From Concentrated Poverty to Community Wealth Building in Richmond, VA

Thad Williamson, Ph.D., Director, Mayor’s Office of Community Wealth Building

October 2015

POVERTY AND ECONOMIC NEED IN RICHMOND

Richmond Virginia 25.6% poverty rate 11.3% poverty rate $40,496 median hh income $63,907 median hh income 38.9% children in poverty 14.9% children in poverty

Richmond metro area 85th nationally out of 100 largest metro areas in upward social mobility

City of Richmond in bottom 2% of counties nationwide in upward wage mobility for low-income children

Approximately 42,000 City residents in poverty apart from college students. 23.9k working age; 14.7k children; 3.4k elderly

CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY BY CENSUS TRACT, RICHMOND REGION

POVERTY BY CENSUS TRACT, RICHMOND VA

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EDUCATIONAL SEGREGATION

Overall Richmond Public Schools Demographics (Pre-K – 12), 2013-14

23,775 total students 18,521 economically disadvantaged (77.9%) 18, 616 African-American (non-Hispanic) (78.3%) 2,281 White (non-Hispanic) (9.6%) 2,369 Hispanic (any race) (10.0%)

REGIONAL ECONOMY WITHOUT REGIONAL TRANSIT

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EAST END TRANSFORMATION PROCESS

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HEALTH DISPARITIES TRACK WEALTH DISPARITIES

ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTION

The right question as City policymakers is not “what should society as a whole do about poverty?” So much of what could or should be done lies outside of our immediate control or influence.

The question we should be focused on is “What can we as a City and community do to alter these trends?”

RECOMMENDATIONS OF MAYOR’S ANTI-POVERTY COMMISSION

Workforce Development Targeted Economic Development Regional Transportation Educational pipeline from prenatal to college/career Pursuing public housing redevelopment with

commitment to no involuntary displacement

GUIDING FRAMEWORK: WHY COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING?

Positive emphasis on capitalizing on what we have and positive assets and potential of people

Emphasis on Neighborhoods and people Developing employment, entrepreneurial, and

ownership opportunities with broad-based benefits Encompasses human capital, social capital,

physical capital, and financial capital

MAGGIE L. WALKER INITIATIVE

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MORAL VISION

Every Richmond resident should have access to quality employment opportunities and preparation and support to be successful in such employment; to a safe neighborhood with good amenities, strong schools, and access to mobility; and to a supportive community environment.

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MAYOR’S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING: INITIATIVES

Education

TransportationHousing

Workforce Development

MAGGIE L. WALKER INITIATIVE FOR EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY AND FIGHTING POVERTY

Integrated, holistic approach to reduce the City of Richmond’s 26% poverty rate encompassing education, employment and housing, coordinated through the Mayor’s Office of Community Wealth Building.

Key Components Education: Early Childhood Initiative, Middle School Out-of-School

Time Initiative (NextUp RVA), College and Career Access Initiative (RVA Future), Communities in Schools

Employment: Center for Workforce Innovation, Social Enterprise Initiative, Port of Richmond, Bus Rapid Transit

Housing: Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Good Neighbor Initiative in RRHA Communities, East End Transformation (Creighton Court)

A Good Investment: $7 million in City funding in FY 2015 and FY 2016 has already leveraged millions of additional dollars in grants and matching funds for investments in education, housing, Bus Rapid Transit

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BLISS: BUILDING PATHWAYS OUT OF POVERTY

In Crisis At Risk Safe Stable Thriving No Income or

assets No skills or

credentials Homeless or

unstable housing

No or unreliable transportation or child care.

Safety and mental health risks are high

Addictions and/or Legal Problems

Seeking job or temp/seasonal job or other legal income

Temporary or transitional housing

Transportation and child care available, but not affordable or reliable

Seeking GED or vocational training

Employed in semi-stable job

Housing is stable and is affordable (maybe with subsidy)

Transportation and child care are generally reliable and affordable

Has high school diploma, GED, or vocational training

Permanent & stable job paying living wage

Housing is stable & and is affordable without subsidy

Transportation and child care are reliable and affordable

Career & educational plan in place; active & on-going learning

Permanent, stable employment sufficient to build assets

Housing is permanent & affordable without subsidy

Transportation and child care are reliable and affordable

Implementing education and career plan

Based on the HUD Self Sufficiency Matrix

MAYOR’S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING: KEY ROLES

Coordination Planning Hub and Catalyst Research and Evaluation Locus of Accountability and Communication Reports to Mayor Works across City agencies as well as with partner

agencies (RPS, RRHA, RCHD, RBHA, GRTC) Works with university, nonprofit, private partners

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IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL

To cut poverty in Richmond 40% in the next 15 years, we need to move approximately 10,000 adults and 7,000 kids above the poverty line in a lasting way.

What will it take? Building and sustaining the capacity to move at least 1,000 adults a year out of poverty while strengthening the security of families just above the poverty line.

How will we do that? One family at time. Who will it take? All of us, working together, for

the long haul.

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