A.C.T.O.R. presents a Community Discussion on Gentrification
Date and Time
Jan 4, 2015 4:00 pm
Location
14th & V
2021 14th St NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20009
Jan 4, 2015 4:00 pm
14th & V
A.C.T.O.R. (A Continuing Talk on Race) presents: Deconstructing Gentrification: Development Without Community
We are excited to kick-off 2015 with an A.C.T.O.R. discussion on the highly complex topic of gentrification and its disproportionately negative impact on poorer communities and people of color. With insight from our highly distinguished panel, we will explore the definition and causes of gentrification, as well as constructive actions to counteract the current models of urban development and displacement.
This A.C.T.O.R. topic is brought to you FOR and BY the community. In October we held a workshop with A.C.T.O.R. participants of diverse backgrounds and perspectives to highlight the most relevant topics and social challenges at the intersection of race, class and culture for 2015. Busboys and Poets thanks everyone who supports our in-house series and helps makes them truly community-driven spaces.
Our panelists:
Robert Samuels - Reporter, Washington Post
Jennifer Bryant - Organizer, ONE DC
Patrick Madden - District Reporter, WAMU
Eugene Puryear - Activist, Author and Former City Council Candidate
Facilitated by:
Nafisa Isa - Program Innovations Specialist, Busboys and Poets
Bob Schlehuber - Freelance Peacebuilder
Robert Samuels is a staff writer with The Washington Post. Robert writes for the paper's social issues team, specializing in stories that demonstrate the impact of the District's changing demographics. He's spent the past year and a half examining affordability and homeless issues. Robert joined the Post in 2011 after spending nearly five years working at The Miami Herald. He grew up in the Bronx and is an alumnus of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern, where he was editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, The Daily Northwestern.
Patrick Madden is the District Reporter at WAMU. He has covered city hall for the past four years and has won several awards for his coverage, including last year's Edward R. Murrow for investigative journalism. Madden is also a frequent guest analyst on The Politics Hour and was a panelist at the 2010 mayoral debate at the Newseum.
Before joining WAMU in 2006, Madden worked at NBC4 and C-SPAN. He is originally from New York, attended Emory University in Atlanta and holds a master's degree in journalism from American University.
Eugene Puryear in 2014, ran as a D.C. Statehood Green Party candidate, for the At-Large City Council seat currently held by Anita Bonds. His campaign has put forward a 10-point program, which describes some policy positions taken by the Howard University graduate. On April 1, 2014, Puryear won the party's nomination, defeating G. Lee Aikin, 67.3% to 25.1%. On November 4, 2014, Puryear placed fifth out of 14 candidates in the general election.
Puryear studied at Howard University, where became a lead organizer with the anti-war ANSWER coalition and has helped organize large protests against the Israeli blockade of Gaza. He also writes for the PSL's newspaper and journal. Puryear and the ANSWER coalition were involved in the campaign to free the Jena 6. As a freshman at Howard in 2005, Puryear was interviewed by the Washington Post as an "activist-in-training" and cited his engagement with activism against gentrification, racism, the US occupation of Iraq and other issues. In November 2010, RT interviewed Puryear regarding socialism in the United States.
Jennifer Bryant is an organizer with ONE DC. Her work centers on Right to Income and involves the development of a DC Black Workers Center. Jennifer is co-host of Voices with Vision on WPFW 89.3FM and does Cuban solidarity work with the Venceremos Brigade. She holds a B.A. from Howard University and an M.A. from St. John’s University.
Bob Schlehuber holds a B.A. in Communication and Political Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a M.A. in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University. Bob served in Peace Corps Ukraine in youth development. Bob works as a freelance peacebuilder in Washington, D.C. both creating his own projects and partnering with others working on community organizing and the arts. Current partners include Dennis Kucinich, Heartbeat: The Israeli Palestinian Youth Music Project, and Freedom Beat.
The A.C.T.O.R. (A Continuing Talk on Race) open discussion series is hosted by Busboys and Poets as a community service. It provides the opportunity for people to come together and speak openly and honestly about issues of race. The intent is that each person walks away from the discussion feeling something: challenged, educated, uncomfortable, enlightened, refreshed, reassured and hopefully inspired and moved to action! Each month there is a new topic for discussion.
Free and open to all. To be added to the A.C.T.O.R. email list, please email nafisa@busboysandpoets.com
A.C.T.O.R. is held on the first Sunday of every month at Busboys and Poets 14 th & V; 5:00 PM.
