Telling Our Stories: The Housing Chronicles

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In this Part I of a three-part interview, we meet Alan E Dones - a third generational local developer in the Bay Area. He shares with us the personal legacy that is his profession, how racism works in housing development to keep people oppressed, and what needs to be done to earnestly fix the current housing situation.
Furthering Knowledge:
The Challenge of Being a Black Developer
https://www.planetizen.com/news/2021/04/112921-challenges-being-black-developer
Access to Capital Remains a Major Drawback for Black Developers
https://urbanland.uli.org/capital-markets/access-to-capital-remains-a-major-drawback-for-african-american-developers/
‘Things remain very much business as usual within real estate’: a Black-run Manhattan Skyscraper Hits a Roadblock
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/feb/23/buying-black-affirmation-tower-minority-real-estate-development
New Rule Could Deny Black Developers Access to $4 Billion-Plus in State Housing Funds
https://richmondpulse.org/2020/05/25/new-rule-could-deny-black-developers-access-to-4-billion-plus-in-state-housing-funds/
Black Developers Call for Reckoning in Real Estate https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/04/01/black-developers-call-reckoning-real-estate/
'Excuse After Excuse' Black and Latino Real Estate Developers Face Barriers to Success
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/03/realestate/real-estate-developers-black-latino.html
American Black Journal - The State of Black Real Estate Development in Detroit
https://www.onedetroitpbs.org/american-black-journal/the-state-of-black-real-estate-development-in-detroit/
Black Developers Elevate Community Needs In Major Projects
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/08/business/diversity-developers-real-estate.html
Invisible Businessman: Undermining Black Enterprise With Land Use Rules
https://www.illinoislawreview.org/wp-content/ilr-content/articles/2009/4/Clowney.pdf
Selling Houses While Black
 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/12/realestate/black-real-estate-agents-discrimination.html
West Oakland BART Station Project by Alan
https://mandelastation.com/about/alan-dones/
Connect With Our Guest:
Alan Dones  - Strategic Urban Development Alliance (SUDA)
Website: https://sudallc.com/
Email:  [email protected]
Phone:  (510) 482-7020

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In this last second half of a two-part interview, Randolph Bell of Creative Development Partners (an organization hired by the City of Berkeley to facilitate communication between the city, a soon-to-be-chosen developer, local community organizations, and Bay Area Rapid Transit - BART) walks us through the different parts of development, the funding mechanisms and expectations, and how the local organizers’ ask for equity presents specific opportunities for all parties to think outside “business as usual” at the development BART is slated to begin at the Ashby Station.
Referenced in Episode:
What is Environmental Social and Governance Criteria?
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/environmental-social-and-governance-esg-criteria.asp#toc-environmental-social-and-governance
What are Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs)?
https://www.policylink.org/resources-tools/tools/all-in-cities/good-jobs/community-benefits-agreements
What are financial phases of property development?
https://pecunica.com/knowledge-point/what-are-the-phases-in-property-development-financing/
What are traditional sources of capital in Real Estate?
https://tsmfinancialmodels.com/blog/sources-of-capital-in-real-estate
Connect With Our Guest:
Randolph Belle  - Creative Development Partners
Website: www.creativedevt.com
Email:  [email protected]
Phone: (510) 333-9175

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In this Part One of a two -part interview, meet Randolph Belle of Creative Development Partners - an organization hired by the City of Berkeley to facilitate communication between the city, a soon to be chosen developer, local community organizations, and Bay Area Rapid Transit (known locally as BART). Who is Creative Development Partners? What is their role in Equitable Black Berkeley? What are some examples of different ways communities  have attempted to have a say in development? Do any
 of them compare to Equitable Black Berkeley?
Referenced in Episode:
Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs):
https://www.policylink.org/resources-tools/tools/all-in-cities/good-jobs/community-benefits-agreements
Hunters Point Shipyard: https://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/timeline3/latest/embed/index.html?source=1oq0_yqF5fuxy3R3WfjCDiiALE4_Ml1kQ66siCqtLYE0&font=Default&lang=en&initial_zoom=2&height=650
Oak to 8th / Brooklyn Basin:
https://www.oaklandca.gov/projects/brooklyn-basin-formerly-oak-to-ninth-mixed-use-development
Connect With Our Guest:
Randolph Belle  - Creative Development Partners
Website: www.creativedevt.com
Email:  [email protected]
Phone: (510) 333-9175

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In this last part of our three-part interview with Mayor - Jesse Arreguín, Council Member of District 3 - Ben Bartlett, and Chief of Staff (to the Mayor) - Jaqueline McCormick we continue our conversation on how, as administrators of the City of Berkeley, they took up the challenge of equity as it relates to the city's housing crisis by linking arms and brainstorming with local organizers to think outside the box to try and usher in new and equitable solutions to rooted wrongs in housing and development injustices. What plans are underway to finance an initiative like Equitable Black Berkeley? What needs to be in place to ensure EBB stays true to its longterm vision?  What does economic sustainability look like?  Does EBB advance the conversation on Reparations for Black Berkeley?
City of Berkeley Webpages Relating to Housing:
Affordable Housing: https://berkeleyca.gov/community-recreation/affordable-housing-berkeley
Measure O: https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/our-work/bond-revenue-measures/measure-o
Rent Board: https://rentboard.berkeleyca.gov/
Berkeley Housing Authority: https://bha.berkeleyca.gov/
Connect With City of Berkeley:
Website: https://berkeleyca.gov/
City Council Meetings: https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-councilhttps://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-council
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/cityofberkley/https://www.facebook.com/cityofberkley/
Connect With Our Guests:
Jesse Arregín  - Mayor of Berkeley
Website: https://www.jessearreguin.com/about
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 510-981-7100
Ben Bartlett - Council member District 3 of Berkeley
Website: https://www.councilmemberbartlett.com/about
Email:  [email protected]
Phone: (510) 981-7130
Jacqueline McCormick - Chief of Staff to the Mayor

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In this part two of our three-part interview with Mayor - Jesse Arreguín, Council Member of District 3 - Ben Bartlett, and Chief of Staff (to the Mayor) - Jaqueline McCormick we continue our conversation on how, as administrators of the City of Berkeley, they took up the challenge of equity in Berkeley's housing crisis by linking arms, brainstorming with local organizers, and thinking outside the box to lay the foundation on beginning to usher in new and equitable solutions to rooted wrongs in housing and development injustices. What is Equitable Black Berkeley (EBB)? What role will Bay Area Rapid Transit choose to play in EBB? What is the City leveraging?

City of Berkeley Webpages Relating to Housing:
Affordable Housing: https://berkeleyca.gov/community-recreation/affordable-housing-berkeley
Measure O: https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/our-work/bond-revenue-measures/measure-o
Rent Board: https://rentboard.berkeleyca.gov/
Berkeley Housing Authority: https://bha.berkeleyca.gov/
Connect With City of Berkeley:
Website: https://berkeleyca.gov/
City Council Meetings: https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-councilhttps://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-council
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/cityofberkley/https://www.facebook.com/cityofberkley/
Connect With Our Guests:
Jesse Arregín  - Mayor of Berkeley
Website: https://www.jessearreguin.com/about
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 510-981-7100
Ben Bartlett - Council member District 3 of Berkeley
Website: https://www.councilmemberbartlett.com/about
Email:  [email protected]
Phone: (510) 981-7130
Jacqueline McCormick - Chief of Staff to the Mayor
[email protected]

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 Meet the trio in the City of Berkeley pushing  boundaries to try and usher in new solutions to rooted wrongs in housing and development injustices. In this part one of our three-part interview meet Mayor - Jesse Arreguín, Council Member of District 3 - Ben Bartlett, and Chief of Staff (to the Mayor) - Jaqueline McCormick. What got them into public service? What is the current housing situation they face? What has been attempted? How has racism played a role in the current housing landscape in Berkeley?
City of Berkeley Webpages Relating to Housing:
Affordable Housing: https://berkeleyca.gov/community-recreation/affordable-housing-berkeley
Measure O: https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/our-work/bond-revenue-measures/measure-o
Rent Board: https://rentboard.berkeleyca.gov/
Berkeley Housing Authority: https://bha.berkeleyca.gov/
Connect With City of Berkeley:
Website: https://berkeleyca.gov/
City Council Meetings: https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-councilhttps://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-council
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/cityofberkley/https://www.facebook.com/cityofberkley/
Connect With Our Guests:
Jesse Arregín  - Mayor of Berkeley
Website: https://www.jessearreguin.com/about
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 510-981-7100
Ben Bartlett - Council member District 3 of Berkeley
Website: https://www.councilmemberbartlett.com/about
Email:  [email protected]
Phone: (510) 981-7130
Jacqueline McCormick - Chief of Staff to the Mayor
[email protected]

Support the show

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This is the finale of our 4 part conversation with incredible leaders of Healthy Black Families, we will unpack a recently much-used term “equity”  as we experience it and what we aim for when we envision it. Most important, we will be discussing how community can and should plug into this incredible work at Healthy Black Families. We are blessed to have Executive Director Wilhelmina Wilson, Deputy Executive Director Ayanna Davis, and the Director of our Board Suzette Chaumette.

Connect with Healthy Black Families:

Website: https://healthyblackfam.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthy_black_families/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/healthyblackfamiliesinc/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8AJvQxtyFbEN4dVaEU6Wcw?view_as=subscriber

Connect with our guest(s):

Suzette Chaumette

• IG @reducereusesuze & @positivelygreenpodcast
• Linkedin – linkedin.com/in/suzettechaumette
• Website: www.chaumetteconsulting.com
• Email – [email protected]

Wilhelmenia Wilson

• IG @wilhelmeniakwilson
• Linkedn – linkedin.com/in/Wilhelmenia-wilson-1472b3bb
• Email- [email protected]

Ayanna Davis

• FB: https://facebook.com/ayannadavis11
• Email- [email protected]

Connect with Our Host: [email protected]

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This episode is part three of our four-part conversation with Executive Director Wilhelmina Wilson, Deputy Executive Director Ayanna Davis, and the Director of our Board Suzette Chaumette incredible women playing critical roles at Healthy Black Families. This episode looks at how HBF is hoping to organize the community and why.

Connect with Healthy Black Families:

Website: https://healthyblackfam.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthy_black_families/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/healthyblackfamiliesinc/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8AJvQxtyFbEN4dVaEU6Wcw?view_as=subscriber

Connect with our guest(s):

Suzette Chaumette

• IG @reducereusesuze & @positivelygreenpodcast
• Linkedin – linkedin.com/in/suzettechaumette
• Website: www.chaumetteconsulting.com
• Email – [email protected]

Wilhelmenia Wilson

• IG @wilhelmeniakwilson
• Linkedn – linkedin.com/in/Wilhelmenia-wilson-1472b3bb
• Email- [email protected]

Ayanna Davis

• FB: https://facebook.com/ayannadavis11
• Email- [email protected]

Connect with Our Host: [email protected]

Support the show

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In this Part II of a  four-part series Wilhelmenia Wilson (Executive Director), Ayanna Davis (Deputy Executive Director), and Suzette Chaumette (Board President) of Healthy Black Families, Inc. identify  some of the root societal reasons for the manifestation of our current housing crisis locally, regionally, and nationally.

How did we get here?  How could  conditions be what they are given the struggles fought and won in the past? What is the intersection of systems and individuals?

Connect with Healthy Black Families:

Website: https://healthyblackfam.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthy_black_families/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/healthyblackfamiliesinc/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8AJvQxtyFbEN4dVaEU6Wcw?view_as=subscriber

Connect with our guest(s):

Suzette Chaumette

• IG @reducereusesuze & @positivelygreenpodcast
• Linkedin – linkedin.com/in/suzettechaumette
• Website: www.chaumetteconsulting.com
• Email – [email protected]

Wilhelmenia Wilson

• IG @wilhelmeniakwilson
• Linkedn – linkedin.com/in/Wilhelmenia-wilson-1472b3bb
• Email- [email protected]

Ayanna Davis

• FB: https://facebook.com/ayannadavis11
• Email- [email protected]

Connect with Our Host: [email protected]

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In this Part I of a  four-part series meet Wilhelmenia Wilson (Executive Director), Ayanna Davis (Deputy Executive Director), and Suzette Chaumette (Board President) of Healthy Black Families, Inc.

Who are they? What led them to this work? What does housing have to do with a human’s overall health?

Connect with Healthy Black Families:

Website: https://healthyblackfam.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthy_black_families/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/healthyblackfamiliesinc/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8AJvQxtyFbEN4dVaEU6Wcw?view_as=subscriber

Connect with our guest(s):

Suzette Chaumette

• IG @reducereusesuze & @positivelygreenpodcast
• Linkedin – linkedin.com/in/suzettechaumette
• Website: www.chaumetteconsulting.com
• Email – [email protected]

Wilhelmenia Wilson

• IG @wilhelmeniakwilson
• Linkedn – linkedin.com/in/Wilhelmenia-wilson-1472b3bb
• Email- [email protected]

Ayanna Davis

• FB: https://facebook.com/ayannadavis11
• Email- [email protected]

Connect with Our Host: [email protected]

Support the show