many strategies/policies exist to counter gentrification (displacement) Ranging from maintaining the base of affordable housing units to stabilizing local businesses or offering financing/loans/grants to existing residents Ranging from maintaining the base of affordable housing units to stabilizing local businesses or offering financing/loans/grants to existing residents Identify these early (before problems occur) Identify these early (before problems occur) Be prepared to implement if necessary Be prepared to implement if necessary

41. 41 Housing Strategies Provide affordable housing opportunities but avoid over-concentration Provide affordable housing opportunities but avoid over-concentration Support homeownership for existing residents Support homeownership for existing residents Build neighborhood wealth Build neighborhood wealth Think about housing regionally Think about housing regionally Fight against predatory lending and property flipping Fight against predatory lending and property flipping

42. 42 Think and Act both Regionally and Locally Building a community of opportunity requires both regional and local action Building a community of opportunity requires both regional and local action Many of the spatial and institutional trends robbing communities of opportunity require regional solutions Many of the spatial and institutional trends robbing communities of opportunity require regional solutions Think about what initiatives will open access to regional opportunities and bring opportunity back to inner city communities Think about what initiatives will open access to regional opportunities and bring opportunity back to inner city communities Requires coalition building to create the regional support and power needed to push for reforms Requires coalition building to create the regional support and power needed to push for reforms Consider the faith based community as a vehicle for social justice oriented coalitions Consider the faith based community as a vehicle for social justice oriented coalitions

43. 43 Spirituality as a Unifying Force Faith Based Organizations offer a great opportunity for building coalitions because many congregations are already diverse racially, economically, and politically Faith Based Organizations offer a great opportunity for building coalitions because many congregations are already diverse racially, economically, and politically Churches in the Franklin County cross both spatial, racial and class boundaries Churches in the Franklin County cross both spatial, racial and class boundaries And are located in low and high opportunity areas And are located in low and high opportunity areas

44. 44 Concluding Thoughts Spirituality should motivate and enliven social justice work at both the individual level and community level Spirituality should motivate and enliven social justice work at both the individual level and community level It is critical to understand the dynamics of opportunity when working to improve our communities It is critical to understand the dynamics of opportunity when working to improve our communities The goal should be to create an inclusionary community of opportunity, not just in your neighborhood but throughout the region The goal should be to create an inclusionary community of opportunity, not just in your neighborhood but throughout the region

45. 45 Concluding Thoughts We need integration with opportunity to have a truly “just” society We need integration with opportunity to have a truly “just” society Linked fate Linked fate A society where a demographic identifier would not predict an individual’s life chances A society where a demographic identifier would not predict an individual’s life chances

46. 46 Questions or Comments? For More Information Visit Us On-Line: www.KirwanInstitute.org www.KirwanInstitute.org