Doing It for the Neighborhood: Community-Centered Economic Inclusion

Community development corporations (CDCs) are neighborhood-level nonprofit organizations created to support and revitalize communities. To find out what this means on the ground, dive into a case study of the Retail, Arts, Innovation and Livability (RAIL) CDC in Mesa, Arizona. Small business support and economic capacity-building are core to their work, but not all. Their ethos “Do It for the Neighborhood,” involves a comprehensive, place-based approach to neighborhood preservation and wealth-building. Hear about their strategies for building family income and initiatives focused on creative placemaking, heat mitigation and housing justice. It’s all in the name of having transit-oriented communities that work for – rather than displace – vulnerable populations.

Moderator: David Longoria, Program Officer, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)- Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ
Ryan Winkle, Executive Director, Retail, Arts, Innovation & Livability Community Development Corporation (RAIL CDC), Mesa, AZ
Augie Gastelum, Founder, Patchwork Community Inclusion, Phoenix, AZ
Jennifer Gastelum, Art Engagement / Placemaking Leader, Creative Community, Phoenix, AZ