Defying Gentrification

Kristen Jeffers, MPA ✊🏽🌈
  • 5.0 (8)
  • DESIGN
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Love living in cities, but tired of feeling like you don't belong or don't understand why and how they work? Want to understand more about what gentrification means and how to both defy and eradicate it?  Join me, Kristen Jeffers, Black queer feminist, disabled, urbanist essayist, editor, and urban planner from the South, living in the MidAtlantic, each week, along with some special guests, to discuss gentrification: what it is, and what it isn't, and how we as Black folks and our co-conspirators, can not just survive on a changing planet but thrive. We'll discuss hot topics in urban planning, real estate,  housing, and transportation. We will teach you everything you need to know about complex and complicated topics in the field, so you can be equipped to help your community thrive. We are committed to justice and liberation and we hope you'll feel better and empowered after listening.  Follow Kristen X, Instagram, Bluesky, Threads @blackurbanist LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenejeffers/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@defyinggentrification theblackurbanist.substack.com

  1. 05/22/2025

    Black folks can be agents and victims of gentrification, nothing more and nothing less. Oh, and I'm going to be doing my art in peace.

    Hey y'all! This is an update on the future of this platform. My health has dictated that instead of leading with defying gentrification, I need to lead with crafting liberation. Or in other words, I need to center my art projects and imbue them with the values about community and collectivity that I've always honored. I'm tired of being sick and broke trying to make folks listen. So this podcast will be shifting focus, but keeping the same name for now. Oh and to make it clear from what the episode title is and why, here's my final word on Black folks and gentrification: Black folks, especially in the diaspora, but sometimes even in heavily colonized areas of our home continent, can facilitate gentrification over their own people. And of course it can happen to us. But until the day we globally admit that Black folks that aren’t named Oprah, Beyonce, Tyler Perry, and other documented Black billionaires and millionaires can’t be gentrifiers, we are done as a movement and as a people. Those people I named aren’t above being followed, sanctioned, denied financing opportunities, and the like for what they are intending to do with their work, because of global white supremacy over the financing markets and sometimes just the pettiest of racisms and other isms we do need to process as a people. Also, I will have 15th anniversary celebration this falll, a showcase of what the future of Kristen Jeffers Media will hold. Get full access to Defying Gentrification, Crafting Liberation at theblackurbanist.substack.com/subscribe

    7 min

  2. 04/25/2025

    Gentrification is fascist, but it's not too late to stop either.

    Today I am back to meet the moment with encouragement for us to meet our fears and comfort head on, around defying and ending gentrification, so that we can beat fascism, not just at the White House, US Capitol, and Supreme Court, but in our hearts, minds, neighborhoods, and communities. I encourage you the listener, to have faith, to ground yourself and to remember that you one, aren’t alone or powerless and two, you don’t have to stay got by the system, but you better wake up to the fact the system as it is is probably not in your favor. People and Things I Mentioned in the Episode The songs I played (copyrights maintained by each performer) Kurt Carr and the Kurt Carr Singers, I Almost Let Go - Beautiful Chorus, I Am Enough - Toni Jones - Currensea - The articles I mentioned in the first half Hampton Insitute on Gentirfication as a Settler Colonial Project — makes the case for gentrification as settler-colonialism More on Ruth Glass, the British scholar who gave us the word gentrification — s original definition of gentrification, which was more relatable to the context of London and how it had become “Americanized” (in her words) And I don’t mention this Liberation School article directly, but it ties gentrification back to what begat it, capitalism — https://www.liberationschool.org/gentrification-a-revolutionary-understanding/ And finally, my podcast from earlier this year on building radical communities from a faith-based perspective with Rev. Dr. Andrew Wilkes Listen on YouTube And of course, the full newsletter that I read from and played music from — https://theblackurbanist.substack.com/p/yes-gentrification-is-fascism-but?utm_source=activity_item Ways to Support Me That Help Me Pay the Bills in These Times — Become a Patreon — https://www.patreon.com/kristenejeffers — Become a Medium Member — https://medium.com/@blackurbanist — Go Paid on Substack — — Shop my Store on Bookshop.org - www.bookshop.org/shop/kristenejeffers — Shop my Kristpattern fiber arts supply shop — https://www.kristpattern.com — Watch the Defying Gentrification YouTube Channel —https://www.youtube.com/defyinggentrification — Watch the Kristpattern YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/kristpattern Get full access to Defying Gentrification, Crafting Liberation at theblackurbanist.substack.com/subscribe

    40 min
  3. Making Plenty Good Room with Rev. Dr. Andrew Wilkes

    02/02/2025

    Making Plenty Good Room with Rev. Dr. Andrew Wilkes

    These are times that call on a radical belief in oneself and their community. Back in October just shortly before the US Election, I interviewed Rev. Dr. Andrew Wilkes about his book Plenty Good Room, which invites the Black Church to think beyond electon cycles and go to the root of how it can be a radical force in not just American politics, but the wellbeing of all of us as Earthlings. Yeah, timely. Unfortunately, because of the recent US Election and regime change, it took me a minute to prepare this episode for you, but it’s here now and ready. Plus, my beloved partner Les Henderson joins me for a moment of reflection on faith and will be joining me in our next few episodes. Here’s Rev. Dr. Wilkes’s bio Reverend Andrew Wilkes, Ph.D., is a pastor, political scientist, writer, and contemplative. He is the co-lead, co-founding pastor of the Double Love Experience Church in Brooklyn, New York, and the former Executive Director of the Drum Major Institute, a social change organization founded by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Wilkes is a 2022 inductee into the Martin Luther King Board of Preachers at Morehouse College and a proud alum of Hampton University, Princeton Theological Seminary, CUNY Graduate Center, and the Coro Public Affairs Fellowship. He is the author of Freedom Notes: Reflections on Faith, Justice, and the Possibility of Democracy; co-author of Psalms for Black Lives; and author of Plenty Good Room: Co-Creating an Economy of Enough for All. His writing and voice have been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Essence Magazine, Stanford Social Innovation Review, and Dr. Henry Louis Gates' PBS Gospel series. Dr. Wilkes is the elated husband of Rev. Dr. Gabby Cudjoe-Wilkes and lives in Brooklyn, New York. Watch PBS's The Black Church Here https://www.pbs.org/show/black-church/ Read my recent newsletter spelling out the seven principles of Defying Gentrification (since  i forgot to put them in the episode https://theblackurbanist.com/this-is-my-house-and-in-it-i-get-to-defy-gentrification-my-way-all-day-every-day/ Purchase from Kristen's Bookshop.org store and support the podcast! And merch and crafting classes via www.kristpattern.com Never miss an episode, subscribe to our Substack , LinkedIn, Wordpress, or Pattreon You can also find Kristen @blackurbanist or @kristpattern. Get full access to Defying Gentrification, Crafting Liberation at theblackurbanist.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 15m
  4. The Grief that Gentrification Brings

    05/31/2024

    The Grief that Gentrification Brings

    Even though this was a rough week for me, I decided that I wanted to let you in a bit and drop a few moments of a chat on how gentrification compounds my grief. This is a raw edit with no full ad and no full segments, just me reflecting on how I've been grieving this week for years and how gentrification adds to that. Purchase from Kristen's Bookshop.org store and support the podcast! Never miss an episode, subscribe to our Substack or on LinkedIn You can also find Kristen @blackurbanist or @kristpattern. Get full access to Defying Gentrification, Crafting Liberation at theblackurbanist.substack.com/subscribe

    21 min
  5. [PODCAST] Past and Present Black Migrations for Liberation with Arionne Nettles

    05/24/2024

    [PODCAST] Past and Present Black Migrations for Liberation with Arionne Nettles

    I knew this week sitting down with Chicago-based journalist Arionne Nettles was going to be a great conversation, but I was very excited about what she had to share, about how Black migration and neighborhood choices past and present are in defiance of gentrification. And our hot topic this week is the terrible parking meter deal that the mayor of Chicago made in 2008, that’s actually not how you want to pay for parking. Watch and listen above! About Our Guest Arionne Nettles is a university lecturer, culture reporter, and audio aficionado. Her stories often look into Chicago history, culture, gun violence, policing, and race & class disparities, and her work has appeared in the New York Times Opinion, Chicago Reader, The Trace, Chicago PBS station WTTW, and NPR affiliate WBEZ. She is a lecturer and the director of audio journalism programming at Northwestern University’s Medill School as well as host of the HBCU history podcast Bragging Rights and Is That True? A Kids Podcast About Facts. Her book, We Are the Culture: Black Chicago’s Influence on Everything, will be published by Chicago Review Press in 2024. Hot Topic Reference article https://news.wttw.com/2023/07/27/wttw-news-explains-what-happened-chicago-s-parking-meter-deal Purchase Arionne’s book from my Bookshop https://bookshop.org/a/5060/9781641608305 And no Sunday essay or Monday livestream this week for the holiday weekend. I’ll see you again on May 31 with another great podcast episode! Get full access to Defying Gentrification, Crafting Liberation at theblackurbanist.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 25m
  6. Past and Present Black Migrations for Liberation with Arionne Nettles

    05/24/2024

    Past and Present Black Migrations for Liberation with Arionne Nettles

    I knew this week sitting down with Chicago-based journalist Arionne Nettles was going to be a great conversation, but I was very excited about what she had to share, about how Black migration and neighborhood choices past and present are in defiance of gentrification. And our hot topic this week is the terrible parking meter deal that the mayor of Chicago made in 2008, that’s actually not how you want to pay for parking. About Our Guest Arionne Nettles is a university lecturer, culture reporter, and audio aficionado. Her stories often look into Chicago history, culture, gun violence, policing, and race & class disparities, and her work has appeared in the New York Times Opinion, Chicago Reader, The Trace, Chicago PBS station WTTW, and NPR affiliate WBEZ. She is a lecturer and the director of audio journalism programming at Northwestern University’s Medill School as well as host of the HBCU history podcast Bragging Rights and Is That True? A Kids Podcast About Facts. Her book, We Are the Culture: Black Chicago’s Influence on Everything, will be published by Chicago Review Press in 2024. Hot Topic Reference article https://news.wttw.com/2023/07/27/wttw-news-explains-what-happened-chicago-s-parking-meter-deal Purchase Arionne’s book from my Bookshop — https://bookshop.org/p/books/we-are-the-culture-black-chicago-s-influence-on-everything-arionne-nettles/20193723?ean=9781641608305  Never miss an episode, subscribe to our Substack or on LinkedIn You can also find Kristen @blackurbanist or @kristpattern. Get full access to Defying Gentrification, Crafting Liberation at theblackurbanist.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 25m
  7. [PODCAST] Resourcefulness and Reparations in North Carolina with Christine Edwards

    05/17/2024

    [PODCAST] Resourcefulness and Reparations in North Carolina with Christine Edwards

    This week on the podcast, I'm joined by Christine Edwards of Civility Localized, a Charlotte-based public engagement firm that is changing the game on so many levels. But most of all, this is an episode of two Black Southern women who are connected in some shape or form to North Carolina, talking about how we both are motivated and have or haven’t been supported by that state. About our Guest Christine Edwards is a civic firebrand who has immersed herself in helping urban communities grow with dignity. Since founding Civility Localized in 2018, her work has affected change nationwide through innovative outreach strategies that support racial equity, reducing barriers to participation, and encouraging sustainable growth for cities. Christine earned her Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Urban Management and Policy from UNC Charlotte. Christine’s work has been featured in Fast Company, Axios, The Business Journals, Queen City Nerve, Mountain Xpress, Pride Magazine, QCity Metro and many other local and national publications. Christine serves as a board member for Generation Nation, an organization cultivating the next generation of civic leaders and is a member of the board of directors for the Humane Society of Charlotte. She enjoys southern food, and loves seeing urban policy theory play out in daily life. * Social Media & Websites: * Websites: https://www.CivilityLocalized.com https://www.CivicImpactAcademy.com https://www.MeetChristine.co * Facebook: https://facebook.com/civilitylocalized * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/civility-localized/ * Twitter: @CivilityCo * Instagram: @CivilityLocalized Also, I had to have an NC-related hot topic this week and it’s about this new mask and protest banning bill, that’s just the latest of laws making me not want to move home again, despite my love and homesickness. Read the reference article here — https://www.wral.com/story/nc-senate-votes-to-ban-people-from-wearing-masks-in-public-for-health-reasons/21433199 And I found two Black North Carolina authors for you to read this week, you can purchase then in my Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/a/5060/9781982163693 https://bookshop.org/a/5060/9780679737889 Never miss an episode, subscribe to my Substack or on LinkedIn You can also find me, Kristen , @blackurbanist or @kristpattern. Get full access to Defying Gentrification, Crafting Liberation at theblackurbanist.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 9m
  8. Resourcefulness and Reparations in North Carolina with Christine Edwards

    05/17/2024

    Resourcefulness and Reparations in North Carolina with Christine Edwards

    This week on the podcast, I'm joined by Christine Edwards of Civility Localized, a Charlotte-based public engagement firm that is changing the game on so many levels. But most of all, this is an episode of two Black Southern women who are connected in some shape or form to North Carolina, talking about how we both are motivated and have or haven’t been supported by that state. About our Guest Christine Edwards is a civic firebrand who has immersed herself in helping urban communities grow with dignity. Since founding Civility Localized in 2018, her work has affected change nationwide through innovative outreach strategies that support racial equity, reducing barriers to participation, and encouraging sustainable growth for cities. Christine earned her Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Urban Management and Policy from UNC Charlotte. Christine’s work has been featured in Fast Company, Axios, The Business Journals, Queen City Nerve, Mountain Xpress, Pride Magazine, QCity Metro and many other local and national publications. Christine serves as a board member for Generation Nation, an organization cultivating the next generation of civic leaders and is a member of the board of directors for the Humane Society of Charlotte. She enjoys southern food, and loves seeing urban policy theory play out in daily life. Social Media & Websites: Websites: https://www.CivilityLocalized.com https://www.CivicImpactAcademy.com https://www.MeetChristine.co Facebook: https://facebook.com/civilitylocalized LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/civility-localized/ Twitter: @CivilityCo Instagram: @CivilityLocalized Also, I had to have an NC-related hot topic this week and it’s about this new mask and protest banning bill, that’s just the latest of laws making me not want to move home again, despite my love and homesickness. Read the reference article here — https://www.wral.com/story/nc-senate-votes-to-ban-people-from-wearing-masks-in-public-for-health-reasons/21433199/ And I found two Black North Carolina authors for you to read this week, you can purchase then in my Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/a/5060/9781982163693 https://bookshop.org/a/5060/9780679737889 Never miss an episode, subscribe to my Substack or on LinkedIn You can also find me, Kristen , @blackurbanist or @kristpattern. Get full access to Defying Gentrification, Crafting Liberation at theblackurbanist.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 9m
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5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Love living in cities, but tired of feeling like you don't belong or don't understand why and how they work? Want to understand more about what gentrification means and how to both defy and eradicate it?  Join me, Kristen Jeffers, Black queer feminist, disabled, urbanist essayist, editor, and urban planner from the South, living in the MidAtlantic, each week, along with some special guests, to discuss gentrification: what it is, and what it isn't, and how we as Black folks and our co-conspirators, can not just survive on a changing planet but thrive. We'll discuss hot topics in urban planning, real estate,  housing, and transportation. We will teach you everything you need to know about complex and complicated topics in the field, so you can be equipped to help your community thrive. We are committed to justice and liberation and we hope you'll feel better and empowered after listening.  Follow Kristen X, Instagram, Bluesky, Threads @blackurbanist LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenejeffers/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@defyinggentrification theblackurbanist.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Kristen Jeffers, MPA ✊🏽🌈
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Kristen Jeffers
  • Show Website
    Defying Gentrification