When you ask citizens about what really makes a great city, you usually hear responses such as low taxes, quality public services, diverse housing options, efficient business environment, quality [...]
What is disruption and do cities with lingering social and economic challenges and limited resources have an appetite for it? The dictionary defines disruption as breaking apart and interrupting [...]
Understanding interwoven patterns of the social and economic challenges are critical for the city of New Orleans reaching its full potential. As far as American cities go, New Orleans is as [...]
In the aftermath of Katrina, New Orleans and the State of Louisiana collaborated to take steps forward to increase access to affordable housing. With an affordable housing crisis impacting [...]
New Orleans post Katrina has heightened the question as to who is benefiting from its community regeneration. One of the main sentiments both locally and nationally is that New Orleans is a tale [...]
Depending on an individual’s social and economic status, local urban policy can have a major or minimal impact on their life. The strength of a city’s success rests in its approach to [...]
In the realm of regenerating cities in support of economic growth and development, we tend to focus heavily on tax incentives, business climate, government regulation, quality schools etc., all [...]
The renaissance occurring in New Orleans has heightened the question as to who is benefiting from its regeneration? One of the main sentiments on this issue both locally and nationally is that [...]
The year 2016 has proved to be a challenging year. More specifically, the Presidential election turned out to be a contest that challenged the way we look at elections. No one knows what the [...]
One of the most important components needed in regenerating a city lie in the emergence of nonconformists that actively engage in exploring strategies beyond the norm to mitigate social and [...]
Community change equals effective urban regeneration is a formula that seems to make sense. However, when it comes to achieving effective urban regeneration, we’ve all have wondered why [...]
Winning the battle for economic prosperity is what most communities are in search of. Most in the field of urban regeneration would agree that an inclusive city can support this endeavor. This is [...]
The ongoing events surrounding gun violence in our communities represents an opportunity to examine how we engage problems that are beyond traditional and are considered wicked. As described by [...]
This broadcast is part of an ongoing monthly segment on the “Good Morning Show with Oliver Thomas” on WBOK radio 1230AM. The segment focus is on exploring and discussing critical [...]
Transformative leadership is in critical demand in our communities. If you spend time in any local gathering place or simply ask any citizen, you would find that this issue is ever present. At [...]
A community is much stronger with neighborhood schools. This has been the conventional thought for decades. However, I may be a bit lost and need assistance to clue me in as to why they no longer [...]
It’s tough as a citizen of New Orleans to go through the city’s on-going challenges. At times it’s the greatest city on the planet and you love it beyond words. While at other times you wonder [...]
A community’s physical infrastructure (streets, roads, sewers, bridges, etc.) is the lifeline that supports (along with a strong human infrastructure) the economic growth and development of a [...]
Many of us know all too well that change is inevitable. However, when it comes to change and a redeveloping a community such as New Orleans, we often overlook the emotional impact the changes are [...]
While communities face constant challenges from both internal and external forces that can affect its social and economic success, there are five strategic strategies communities can deploy to [...]
I am proud to announce the publication of my book, Black Mayors and Policy Responsiveness: A Case Study of Community Economic Development Block Grant Spending by Lambert Publishing on Amazon [...]
The lack of affordable/workforce housing can dramatically impact the health and well-being of communities. The report, America’s Rental Housing: Evolving Markets and Needs, finds that half of [...]
The redevelopment of any community is hard work. It requires vision, leadership, strategy and persistence. This process is arguably much more difficult within the Black community given its [...]
Gentrification is an urban development phenomenon which gains traction due in part to perceived underutilized or undervalued segment(s) of a community being rediscovered as a place for [...]
As far as American cities go, New Orleans is about as unique as they come. Within this uniqueness lie six interwoven patterns which set the context for the city. These patterns, many of which are [...]
To paraphrase Charles Darwin, it’s not the strongest of the communities or the smartest that survive, it’s the most adaptable to change that do so. No one has ever said that building and [...]
Why should we care about social and economic inequality in New Orleans? New Orleans, wants what every other American city wants, an ample supply of good jobs, a skilled workforce to fill those [...]
