Reclaiming Place and Power
A Coffee Break with Majora Carter
Every neighborhood carries a story, and too often those stories have been shaped by forces of disinvestment, displacement, and erasure. But what happens when neighbors refuse to accept that narrative? When they claim their place with fierce love and creative grit?
In this Coffee Break conversation, Tim Soerens sits down with Majora Carter—urban revitalization strategist, real estate developer, and author of Reclaiming Your Community—to talk about belonging, ownership, and what it means to fight for the soul of your neighborhood.
If you care about place, equity, economic justice, and nurturing beauty where others see blight, you’ll want to catch this one.
What You’ll Hear in This Conversation:
The legacy of disinvestment and how neighborhoods get labeled "undeserving" Majora shares the structural history behind the South Bronx’s reputation, tracing back redlining, systemic racism, and financial neglect that has impacted generations.
Why Majora became a real estate developer in her own backyard Tired of watching her neighborhood be shaped by outsiders, Majora boldly stepped into real estate development to reclaim land, foster local ownership, and spark economic resilience from within.
Stories of creativity and grit: from waterfront parks to beloved cafes You’ll hear about the creation of Boogie Down Grind café and the revitalization of a historic rail station as spaces for joy, gathering, and economic opportunity in the heart of the South Bronx.
Why churches and faith communities should be developers too Majora calls faith communities to steward their properties with vision, investing in their neighborhoods for long-term justice, beauty, and belonging rather than handing over land to speculative developers.
Watch the Preview Below 👇
Take the Next Step
This isn’t just a conversation. It’s an invitation. Whether you’re planting flowers on your block, dreaming of affordable housing, or cheering on a neighbor’s small business, your love for place matters.
What would it look like to claim agency in your neighborhood this season? What one small act of care, creativity, or advocacy could you offer this week?
Because every act of love for a place makes room for resurrection.
