Right to the City: People, Power and Possibilities
Tuesday, Ocober 2, 9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

“Right to the City” is an exciting new framework developed by grassroots organizations that are fighting displacement and gentrification across the country. They believe low-income city residents have a right to reclaim their space and their role as legitimate inhabitants. They believe that sustainable economic growth, community revitalization and true civic engagement cannot happen unless low-income communities come together, first to reclaim their space and then to expand it—politically, culturally, legally and economically—by using tools such as community benefit agreements. The “Right to the City” alliance is working to launch a proactive, unified and systematic approach to displacement, one that provides both a broad analysis and an actionable urban agenda for each city. This workshop will set the context and offer an innovative way for participants to think about proactive solutions to the problem of low-income residents being displaced from urban neighborhoods. Participants also will learn about alternative ways to think about strengthening communities and economic growth.

Session Designer: Jane Lin, Tides Foundation

Moderator: Shona Chakravartty, Hill- Snowdon Foundation

Presenters: Gihan Perera, Miami Workers Center; Helena Wong, CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communities; Ursula Price, Safe Streets/Strong Communities