Creating and Creating and Sustaining Diversity Sustaining Diversity in the 21st Century:in the 21st Century:

Lessons from the Lessons from the NeighborhoodsNeighborhoods

Important time in U.S. historyImportant time in U.S. history

We are becoming a more diverse We are becoming a more diverse nationnation

By 2050 it is projected that the U.S. By 2050 it is projected that the U.S. population will be 50% “minority”population will be 50% “minority”

And there is increased acceptance of diversityAnd there is increased acceptance of diversity

According to a 1997 Gallup Poll:According to a 1997 Gallup Poll:61% of all Whites & 83% of all Blacks in the 61% of all Whites & 83% of all Blacks in the U.S. stated that they would “rather live in a U.S. stated that they would “rather live in a neighborhood with both black and white neighborhood with both black and white families.”families.”

When Whites were asked if they would When Whites were asked if they would move if Blacks “moved into the neighborhood move if Blacks “moved into the neighborhood in great numbers,” only 18% reported that in great numbers,” only 18% reported that they would move. [In 1967 this figure was they would move. [In 1967 this figure was 72%.]72%.]

According to a 1997 Gallup Poll:According to a 1997 Gallup Poll:61% of all Whites & 83% of all Blacks in the 61% of all Whites & 83% of all Blacks in the U.S. stated that they would “rather live in a U.S. stated that they would “rather live in a neighborhood with both black and white neighborhood with both black and white families.”families.”

When Whites were asked if they would When Whites were asked if they would move if Blacks “moved into the neighborhood move if Blacks “moved into the neighborhood in great numbers,” only 18% reported that in great numbers,” only 18% reported that they would move. [In 1967 this figure was they would move. [In 1967 this figure was 72%.]72%.]

Increased acceptance of diversityIncreased acceptance of diversity

A 1997 A 1997 Boston GlobeBoston Globe poll found that: poll found that:““Almost 90% of blacks, whites, Latinos, Almost 90% of blacks, whites, Latinos, and Asians say they have developed and Asians say they have developed friendships that cross racial and ethnic lines”friendships that cross racial and ethnic lines”

““Although many Americans still chose to Although many Americans still chose to live with their own ethnic or racial groups, live with their own ethnic or racial groups, strong majorities of all colors profess strong majorities of all colors profess tolerance of other races and ethnic groups”tolerance of other races and ethnic groups”

Existence of stable, diverse neighborhoodsExistence of stable, diverse neighborhoods

Racially, ethnically, and Racially, ethnically, and economically diverse communities economically diverse communities exist in many citiesexist in many cities

Bucking the stereotype that a Bucking the stereotype that a diverse neighborhood=a “changing” diverse neighborhood=a “changing” neighborhoodneighborhood

What factors contribute to stable What factors contribute to stable diversity?diversity?

Research focusing on the positive storyResearch focusing on the positive storyFocus on policies & strategies that Focus on policies & strategies that have have

broughtbrought and and can bring aboutcan bring about stable diversity stable diversity to urban neighborhoodsto urban neighborhoods

We know there is greater demand for diverse We know there is greater demand for diverse neighborhoods than there are diverse neighborhoods than there are diverse neighborhoods availableneighborhoods available

By presenting positive examples of stable By presenting positive examples of stable diversity, we can short circuit notion that diversity, we can short circuit notion that diversity is only a temporary point in diversity is only a temporary point in resegregationresegregation

The StudyThe Study

Coordinated by the Loyola University Coordinated by the Loyola University Center for Urban Research and Center for Urban Research and Learning, the Policy Research Action Learning, the Policy Research Action Group, and the Leadership Council for Group, and the Leadership Council for Metropolitan Open CommunitiesMetropolitan Open Communities

A collaborative university:community, A collaborative university:community, researcher:practitioner effortresearcher:practitioner effort

Funded by HUDFunded by HUD

The studyThe study

““Diversity” is defined as how close Diversity” is defined as how close each tract came to the whole city’s each tract came to the whole city’s racial and ethnic compositionracial and ethnic composition

““Stable” is defined as approximating Stable” is defined as approximating this diversity for two consecutive this diversity for two consecutive census years (1980 and 1990) census years (1980 and 1990)

Which communities did we study?Which communities did we study?

Fourteen neighborhoods in nine Fourteen neighborhoods in nine citiescities

Place US map with studied cities here

Which communities did we study?Which communities did we study?

New York CityNew York City Jackson Heights, QueensJackson Heights, QueensFort Green, BrooklynFort Green, Brooklyn

PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaWest Mt. AiryWest Mt. Airy

MemphisMemphisVollintine-EvergreenVollintine-Evergreen

Which communities did we study?Which communities did we study?MilwaukeeMilwaukee

Sherman ParkSherman ParkChicagoChicago

Rogers ParkRogers ParkEdgewaterEdgewaterUptownUptownChicago Lawn (Marquette Park)Chicago Lawn (Marquette Park)

DenverDenverPark HillPark Hill

Which communities did we study?Which communities did we study?

HoustonHoustonHouston HeightsHouston Heights

OaklandOaklandFruitvaleFruitvaleSan AntonioSan Antonio

SeattleSeattleSoutheast SeattleSoutheast Seattle

Common CharacteristicsCommon Characteristics

““Attractive” Physical CharacteristicsAttractive” Physical CharacteristicsMixture of types of diversityMixture of types of diversity

Within blocksWithin blocksSmall pockets of racial/ethnic homogeneitySmall pockets of racial/ethnic homogeneity

Presence of “social seams”Presence of “social seams”Residents’ awareness of their community’s Residents’ awareness of their community’s

stable diversitystable diversityCommunity-based organizations Community-based organizations

contributing to maintaining diversitycontributing to maintaining diversity

Common CharacteristicsCommon Characteristics

Moral or value-oriented component to Moral or value-oriented component to community organization/institution community organization/institution involvementinvolvement

Efforts to spur economic developmentEfforts to spur economic developmentCommon ChallengesCommon Challenges

transition from older to younger residentstransition from older to younger residentsaddressing community disinvestmentaddressing community disinvestmentcommunity safetycommunity safetyschoolsschools

Common ChallengesCommon Challenges

Transition from older to younger Transition from older to younger residentsresidents

Addressing community Addressing community disinvestmentdisinvestment

Community safetyCommunity safetyImproving quality of educationImproving quality of education

Two models of diversityTwo models of diversity

Diversity by DirectionDiversity by DirectionDiversity by CircumstanceDiversity by Circumstance

Diversity by DirectionDiversity by Direction

Emerged out of civil rights movement of Emerged out of civil rights movement of the 1960sthe 1960s

actively market themselves actively market themselves as diverse as diverse

developed an array of developed an array of community organizations, community organizations, social networks, & social networks, & institutional accommodations institutional accommodations to sustain diversityto sustain diversity

Diverse by DirectionDiverse by Direction

Community-based organization Community-based organization intervention:intervention:promoting positive perceptionspromoting positive perceptionsaffirmative marketing programsaffirmative marketing programsmonitoring fair housing lawsmonitoring fair housing lawsaddressing quality of life concernsaddressing quality of life concerns

Religious congregations play prominent Religious congregations play prominent rolerole

Social seams well developedSocial seams well developed

Diverse by DirectionDiverse by Direction

More political and financial resourcesMore political and financial resourcesWorking relationships with banks Working relationships with banks

and real estate agentsand real estate agentsEmergence of strong leadership Emergence of strong leadership

within communitywithin communityBi-racial or bi-ethnic, rather than Bi-racial or bi-ethnic, rather than

multi-racial/ethnic charactermulti-racial/ethnic character

Diversity by CircumstanceDiversity by Circumstance

Community has not worked directly Community has not worked directly to develop/sustain to develop/sustain

its diversity: the its diversity: the community happens community happens to become diverse to become diverse

Diversity by CircumstanceDiversity by Circumstance

Result of economic & social processes not Result of economic & social processes not directly related to resident or community directly related to resident or community organization actions, such as:organization actions, such as: gentrification stalled by poor real estate marketgentrification stalled by poor real estate market establishment of port of entry for new immigrantsestablishment of port of entry for new immigrants revitalization of adjacent areas/spill-over revitalization of adjacent areas/spill-over

investmentinvestment transition because of aging populationtransition because of aging population development of affordable housingdevelopment of affordable housing

Social seams not as visible or as strongSocial seams not as visible or as strong

Diversity by CircumstanceDiversity by Circumstance

Multi-racial and/or multi-ethnic diversityMulti-racial and/or multi-ethnic diversity

Network of community organizations Network of community organizations that represents different ethnic/racial that represents different ethnic/racial group interestsgroup interests

Diversity by CircumstanceDiversity by Circumstance

Lower median Lower median incomeincome

Affordable housing Affordable housing represents larger represents larger portion of housing portion of housing stockstock

Diversity by Circumstance: meeting the challengesDiversity by Circumstance: meeting the challenges

Religious Religious institutions act as institutions act as bridges between bridges between multiple ethnic multiple ethnic groupsgroups

Developing efforts Developing efforts to weave together to weave together various ethnic and various ethnic and racial groupsracial groups

Recommendations & ConclusionsRecommendations & Conclusions

Develop strategies to strengthen Develop strategies to strengthen community-based organizationscommunity-based organizations

Establish regional networks of Establish regional networks of diverse communitiesdiverse communities

Create leadership training institutesCreate leadership training institutesPublic & private agencies should Public & private agencies should

earmark resources specifically for earmark resources specifically for diverse communitiesdiverse communities

Recommendations & ConclusionsRecommendations & ConclusionsIncreased receptivity to new immigrant Increased receptivity to new immigrant

groupsgroupsMaintain or strengthen fair housing laws, Maintain or strengthen fair housing laws,

anti-discrimination laws, the Community anti-discrimination laws, the Community Reinvestment Act, & other related state Reinvestment Act, & other related state & local laws& local laws

Government agencies should be Government agencies should be proactive in promoting diverse proactive in promoting diverse neighborhoodsneighborhoods

Recommendations & ConclusionsRecommendations & ConclusionsThe media should take an active role in The media should take an active role in

telling positive stories of diverse community telling positive stories of diverse community successessuccesses

Support public & private programs Support public & private programs supporting mixed-income developmentssupporting mixed-income developments

Business should look carefully at diverse Business should look carefully at diverse communities as potentially strong marketscommunities as potentially strong markets

Bolster the quality of local schoolsBolster the quality of local schoolsPromote efforts to improve community safetyPromote efforts to improve community safety

Looking ahead to the future...Looking ahead to the future...

We can end the notion that We can end the notion that the only stable the only stable neighborhood is a neighborhood is a segregated neighborhoodsegregated neighborhood

Greenhouse/Boston Globe