Convening, Recruiting, and Connecting People Who Repair Local Economies
Post Helene, here in Asheville, we are finding that in doing local, small scale convening around pressing problems like water, electricity, connectivity, and community free food, the work of connecting the dots that we do at Neighborhood Economics is more valuable than ever. Gathering the people making a difference works in a disaster. And we […]
Are you ready to revolutionize how you think about funding and entrepreneurship? This November 12-13, in Asheville, NC, we’re bringing together some of the most innovative minds in finance and community development for an exclusive Capital Stack Showcase at the Neighborhood Economics Conference. Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking to grow or a funder eager to […]
Hustle Economics Leroy Barber I have long been an advocate of any entrepreneur who can read their culture, figure out what is missing or needed, and then create a business or service to meet that need. I am even more impressed with entrepreneurs who have very few to no resources and yet make things happen. […]
There has been little change in the wealth gap between white families and black and brown families over the past 40 years. The stories of successful projects and great conversations are plentiful, but they have not significantly changed the overall lack of wealth for black and brown people. There seems to be something missing–a variable […]
I happened to be in a conversation this past week, and someone said this sentence: “He grew up on the wrong side of the tracks.” It has stuck with me. It has made me wonder what the wrong side of the tracks refers to and what are the conditions on this “wrong side?” Is it […]
I will be the first to admit that my belief in a better world and systems that work for all people may be a little more hopeful than what is visible in our current condition. If I go down the rabbit hole of what is happening systematically, then my cynical self is called to the […]
Imagine a world where every Black entrepreneur doesn’t just survive—they thrive, shattering systemic barriers with unyielding resilience and innovation. Despite the unwavering spirit of Black entrepreneurs, the stark reality remains: 95% of Black-owned businesses are sole proprietorships, a figure reported by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2019. This overwhelming majority stems from pronounced financial disparities, […]
This past week, my wife Donna and I were able to go back to Atlanta where we spent seventeen years of our lives. Our grandchild lives there, it’s where our oldest children were raised, and where our two oldest sons and daughter-in-law still live and work. Did I mention our grandchild lives there? Tuesday morning, I […]
Markets are not value neutral or virtuous. They play by rules designed by the people that benefit from them. “Letting the market distribute wealth as it will” is simply a recipe for letting the status quo continue. The markets will produce what the markets are designed to produce – namely consolidation of wealth into the hands of […]
Mixed Income Neighborhood Trusts, or MINTS, were a brand new concept three years ago, but Trust Neighborhoods has quickly grown from two buildings in one city to 170 residences in five cities. MINTS are a rare economic justice innovation that found the right inflection point in the system at just the right point to halt […]
