I have had the incredible opportunity of many people investing in me and the work I do for close to 35 years now, and it has allowed me to dream, imagine, create, and start many projects and businesses over the years. It has also built confidence in me to keep risking and creating, even though there have been failures in the midst of this work, as well. When someone looks at you and says they want to invest in you and the idea you’re presenting, it ignites an internal belief that keeps burning after its initial igniting.
I also know there are many people and places where disinvestment is prevalent. This term disinvestment became most popular, as I remember, in the 80’s when there was an effort to push South Africa to end apartheid policies. The US stopped supporting the economy of South Africa to draw attention to its policies. It is an act of disengaging on purpose.
There are many black and brown neighborhoods and people where disinvestment has happened historically. In these situations, any attention that was given to these people and places was to show all of the flaws and challenges. Unfortunately, we know this was purposely done. This purposeful disengagement actually did the opposite of investment; it pushed people to difficult decisions and made places create economies that lacked support and, therefore, lacked the resources to make businesses, schools, and even housing meet decent standards. A business owner could open a store but lack the investment to keep the building painted, update the technology, and even maintain the quality of products. The local economies that are in these situations now lack the ability to grow and the support to meet the needs of its place.
The differences between investment and disinvestment are stark. They are not neutral: one moves in a positive direction, and one in a negative direction. The things that move in the positive grow and scale, while the things that move in the negative struggle, shrink, exist on the edge, and eventually end.
Over time, investment swallows up disinvestment and keeps growing. The heart of those invested in gives courage and confidence, while the heart of the disinvested becomes skeptical, unmotivated, open to predatory practices, and drained of creative energy. We know that creative entrepreneur energy is critical for the local economy to flourish.
Neighborhood Economics works to create space where the historical record can be amended. Where we can begin to see investment in places where it hasn’t widely happened and resources intentionally put into struggling places. These investments and resources will tap into the creative hearts of people who feel drained and will bring a new narrative to bear. This is a balm in local neighborhoods. That new story centers just economies and local wealth creation that will, in fact, change the existing storyline.
Become a part of the new plot by joining us in San Antonio this February.