The Vision

Towns and cities across North America are revitalized through regenerative development in service to the community. Through the principles of local ownership and building from the ground up, communities generate vitality, wealth and wellbeing. Neighborhoods long suffering from disinvestment and exclusion have high-quality jobs, cultural vibrancy, and a more affordable, enjoyable, healthy lifestyle.

The Problem

Historically, real estate development across the United States has been characterized by exclusionary practices that are racist and extractive in their impact – whether by design or by effect. Combined with redlining, racist covenants, exclusionary zoning, and blockbusting, these practices solidified into formidable structural inequities. Over time, many cities became largely segregated and witnessed ever increasing disparities in wealth and quality of life for communities of color.

Changing such a deeply embedded system is not easy. It requires significant resources from outside these communities to flow back in, and to do so in a way that authentically supports local leadership and prioritizes community wealth and wellbeing over external financial return. This has not happened, and it will not happen without a collaborative movement of public and private sector stakeholders committed to following a new set of practices that dismantle structural inequities. And replaces them with structural equities. Enter LocalCode.

LocalCode

LocalCode, a nonprofit organization, was founded with this intention. Its mission is to provide the tools, resources, mentorship, and financing necessary for authentic local leaders to become the leading developers in their communities. LocalCode helps these leaders take on  significant and impactful real estate projects, with an emphasis on mixed use, main street locations. Successful projects will have catalytic effects on the communities. Building wealth through local ownership will positively impact every aspect of wellbeing, from health, to education, to civic participation, to the ability to weather crises, and to invest in the future and pursue meaningful and higher paid work. Successful projects strengthen partnerships and interactions among community residents, and build local economic resiliency.

LocalCode is proud to be supporting LocalCode Kansas City, and the work of Ajia Morris and Myeisha Wright to build wealth and wellbeing in their communities.