How Two Strangers Sparked a Citywide Awakening
Sometimes, the most powerful outcomes begin with a single unexpected moment. In 2023, Joe Minicozzi of Urban3 took the stage at Neighborhood Economics in Jackson and revealed how property tax systems often force low-income neighborhoods to subsidize wealthier ones.
In the crowd was Patton Dodd, director of storytelling at the H E Butt Foundation. That single moment sparked a transformative partnership. Dodd saw parallels in San Antonio and brought Minicozzi there to dig deeper into local data.
From Insight to Infrastructure
What followed was a rare convergence of opportunity. The local realtor association, led by its first Latino president, granted full access to housing data. And the H E Butt Foundation, after a decade of quiet bridge-building across zip codes and communities, was ready to act.
Within months, hundreds gathered in San Antonio to hear Minicozzi reveal that the same inequity seen in Asheville existed in their own backyards. The result: a shared desire to fix the system.
“The injustice is clear once you see it—but until you see it, you don’t really get it.”
Seeds of Systemic Change
Change doesn’t happen overnight. But major players are now at the table, including Frost Bank and the San Antonio Spurs. And with a new city council election bringing in fresh leadership, the timing could be just right to push for reform.
As Dodd put it: “This stuff takes time and persistence and persistence.” That’s the work. And it started in a single room at Neighborhood Economics.
As Sister Joan Chittister reminds us: the kingdom of God comes an inch at a time.
📣 Let’s Build What’s Next
Neighborhood Economics is a place where new partnerships begin. Join us this fall or read more real-world examples of how we’re helping transform local economies from the inside out.