GENTRIFICATION WITH JUSTICE
I came across this article that deals a bit with urban revitalization and the phenomenon of gentrification. I found it to be particularly thought-provoking and I would love to get your thoughts on it, Jonathan, Tolivar, and anyone else out in the blogworld.
posted by Abe @ 2:41 PM
3 Comments:
At 2:16 PM,
Jonathan Dodson said…
Jonathan emailed me your posting, Abe, because I had also read that article and shared with him how insightful I thought it was.
I'm impressed by not only the author's indentification of this issue (it seems very foreward thinking to me) but also his suggestions for moving ahead. What's left now is the hard part - putting lofty goals into practice.
I'm particularly impressed by his theme "gentrification with justice," since it soes not hide from the continued need to relocate into cities and identify with the people.
The author says, "If we are both caring and thinking people, we can use our influence and resources to develop the means by which "the least of these" can share in the benefits of a reviving city - and foster healthy growth at the same time. We can harness the growing tide of gentrification so that it becomes a redemptive force in our cities. In a word, we can bring about gentrification with justice."
What we're called to is not a replicable model, but a Spirit-led walk where many decisions could go either way and we need to trust God for his guidance.
May he provide many with the opportunity, courage, and ears, for the task!
geoff
At 7:47 PM,
Charlie Roch said…
I hardly know how to respond the entirety of the article, there is a LOT there. Here are my quick hits:
1) It was bold to move to the inner-city, and a sadly absent option for folks in our churches. We might as well live among the needy, but my desire for comfort hijacks the process.
2) The same passion that is willing to re-think a living location must also be willing to re-think the paradigm for ministering in that context.
I'm challenged to see what it would look like to value my 'life' less and pursue my King among the people that a market-driven economy has forgotten.
I'm encouraged to find others wrestling with the same questions surrounding the nuances of how to be strategic, relational, and gracious in unpacking that challenge.
I guess that's my two cents.
At 4:01 PM,
Jonathan Dodson said…
Very good article. It resonates with my experience of Austin. Gentrification is at large in some places, so much that we cannot afford the housing. Places with shacks and average homes and a few million dollar homes mixed together. Driving through, you wouldnt think the shacks are worth 100s of 1000s but they are.
One major obstacle to gentrification with justice is the real estate and housing market. Some parts of the city, traditionally not known for wealth, are out of reach...even for missional, city centre churches. How can we break into this community without cash?
Id like resources on how to fund-raise, connect, network for gospel justice housing. just this year Section 8 housing lines were in the thousands in major cities all over the US. There is a housing crisis and the poor are being pushed out. Gentrification hurts, not helps. We need some major resource adn equipping to redemptively engage these trends...any help, anyone?
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