Sojourner-Douglass College KIDS College in Atmospheric Science

A Fourth Leg AgendaStabilizing a New Vision of Economic Possibility for Baltimore CityAround Developing the Citys PeopleA presentation to the Baltimore Economic Democracy Conference

Imagine trying to build a sustainable City

Balanced precariously on three legs of a four-legged stoolBusinessGovernmentNot-for-profitsThis image is more accurateThan anyone would like to believe

Consider the challenge that Baltimore City really isExamine median household income23rd of 24 Maryland SubdivisionsBaltimore CityConsider the Median Value of Owner Occupied DwellingsBaltimore is 22nd of 24 subdivisions

Baltimore CityHow about the educational attainment of its residents?

Baltimore is in the middle of the pack11th out of 24 subdivisionsBaltimore CityWhere then is Baltimore Economically Competitive?

With its average weekly wageBaltimore is 4th of 24 subdivisionsBaltimore CityBut even here, Baltimore was more competitive in 2003In 10 years, it fell from No. 2 to No. 4Baltimore CityBut where is Baltimore most competitive?

The relative magnitude of the poverty that engulfs the lives of so many. Baltimore is 1st among all 24 subdivisions.Baltimore City8In Not Graduating High School Students

The % of Baltimore residents age 25 and over not completing High School Leads the other 23 subdivisions. Baltimore CitySo then, what is it about . . .

Leading State jurisdictions in the % of adults never completing High School and falling just in the middle of the pack on adults with a graduate degreeLeading all State jurisdictions in the % of its population in poverty while holding down the 3rd lowest rank on the value of owner occupied dwellings

Having the 4th highest weekly wage while sustaining the 2nd lowest median household incomeORORThat says conventional development alone can turn around these trends undermining the future stability of Baltimore City?What most complicates Baltimores stability?

RACEThe desirabilty of living in Baltimore City varies depending on whether you consider its White residents or its Black residents For example, the % of Baltimores adults holding management, business, science, and arts occupations The relative size of this occupation group correlates with income, housing value, and education loom in the middle, but . . .Baltimore CityBlack BaltimoreWhite BaltimoreConsider . . .Statistical CategoryRank of Baltimore CityRank of White BaltimoreRank of Black BaltimoreChange in Rank with White Baltimore only% of people age 16 or over employed22nd of 24 jurisdns15th of 24 jurisdns22nd of 24 jurisdnsIncrease by 7 positionsMean Household Income22nd of 24 jurisdns14th of 24 jurisdns22nd of 24 jurisdnsIncrease by 8 positions% of people age 25 or over with a graduate degree11th of 24 jurisdns3rd of 24 jurisdnsTied for 22nd and 23rd of 24 jurisdns Increase by 8 positions% of civilians employed age 16 and over in management , business, science, and arts occupations14th of 24 jurisdns3rd of 24 jurisdns24th of 24 positionsIncrease by 11 positions

Baltimore Citys Black population

Would cooperate by just disappearingGoing awayOr simply refusing to be counted.Do these statistics make the City only look desirable if Most of Us Treat the Mass of People as . . .

SeparateStaticPassive if not invisible

Or can we do better? What happened to the people who now live in that space?

What might be if only we had the imagination . . . ? Is the illusion of stablity enough to sustain its reality?Consider this vision for the Oldtown community in East Baltimore16

Which possible Oldtown do you prefer?The Oldtown of Planning ConsultantsThe Oldtown of Resident Aspirations

What makes the two Oldtowns Different?The new building constructedThe new people developedTo displace the old populationTo emerge from the old populationIf we are not to keep trying to stand on that stool?

Balanced precariously without an absent fourth leg BusinessNot-for-profitsThe people of Baltimore CityThen we need to understand a stability that includes ALL of Baltimores people.Government

BusinessNot-for-profitsGovernmentCommunityWith a cooperatived platform for social mobilitySelf-employment exponentially expands the productive economic value of work

Comparably expanding available income among existing residents in those neighborhoods of perceived need

20Where the neediness of people

Moves beyond human tragedy to become . . .An economic opportunity in which the needy can both meet their own needs and, by so establishing their own enterprises, eliminate their neediness.C o m m u n i t yC o m m u n i t yC o m m u n i t yC O M M U N I T YC O M M U N I T YC O M M U N I T YImagine . . . As a fundamental economic component and as an indispensible tool for development

Community has always worked this way

To sustain social mobility in the manner embodying a characteristically American ethos portrayed in many classic Hollywood moviesWhere ordinary people achieve extraordinary things23When you connect individual activity to create collective wealth for the group You empower people with meager existing resources to have and own more than each could all alone.

24The picture we must change

What are the requirements for radical economic change?