CREDITS: 1 CM

ABSTRACT

My keynote will focus on the power of changing narratives to transform communities. Drawing from my work as a journalist, community leader, and neighborhood development professional, I’ll share how authentic storytelling, community engagement, and grassroots organizing can shift the conversation about neighborhoods like Englewood, from one defined by deficits to one centered on assets, resilience, and opportunity. I’ll explore how residents, developers, planners, and public leaders all have a role in shaping equitable community development, emphasizing the importance of responsible investment, creative placemaking, and ensuring that those who call a neighborhood home have a meaningful voice in its future. Ultimately, my message is that lasting revitalization begins by changing not only the physical landscape, but also the stories we tell and the perspectives we choose to embrace.