In this episode of Fresnolandia, Dani and Jordan sit down with Kiel Lopez-Schmidt — architect, organizer, and executive director of the South Tower Community Land Trust — to talk about a series of long-awaited wins for the South Tower neighborhood. From transforming the once-overlooked San Pablo Park under the 180 freeway into a vibrant mural space, to opening Broadway Parque on the former site of a police station, to placing the Land Trust’s first home on the market, Kiel shares how these projects came together through years of persistence and community collaboration. This conversation dives into the power of grassroots organizing, reclaiming public spaces, and building lasting community ownership in Fresno’s South Tower.

This episode of Fresnolandia is sponsored by the San Joaquin Valley Housing Collaborative. Learn more about the organization and register for their two-day housing summit at: https://sjvhc.org/news-events/