Description:Barbara Jordan's passion for community building in low and moderate income neighborhoods was illustrated by her staunch support for the Community Reinvestment Act. Progress and investment in these neighborhoods represented a necessary change from decades of segregation and abandonment. However, local tax codes, large commercial developments, and an influx of wealthier residents threaten to tear at the fabric of these communities and displace families who have lived there for generations. In Austin, community members and advocates fear that the development of the East Side Corridor constitutes such a threat.

Please join Social, Health, and Economic Policymakers for a brown bag discussion on the issues surrounding the East Side Corridor. In the spirit of Barbara Jordan, students and community members will have the opportunity to engage in a thoughtful discussion on the implications of commercial development for families and the opportunities for developers and city planners to collaborate with affected communities.