YIMBY Nation (Yes, In My Back Yard)

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Dr. Fred McKinney on LinkedIn

Episode 8: Part I: America in Crisis with Dr. Fred McKinney: Rising Rent, Unfit Housing, Growing Poverty & Racial Inequality Aug 19, 2022

Show notes

America is in a housing crisis. Following the pandemic, inflation is on the rise leading to widespread housing issues. With rising rental prices and a plummeting home ownership market, homelessness and substandard housing are also on the rise. Today’s guest, Dr. Fred McKinney, is a leading economist working in higher education and consulting in business development, with a focus on corporate social responsibility and diversity training. During today’s conversation, Dr. Fred shares his insights on the critical role of affordable housing in supporting low and moderate-income citizens, the relationship between mental health and homelessness, and short and long term solutions to the homelessness and ill-housing problem. We touch on the gap between the myth of success and the reality of what it takes to get there, and how business participation in development can help create generational wealth. Dr. Fred shares what he has uncovered through surveying supplier diversity professionals, and reveals the pernicious effect of corporations masquerading as supporting minority-owned businesses. Join us today to hear his thoughts about policing this problem, increasing responsibility, prioritizing fairness and whistleblowing, and much more!

Key Points From This Episode:

An introduction to today’s guest, Dr. Fred McKinney, with BJM Solutions.
How pandemic-related inflation has further impacted the housing market.
The federal reserve’s increase in interest rates which has affected home ownership markets.
The critical role of affordable housing in supporting low and moderate income citizens.
How homelessness and substandard housing creates stress on households and children.
The relationship between mental health and homelessness.
Short term solutions of offering support to the symptoms of homelessness.
Long term solutions which lead to questions about how to support the poor in the long term.
The gap between the myth of success and the reality of what it takes to succeed.
Creating businesses and generational wealth through business participation in development.
What Dr. Fred found when he surveyed supplier diversity professionals in large corporations.
The pernicious effect of corporations that front as building minority-owned businesses.
Why pass-through’s don’t generate community wealth, but end up in large firms instead.
Policing these transactions in private and public contracts through whistleblowing.
How to increase these policing structures through increased responsibility, minorities alerting the authorities, and creating public pressure.
An invitation to join us for part two of this conversation on September 2.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Fred McKinney on Twitter
BJM Solutions

YIMBY Nation Email

Sadie’s Pro Cleaning on Facebook

Episode 7: Beating the Odds of Small Business Ownership & How Housing Programs Can Help (with Sadie's Pro Cleaning) Apr 05, 2022

Show notes

Being an entrepreneur is challenging, but if you enter the journey with a willingness to stick through the tough times, you can go further than you ever thought possible. This is the story of today’s guest, Sadie Marshall, who founded Sadie’s Pro Cleaning at the end of 2018. When the pandemic hit and she lost all of her clients, but instead of giving up on her dreams, she pivoted from a commercial and residential cleaning business to a crime scene and hazard cleaning business. Over the past few years, Sadie's Pro Cleaning has grown from strength to strength. Join us today to hear how Sadie has flourished in a male-dominated industry, turning herself from an unemployed single mom into a successful business owner who is getting ready to buy her own house!

Key Points From This Episode:

Sadie and Vincencia’s first meeting, and the special relationship they have had since.
Statistics that highlight how difficult it is to succeed as a small business.
What Sadie's Pro Cleaning started as, and how it has changed since the pandemic.
Two pivotal moments in Sadie's life that have led her to where she is today.
How Sadie funded her business initially, and the funding sources she turned to when she pivoted during the pandemic.
Why Sadie recommends every business owner hires a CPA.
Dirty Rotten Cleaners; the new T.V. show that Sadie’s Pro Cleaners is featured on.
The pushback that Sadie received about her logo, and why she decided to stick with it.
How Sadie’s life has changed since she became a successful entrepreneur.
Advice from Sadie for any other entrepreneurs starting a business.
Sadie’s goals for the year.
The biggest challenge that Sadie has experienced on her journey as an entrepreneur.
Sadie's commitment to diversity and challenges she's experienced.
Sadie also discusses how the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program helped her realize her dreams.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Sadie’s Pro Cleaning Business Line — 183377SADIE

Sadie’s Pro Cleaning Business Line — 2033509464

Sadie’s Pro Cleaning

Sadie’s Pro Cleaning on Instagram

Sadie Marshall on Instagram

Dirty Rotten Cleaners

Dirty Rotten Cleaners Episode 3

Dirty Rotten Cleaners Episode 7

YIMBY Nation Email

Episode 6: Reforming Housing, Investing in People & Identifying Contracting Opportunities with Gregory Russ, Chair/CEO, NYC Housing Authority Feb 15, 2022

Show notes

Today, we are joined by Gregory Russ to talk about how NYCHA is reforming its approach to public housing in New York. Gregory was appointed Chair and CEO of the NYC Housing Authority in 2019. He is a seasoned housing professional with decades of management experience, who has helped to rebuild and strengthen public housing authorities across the country. Gregory begins by laying out the context of the issues New York is facing, where he describes a dysfunctional institutional structure combined with severely undercapitalized housing stock. He touches on the history of NYCHA’s recapitalization issues and the methods they are using to rectify this by reforming their approach in line with the HUD agreement. He breaks down NYCHA’s recent adoption of a property-first mentality, the role of partnerships with investors in growing support, and how programs such as RAD and PACT are being utilized as mechanisms for recapitalization and investment. What Gregory shares is encouraging in terms of the future for NYCHA and public housing in general, so be sure to join for today’s discussion.

Key Points From This Episode:

An introduction to Gregory, his education, and his career in the public housing sphere.
What led to Gregory’s position with NYCHA and how the HUD agreement fits into its new approach.
Issues around a dysfunctional institutional structure and an undercapitalized housing stock.
How NYCHA is transforming its approach using a property-first mentality.
Gregory’s thoughts on whether public housing in NYC can be sustained.
The need to reinvest capital into public housing for it to be sustainable.
The role of partnerships with investors in strengthening the program.
Gregory’s assessment of RAD and how it is helping sustain public housing.
The series of investment options provided by NYCHA’s PACT program.
Past criticism NYCHA has received around poor maintenance and how they are rectifying this.
Big achievements Gregory hopes to accomplish with NYCHA in the coming months.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Gregory Russ on LinkedIn

Gregory Russ on Twitter

NYC Housing Authority

YIMBY Nation Email

Episode 5: Activism and ACORN: The Global Fight for Affordable and Livable Housing with Wade Rathke Dec 22, 2021

Show notes

Welcome back to YIMBY Nation! Joining us in conversation today is Wade Rathke, from ACORN International, which fights for the basic rights of people – better security, health, housing, education, and employment conditions, and more responsive, truly representative government. You’ll hear about Wade’s long and groundbreaking history with the organization, starting with working to bring laws into policy to be able to enact change in the fight for affordable and livable housing worldwide. The hosts of YIMBY Nation and Wade delve into the current state of our world with stark realism, and a hopeful gaze at the future, as well as revealing how ACORN’s work differs in the US, Canada, Peru, Africa, India, and beyond. We hope you join us to hear all of this and more today.

Key Points From This Episode:

An introduction to today’s guest, Wade Rathke.
Wade’s history with ACORN International, working in 15 countries across the world. It has local offices in Argentina, Peru, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Canada, India, and Kenya and partnerships in Indonesia, Korea, and the Philippines.
The current state of marginalized communities.
Why the show hosts and Wade have been so involved in empowering communities facing social issues like economic development and fair housing.
How fighting for housing rights differs in the US and other countries.
The importance of ACORN being a membership organization and not an NGO.
The backwards movement in US welfare.
What Wade finds hopeful about the global approach to welfare and housing.
A reflection with Wade and the hosts on if they believe they have changed the world in the way they intended through advocacy.
How the commitment to equitable housing has shifted over time.
How resources and obstacles change across the globe although people want the same things.
What ACORN does to ensure the same approach across different affiliates in different countries.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Acorn International
Wade Rathke on Twitter
Wade Rathke on LinkedIn
Wade's Website
Wade Rathke on Email

YIMBY Nation Email

Bruce "Two Dogs" Bozum on LinkedIn

Episode 4: Community Development, The COVID-19 Impact & The Tribal Response with Bruce “Two Dogs” Bozsum Sep 21, 2021

Show notes

On today’s show, we are pleased to welcome Bruce “Two Dogs” Bozum, President of Eight Paws NDN, a Native Gaming Consulting firm. Bruce was first elected to the Mohegan Tribal Council in 2004, where served for eight years as Chairman and helped to secure refinancing for Mohegan Sun. He was involved in the expansion of the Mohegan Sun brand into Pennsylvania, Atlantic City, Washington State, Massachusetts, and New York. In this episode, Bruce describes community development in the sovereign state of the Mohegan Tribe, including how its community is housed on the reservation, whether or not they are affected by the affordable housing crisis in Connecticut, and what we can learn from their community revenue sharing structure. We also touch on the perceptions of outsiders, what pushback the Mohegans receive from NIMBY locals as they look to expand, and how home and land ownership works on the reservation. Tune in today to learn more about the Mohegan approach to building a more resilient and equitable community!

Key Points From This Episode:

Bruce introduces himself and how he came to operate Mohegan Sun.
How the Mohegan Tribe as a sovereign nation determines how its community is housed.
Bruce responds to the affordable housing crisis in Connecticut; whether the tribe is affected.
How it works if a tribe member is interested in housing outside the reservation.
The pushback the Mohegan Tribe receives from NIMBY locals as they seek to expand.
Hear about the Mohegan attitude towards family and how they look out for their own.
The short-term impacts of COVID-19 on Bruce’s community of 3,000 individuals.
Learn about Mohegan tribal structure and governance and the role Bruce plays.
Bruce elaborates on their revenue sharing structure and how his community has been affected by the eviction crisis.
What states and business leaders can learn from the Mohegan Tribe community.
How Bruce responds to perceptions from outsiders, who believe the Mohegans are wealthy.
The difference in ownership between Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods.
Bruce talks about expansion of the Mohegan Sun brand and opportunities for new facilities.
What Bruce has been working on, including the song he has out on Spotify.
Find out how home and land ownership works on the Mohegan reservation.
Bruce’s advice for building stronger and more equitable communities: communication is key!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Mohegan Sun

YIMBY Nation Email

Seila Mosquera-Bruno on LinkedIn

Episode 3: The State Response to the Housing Crisis with Seila Mosquera-Bruno Aug 31, 2021

Show notes

Today’s guest on YIMBY Nation is Seila Mosquera-Bruno, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Housing (CDOH) and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA). Appointed by Governor Ned Lamont, Seila brings a wealth of knowledge to the Department of Housing. Prior to her appointment, she was the President and Chief Executive Officer of NeighborWorks New Horizons (NWNH), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing affordable housing opportunities to help build strong communities and revitalize neighborhoods, which expanded its operations beyond New Haven County to New London and Fairfield counties under her leadership. Seila holds a Master’s degree in Urban Studies from Southern Connecticut State University, a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Charter Oak College, and she completed the Community Development fellowship program at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. She has also served on the National NeighborWorks Association board and is co-chair of their National Real Estate Development Advisory Council. In this episode, Seila shares her mission to increase access to quality housing opportunities in the State of Connecticut, the important role that education plays, and how individual communities can address housing inequalities by being proactive. We also touch on Seila’s advice for creating more diverse and equitable communities and the value of collaborative efforts between the state, organizations, and individual communities using the resources available. Tune in today to learn more!

Key Points From This Episode:

Seila introduces herself and her mission to increase access to quality housing opportunities.
The historic and current systemic issues behind the lack of affordable housing in CT and what Seila’s department is doing to remedy them.
She highlights the holistic approach required to address housing supply and demand issues.
The importance of educating the state and communities about affordable housing.
Learn more about the CDOH Affordable Housing Plan and Process Guidebook.
How the CDOH is supporting Black and Latinx households facing eviction in CT with legal aid.
How households in need can access the UniteCT emergency rental assistance program.
Why Seila views House Bill 6430 as a means to increase production of affordable housing.
What individual communities can do to address CT housing inequalities; be proactive.
Tips to create more diverse and equitable communities: embrace change, be more tolerant, and be willing to learn from one another.
The power of working together with the resources available to accomplish shared goals.
The critical interplay between education systems, communities, homes, and the state.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Connecticut State Department of Housing

Connecticut Housing Finance Authority

Affordable Housing Plan and Process Guidebook

UniteCT

YIMBY Nation Email

Karen DuBois-Walton on Twitter

Episode 2: The COVID Eviction Crisis with Karen DuBois-Walton Aug 13, 2021

Show notes

Welcome to the first episode of Your In My Back Yard Nation, the podcast that looks at housing from a macro level to understand the aspects of life it impacts. In this episode, we invite Dr. Karen DuBois-Walton to help us address the COVID eviction crisis which disproportionately affects Black and Latinx renters in Connecticut. Dr. DuBois-Walton is the President of Elm City Communities, the largest public housing authority in the state of Connecticut. Before taking the helm of the ECC she served New Haven as Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff for former Mayor John DeStefano. She has also been named one of the 100 most influential Blacks in Connecticut and was awarded the Greater New Haven NAACP Community Service Award, so we cannot think of a better guest to kick off the show! Our conversation begins on the subject of the housing crisis and how it has been exacerbated by the pandemic. We then dig deeper into the issue of long-term housing segregation and poverty in communities of color which have sown the seeds for what we are experiencing today. Dr. Dubois-Walton weighs in on actions that have and can still be taken by federal, state, and local governments to help address the issue. She also talks about some of the advocacy she has headed up such as pulling together non-federal funds to cancel rent for an entire month. Tune in and hear more about how Dr. DuBois-Walton is helping to break cycles of poverty in Connecticut today.

Key Points From This Episode:

An intro into Dr. DuBois-Walton and the amazing work she does for Connecticut.
How the issue of eviction disproportionately affects people of color in Connecticut.
Lack of affordable housing access and how the pandemic has exacerbated this issue.
A severe crisis looming; smaller landlords that can’t weather tenants who can’t pay rent.
Actions that can be taken by federal, state, and local governments to help address the issue.
On-the-ground actions that Dr. DuBois-Walton has headed up to aid the crisis.
How private sectors can help ECC aid people who can’t afford rent in the long term.
Tough decisions families have to make between work and family and how this feeds the issue.
Dr. DuBois-Walton weighs in on the history of housing policy and the broader issue of segregation.
How our guest is trying to address the issue of segregation and rental through HB No. 6430.
The work of breaking cycles of poverty for families and helping them build wealth.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Karen DuBois-Walton

Elm City Communities

Episode 1: Housing Uncut: Introducing YIMBY Nation Jul 26, 2021

Show notes

Today we are excited to introduce you to the YIMBY Nation podcast where we will be exploring US housing policies and pathways to building more equitable neighborhoods. YIMBY Nation will focus on the nuts and bolts of affordable housing development and the socio-economic issues related to it, such as poverty, eviction, employment, supportive services, education, and healthcare. In this first episode, we meet our hosts Jimmy Miller, Peter Wood, and Vincencia Adusei, or “Vee”. We hear about their backgrounds, their careers, and their passion for housing development. We discuss the concept of ‘NIMBY’ or ‘NIMBYism’, meaning ‘Not In My Back Yard’, as a negative reaction by many people across the country towards efforts to create affordable housing and mixed-income communities in suburban areas. We then explain how the title of this podcast ‘YIMBY Nation’ is turning this concept on its head, with ‘YIMBY’ standing for ‘Yes, In My Back Yard’. Tune in today to hear personal stories of neighborhoods that have been transformed from an attitude of ‘NIMBY’ to that of ‘YIMBY’. Find out what to expect from future episodes and be inspired by true stories of the change that is possible!

Key Points From This Episode:

An introduction to the YIMBY Nation podcast and its mission to help build more equitable neighborhoods.
An introduction to Jimmy Miller and what inspired him to get into housing development.
An introduction to Peter Wood and what sparked his passion for social justice and housing development.
Vincencia Adusei’s background in Ghana, her career, and what led her to help create this podcast.
An explanation of the title ‘YIMBY’ as a reaction to ‘NIMBY’.
How zoning laws have enforced the NIMBY effect.
Jimmy and Peter reflect on a development where they came up against NIMBYism and a fence that separated communities.
Peter talks about another experience and the positive response from residents when they overturned a zoning denial.
How Vee is hoping that the podcast will help people have an open mind and be receptive to change.
Upcoming guests you can expect in future episodes.
Peter’s hopes that the podcast will inspire young people to get involved in housing development.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

YIMBY Nation Email