1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,080 Speaker 1: Check me out at the annual Black Effect Podcast Festival, 2 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: happening Saturday, April twenty seventh in Atlanta. Live podcasts are 3 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:09,440 Speaker 1: on deck from some of your favorite shows, including this one, 4 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:11,760 Speaker 1: Black Tech, Green Money, and also some of the best 5 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: podcasts in the game like Deeply Well with Debbie Brown 6 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:17,480 Speaker 1: and Carefully Reckless. Atlanta is one of my favorite cities 7 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:19,479 Speaker 1: in the world. I've lived there for two years. Actually, 8 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: in my worldview, seeing a successful in every industry and 9 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: not having any limits on our potential largely was shaped 10 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 1: by Atlanta. So to be there with you doing this 11 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 1: podcast talking about how we build or leverage technology to 12 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 1: bill wealth. Come on, man, doesn't get better. I want 13 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:36,240 Speaker 1: to see you there. Get your tickets today at Black 14 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: Effect dot comback Slash Podcast Festival. I'm with Lucas and 15 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:45,159 Speaker 1: this is Black Tech, Green Money. Jay Biron is the 16 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 1: lead develop brad Woodlong Central, a nine hundred million dollar 17 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:54,280 Speaker 1: economic development project on Chicago's South Side. The massive project 18 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 1: will include a boutique hotel, call center, data center, residential buildings, theater, 19 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 1: urban farm, and micro grid, and there are plans to 20 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:07,039 Speaker 1: integrate technology. A lot of technology like ai AR and 21 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 1: VR to assist with the community, health, safety, education, and 22 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 1: tourism aspects of the project in the developing with the community, 23 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:18,679 Speaker 1: not in spite of it. This project focuses on economic 24 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 1: development without displacement. There's this pervasive South Side of Chicago 25 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:27,319 Speaker 1: narrative that exists focusing on how rough it can be 26 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: in the stereotype echoes out of many majority black or 27 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 1: minority communities. But Jay Byron and his partners then just 28 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 1: let that perspective continue, but are actively working to change 29 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: it with entrepreneurial efforts. So what was the catalyst that 30 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:42,839 Speaker 1: joven to engage? 31 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 2: The media does a terrible job at representing the Chicago 32 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 2: go in. 33 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 3: Its true form. 34 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 2: It's not even the top ten and most dangerous cities 35 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 2: if you look at statistics. But being that this is 36 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 2: a church driven project and the church has been there 37 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 2: for ninety years, both my grandfather and my father are 38 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 2: community activist, and my grandfather did about seventeen developments within Woodlawn. 39 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 2: Woodland is probably one of the most organized Black communities. 40 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 2: It really functions on four major pillars economic development, health, education, 41 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:26,080 Speaker 2: and safety. 42 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:30,120 Speaker 3: And so in regards to your question about safety, you. 43 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 2: Have to make sure that you are highlighting the positive 44 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:35,679 Speaker 2: sides of. 45 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:38,920 Speaker 3: What can be within the community, and. 46 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 2: It comes from a private development space or a private 47 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:46,639 Speaker 2: investment space. And so the more people from the community 48 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 2: invest in the community, the safer it becomes. So when 49 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:55,799 Speaker 2: you have high economic development and safety, then you have 50 00:02:56,000 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 2: low needs for health and lower needs or higher needs 51 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 2: for education. And so you know it. In the media, 52 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:10,000 Speaker 2: they don't do a very good job, but we feel 53 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 2: that when you invest privately into the community, it is 54 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 2: it is eminent that the economics become better for everyone. 55 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 1: So let's talk about that. For the people who are 56 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:24,919 Speaker 1: not very familiar with Woodlawn Central, can you explain what 57 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 1: this project is? 58 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:32,959 Speaker 2: Sure, Woodlawn Central is a catalyst development from a much 59 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 2: larger full community plan that we did in. 60 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 3: Pre pandemic, and we coined that. 61 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 2: As a twenty sixty planet And so it's about bringing 62 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 2: culture and identifiable culture to what we understand is the 63 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 2: black community. And so when you look around and you 64 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 2: see Chinatown and Ukrainian Village and Little Italy and Retown, 65 00:03:55,080 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 2: there's an ethnic centric sustainability that we have not yet 66 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 2: been able. 67 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 3: To benefit from. 68 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:09,040 Speaker 2: And we haven't seen this kind of complete community in 69 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 2: over one hundred years since Greenwood, but Woodland Central is 70 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 2: that future understanding of that future manifestation of if Greenwood 71 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 2: had never happened from. 72 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:23,840 Speaker 3: The devastation of it. 73 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 2: So we're looking at house not just housing, but also 74 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:30,679 Speaker 2: commercial space. So with non Central is about eight hundred 75 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 2: and seventy mixed use sorry mixed. 76 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 3: Income housing, affordable to market. 77 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:41,160 Speaker 2: Rate and some luxury, so two hundred and fifteen thousand 78 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:43,040 Speaker 2: grow square feet of commercial space. 79 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 3: We have a. 80 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:48,840 Speaker 2: Business center which is consist of a data center and 81 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:51,600 Speaker 2: a digital resource center that's focused. 82 00:04:51,200 --> 00:05:00,159 Speaker 3: On aiar VR for the training and development for the 83 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:01,159 Speaker 3: youth and adults. 84 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 2: We have a one hundred and fifty four key hotel, 85 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 2: a new headhouse for our transit. 86 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:10,159 Speaker 3: We have a micro grid. 87 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 2: It's about eleven thousand square for microgrid that powers the 88 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 2: entire campus itself. In some of the community, we have 89 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 2: five hundred and thirty thousand cubic feet of vertical farming 90 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:24,719 Speaker 2: space which renders about three tons of produce annually. 91 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 3: So we can source for the community. 92 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 2: As well as a distribution model. In Illinois, every grocer 93 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:33,919 Speaker 2: has to source locally, so it's a really good model 94 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:37,479 Speaker 2: for the community to not just benefit from food resourcing 95 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:41,360 Speaker 2: but it's also a good economic opportunity as well. We're 96 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 2: going to replace the parking since the project is on. 97 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:53,919 Speaker 3: The church parking facility. It's about eight acres of parking. 98 00:05:54,880 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 2: That doctor Brazier, after some coaxing, said, Okay, yeah, that 99 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 2: sounds good. I like the sustainability model. And so it's 100 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:08,800 Speaker 2: it's a it's a it's a really large project, about 101 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:12,839 Speaker 2: eight hundred and ninety five million dollars uh, and we're 102 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 2: real close to groundbreaking. 103 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 1: And so when you think about you mentioned the micro 104 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 1: grid and other things, when you think about what's different 105 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 1: about this project versus many other you know, economic development 106 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 1: community development projects with your focus on integrating technology and sustainability, Like, 107 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:35,840 Speaker 1: how are you hoping to change the outcomes for our 108 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:40,279 Speaker 1: people in these communities when you rely on those sorts 109 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:42,239 Speaker 1: of assets and features. 110 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:45,839 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a great question. One of the one of 111 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 2: the things that in our in our musing about the 112 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 2: development itself is we have to kind of leap frog 113 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:59,600 Speaker 2: one hundred years of the lack of social and economic 114 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 2: sustains ability and then leap frog another thirty years into 115 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 2: the future. 116 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:08,479 Speaker 3: Of which is you know, eminence of AI being. 117 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 2: Completely integrated within the next ten years, and so we're 118 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 2: going to focus on making sure that those who have 119 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 2: the ability to learn new skills and technology that they 120 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:27,120 Speaker 2: benefit from that in a in a career startup, or 121 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 2: even a jobs process. 122 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 3: This also brings social sustainability. As we're looking. 123 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:39,320 Speaker 2: At creating Woodland Central as a community innovation district, we're 124 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:42,119 Speaker 2: looking at making sure that there's a digital master plan 125 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 2: that goes along with the physical master plan, which is your. 126 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:47,960 Speaker 3: Plumbing and electrical and what have you. 127 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 2: So we want to make sure that we're setting up 128 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:55,120 Speaker 2: the community to be an arm of a smart city. 129 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 2: So you have a smart city, but then you also 130 00:07:57,560 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 2: have a smart community that can access us all of 131 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 2: the information and make. 132 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 3: Sure that we are as up to date on. 133 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 2: All of our technology, which really will help exponentially in 134 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:14,920 Speaker 2: economic development and education. 135 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 1: And so I found this quote from you in a 136 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 1: different story where you said technology is a tool and 137 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 1: it should be used as a tool and not a solution. 138 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:29,720 Speaker 1: It should be humanity over technology as opposed to technology 139 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:32,720 Speaker 1: over humanity. Can you say more about that? 140 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:38,840 Speaker 2: Absolutely, I think everybody is really afraid of AI taking 141 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 2: their jobs and taking over and making decisions for us. 142 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:46,840 Speaker 3: And I think that if we allow. 143 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:51,840 Speaker 2: Technology to become the solution, then I think those things 144 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 2: will happen. 145 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:54,559 Speaker 3: So it's really up to us to. 146 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:57,560 Speaker 2: Make sure that we are being thoughtful about the social 147 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:01,680 Speaker 2: and economic approach that that looks at the immediate need, 148 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:05,320 Speaker 2: the future need, and the extreme forecast to make sure 149 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:09,880 Speaker 2: that these new technologies are that are coming up actually 150 00:09:09,920 --> 00:09:14,080 Speaker 2: fit into a model of our own sustainability where humanity 151 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:18,720 Speaker 2: is always at the forefront of everything that we do. 152 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:20,719 Speaker 3: And I feel like though we. 153 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:25,600 Speaker 2: Are building buildings, we need to also build people, and 154 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 2: in building people, we must have a humanitarian approach to it. 155 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:31,880 Speaker 2: I love that. 156 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 1: I love it. So as a tool, how do you 157 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 1: see these technologies enhancing both the resident experience and the 158 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 1: overall you know, economic ecosystem for the community? 159 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 2: Sure, the educator, I mean communications is probably I think 160 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:54,679 Speaker 2: one of the greatest opportunities that create us to use 161 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:59,199 Speaker 2: technology as a tool are smart buildings, being able to 162 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:05,720 Speaker 2: access information as quickly as possible. Information is so fast 163 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:08,680 Speaker 2: and it's going to become even faster, and to be 164 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:12,280 Speaker 2: able to access information at the rate of which it 165 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:16,960 Speaker 2: is coming out, and having the technology being able to accommodate. 166 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:20,559 Speaker 3: For anything that we need to be ready for whether. 167 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:24,720 Speaker 2: It's a blackout or another pandemic or you know, or 168 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:29,079 Speaker 2: even an event, being able to use that technology also 169 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:34,800 Speaker 2: to stay up on our bills, to stay up on 170 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 2: our utilities, knowing how much we're using and how much 171 00:10:40,280 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 2: we can say. And so it's it comes down to 172 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 2: mitigating the risk for the for the investors as well 173 00:10:51,400 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 2: as the developers and especially the residents. 174 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:57,480 Speaker 1: Right that, I was looking at your website and there's 175 00:10:57,520 --> 00:11:01,080 Speaker 1: this phrase in there, you know, development without displacement, which 176 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 1: I really thought was cool. And and you mentioned this 177 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 1: a little bit when you're talking about you know, building 178 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:09,440 Speaker 1: on parking lines versus you know, taking over other housing. 179 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:13,560 Speaker 1: And so can you elaborate on like the strategies maybe 180 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:17,400 Speaker 1: initiatives that are in place to achieve this without you know, 181 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 1: the negative sort of gentrification that has happened in other places. 182 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 2: Right absolutely, the the my background in urban planning, one 183 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:30,600 Speaker 2: of the things that happens a lot is especially within 184 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:32,240 Speaker 2: our community, is people. 185 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:35,839 Speaker 3: From the urban planning side are don't look like us. 186 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:38,520 Speaker 2: And so they're coming in and they're really kind of 187 00:11:38,559 --> 00:11:41,520 Speaker 2: checking the box and they're saying, okay, talk to the community. 188 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 3: Check right, the community. 189 00:11:44,480 --> 00:11:49,000 Speaker 2: Is in favor check and really are absent of the 190 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 2: lived experience for us and for our community, and so 191 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:59,320 Speaker 2: it's almost impossible for them to develop our community and 192 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:03,520 Speaker 2: somehow it not affect us in a negative way. So 193 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:07,840 Speaker 2: the idea of development without displacement is based on the 194 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:10,720 Speaker 2: fact that it's development from the inside out. It's coming 195 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:14,080 Speaker 2: from the community that says, here's what we understand is 196 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:17,439 Speaker 2: our needs. Here are the things that we understand as 197 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 2: a process to uh plan development or urban development and designed. 198 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 3: Here are the things. 199 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:27,959 Speaker 2: That we know that will need our children's children's children will. 200 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:29,920 Speaker 3: Need within this process. 201 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 2: And and that that helps mitigate again the risk of displacement. 202 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:43,559 Speaker 2: And because also that this is a church driven project. 203 00:12:43,679 --> 00:12:44,679 Speaker 3: And I want to say this. 204 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:48,199 Speaker 2: That that I know, I know lately churches have been 205 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 2: kind of a complex conversation. But the church is the 206 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:57,040 Speaker 2: only and longest standing organization within the Black community and 207 00:12:57,679 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 2: is also the only organization and that can do projects 208 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 2: at this level, and so it takes the church. Let 209 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:12,120 Speaker 2: me say that the survival of our community squarely lies 210 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:16,679 Speaker 2: on the shoulders of the church. And I've gotten doctor 211 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:20,520 Speaker 2: Brazier to understand that in many different ways. And one 212 00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:22,760 Speaker 2: of the things that he has publicly announced is that 213 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 2: he's going to take ten percent of the profit of 214 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 2: Woodland Central and recirculated into the community as a CDFI. 215 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:36,679 Speaker 2: So that way, when taxes and things do raise, just based. 216 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 3: Upon the. 217 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:44,600 Speaker 2: Natural development process, that there will be grants and sponsorships, 218 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:48,440 Speaker 2: scholarships for residents, current residents who. 219 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:51,160 Speaker 3: Will be able to stay in their homes. So, I know, 220 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 3: I kind of you know, it's a little bit. 221 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:57,600 Speaker 2: Of a longer story, but I think that we have 222 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 2: to thread the idea of displacement or development without displacement 223 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:04,520 Speaker 2: really comes from the inside out. 224 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:07,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, I was reading up on this and you talk 225 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 1: a lot about like sustainability, particularly in regards to energy generation. 226 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:16,120 Speaker 1: Can you talk about you know, you mentioned micro grids 227 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:17,559 Speaker 1: a little bit, but can you talk about what you're 228 00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 1: doing with micro grid and and other efforts that you 229 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 1: might be working on here. 230 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:25,440 Speaker 2: Absolutely, the microgrid is is really important and probably would 231 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 2: be one of the first things that go in. Even 232 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:31,000 Speaker 2: though it's not one of those kind of like sexy, 233 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 2: you know buildings and you know, architectural type of aspects 234 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 2: to the project, it really is kind of the cornerstone 235 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:44,320 Speaker 2: of the energy sustainability. As a data center, really takes 236 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 2: up a lot of power, and. 237 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 3: So to make make the data center. 238 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 2: And and the overall digital infrastructure makes sense, the microgrid 239 00:14:58,040 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 2: in and of itself is is really important. 240 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 3: UH. 241 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:06,400 Speaker 2: And one of the things that I like about where 242 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:09,160 Speaker 2: the direction we're going in is we're actually creating a 243 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 2: command center that that uses uh the power and calculates 244 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 2: and analyzes how much power is going to uh the 245 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 2: vertical farm, how much is going to the residents, how 246 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 2: much is going to and and it's it's an opportunity 247 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:28,920 Speaker 2: to do waste management and utility management. 248 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 3: And without the microgrid, we. 249 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 2: Wouldn't be able to actually use those those kind of 250 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 2: technological tools without without having that level without. 251 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 1: So I we talk a lot about home ownership, and 252 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:49,680 Speaker 1: home ownership has been largely, you know, preached as a 253 00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:55,040 Speaker 1: way to build wealth, you know, generationally, and I think about, well, 254 00:15:55,280 --> 00:16:00,479 Speaker 1: I guess my question is how does Woodlawn consider facilitating 255 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:03,240 Speaker 1: home ownership or encouraging home ownership, Like, how does this 256 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:06,040 Speaker 1: opportunity play out so that the residents and people who 257 00:16:06,080 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 1: are taking advantage of what you're building, they're able to 258 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:12,040 Speaker 1: build that generational wealth. 259 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:16,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, home ownership is really important to us. 260 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:20,680 Speaker 4: Affordable home ownership is really important to us. As a 261 00:16:20,720 --> 00:16:25,760 Speaker 4: district development, We're not doing any single family homes, but 262 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:32,440 Speaker 4: this development will catalyze additional development which will bring more 263 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:36,600 Speaker 4: single family homes. But to your point of generational wealth, 264 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:39,840 Speaker 4: I think I would be remiss to not talk about. 265 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 2: The generational practices that lead to generational wealth and commit 266 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 2: and woodland Central because it's based in a culture over commerce, ideology, 267 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:57,120 Speaker 2: or philosophy. One of the things that we want to do, 268 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:01,440 Speaker 2: just intrinsically is make sure that we are creating processes 269 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:05,399 Speaker 2: and procedures on how we operate one to another and 270 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:08,840 Speaker 2: how do we buy trades, cell give, borrow, live, learn. 271 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 3: All of these things come to play when we're talking 272 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:13,200 Speaker 3: about generational wealth. 273 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 2: Uh and and so when you look at other ethnic groups, 274 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:20,600 Speaker 2: they have antiquitous culture that they get. 275 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:23,119 Speaker 3: To rely on, which which which comes out in what 276 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:24,040 Speaker 3: they call customers. 277 00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:27,200 Speaker 2: Right. So this customary way on how their kids raise 278 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 2: their kids and so forth and so on, and then 279 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:30,840 Speaker 2: how they take care of their grandparents and. 280 00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 3: How they take care of each other. 281 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 2: I want to be able to utilize this as an 282 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:40,359 Speaker 2: opportunity to begin to look at how we re emerge 283 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:46,199 Speaker 2: into a holistic community that then at the end of 284 00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:50,119 Speaker 2: it becomes generational wealth and a self determination. 285 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:54,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, and so I try not to position questions about, 286 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:56,679 Speaker 1: you know, being a black real estate developer, how do 287 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:59,800 Speaker 1: you work when is mostly white real estate developers around you? 288 00:17:59,840 --> 00:18:02,320 Speaker 1: But like, how do you how do you navigate this? 289 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:06,240 Speaker 1: Obviously successfully and in the city as big as Chicago. 290 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:13,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, So nationally there's about one hundred and twelve thousand developers, 291 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:20,359 Speaker 2: and eleven hundred thousand them are not black, So we 292 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:22,200 Speaker 2: are a very small. 293 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:26,119 Speaker 3: Population within the industry. 294 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:30,359 Speaker 2: And so it is it is not for you know, 295 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:33,320 Speaker 2: the fate of heart, you know, this process of development, 296 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:36,520 Speaker 2: because you're dealing with with a number of different industries, 297 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:41,040 Speaker 2: from the financial industry to the construction industry to the 298 00:18:41,119 --> 00:18:46,520 Speaker 2: community itself. And so I find it very interesting because 299 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:51,440 Speaker 2: I get to deploy a lot of the international education 300 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:54,000 Speaker 2: that I have, you know, from from you know, kind 301 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:57,920 Speaker 2: of doing independent studies overseas and saying this is how 302 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:00,560 Speaker 2: culture is built. So I kind kind of get to 303 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:03,879 Speaker 2: start in a space, in a blank space that says 304 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:07,639 Speaker 2: you don't know how to create valuation for the black community, 305 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:10,639 Speaker 2: So let me show you how it's done. 306 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:12,800 Speaker 3: And I'm not making anything up. 307 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 2: What I'm doing is just mirroring all of the all 308 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:18,000 Speaker 2: of the other cultures. 309 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 5: That that that have a of having a purview of 310 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:25,679 Speaker 5: a higher valuation, but utilizing that and doing it in 311 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:30,720 Speaker 5: a way that is industry industry industry standard, and and 312 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:36,440 Speaker 5: in in terms that these specific industries can can can understand. 313 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:40,560 Speaker 2: So I make no small plans. And I think that's 314 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:43,439 Speaker 2: the biggest that's the biggest thing to do because you've 315 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:45,399 Speaker 2: got people, you know, they don't want to talk to 316 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:48,439 Speaker 2: you unless you're talking about something, you know, above fifty 317 00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:52,440 Speaker 2: million dollars. So so you got to you know, aim 318 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 2: as high as you can in that space. And and 319 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:59,840 Speaker 2: I think that's what really tracks investors and being a 320 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:01,200 Speaker 2: to navigate. 321 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:04,040 Speaker 3: Through some of the processes. 322 00:20:04,760 --> 00:20:07,399 Speaker 1: Yeah, I want to talk about what you just mentioned 323 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:09,840 Speaker 1: right there, because you know, people don't want to talk 324 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:13,760 Speaker 1: about little bitty projects. And you know what holds up 325 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:17,720 Speaker 1: so many black entrepreneurs or would be black entrepreneurs is 326 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:20,440 Speaker 1: they see what it might take them to get started, 327 00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:23,040 Speaker 1: and you see these stickers of you know, it's going 328 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:24,880 Speaker 1: to take one hundred thousand dollars to do this thing. 329 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:26,560 Speaker 1: It's going to take a million dollars to do this thing, 330 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:29,360 Speaker 1: and you got a nine hundred million dollar project here, 331 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:31,720 Speaker 1: and it's kind of like, you know, or how do 332 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:34,000 Speaker 1: you eat an elephant one by at a time? Like 333 00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:36,879 Speaker 1: when you see this nine hundred million dollar project that 334 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:39,639 Speaker 1: you're embarking on, that doesn't mean you have nine hundred 335 00:20:39,640 --> 00:20:42,119 Speaker 1: million dollars in the bank, and so so how do 336 00:20:42,200 --> 00:20:48,520 Speaker 1: you so how do you put together the strategy as 337 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:50,879 Speaker 1: somebody who doesn't have nine hundred million dollars in the 338 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:52,680 Speaker 1: bank to say, you know what, this is what we're 339 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:57,280 Speaker 1: going to do. These are the steps to doing it. 340 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:01,320 Speaker 2: First and foremost, you have to have a vision, right, 341 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:03,439 Speaker 2: you have to you have to know exactly what you 342 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:03,960 Speaker 2: want to do. 343 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:09,320 Speaker 3: Our community is very is unique. 344 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:13,119 Speaker 2: In the approach because there's a there's a bit of 345 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:16,280 Speaker 2: a lack of infrastructure that that other communities have. 346 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:20,560 Speaker 3: So when we're looking at at how to. 347 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:24,480 Speaker 2: Do other smaller projects that are black owned and driven, 348 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:26,680 Speaker 2: they have to be catalyzed through. 349 00:21:26,560 --> 00:21:28,840 Speaker 3: Larger projects like with mon cential. 350 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:33,000 Speaker 2: So so so there's something referential that says this worked 351 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:36,679 Speaker 2: over here, so therefore it can work over here. Because 352 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:39,240 Speaker 2: when you look at it as a whole, it's the 353 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:40,520 Speaker 2: condition that's the same. 354 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:43,960 Speaker 3: The location may be different, but we in. 355 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 2: Our community need specific things in order for for us 356 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:49,800 Speaker 2: to be sustainable. And even if you do it one 357 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:53,239 Speaker 2: piece at a time, it's okay. At the at the 358 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:56,639 Speaker 2: onset of this where we're at right now, district development 359 00:21:57,040 --> 00:22:03,560 Speaker 2: is is really important because it doesn't just change the characteristics. 360 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:06,240 Speaker 3: Of the community, it actually changes the condition. So if 361 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:06,720 Speaker 3: I was a. 362 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:10,280 Speaker 2: Smaller developer and I saw a project like ULN Central, 363 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:13,560 Speaker 2: I would actually reach out to that developer and say, hey, 364 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 2: you know, where can I fit into this? Because I 365 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 2: know that if I'm a part of this, then I 366 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:20,480 Speaker 2: can continue to grow. 367 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:23,560 Speaker 3: And do things, you know, as big as what you're doing. 368 00:22:24,040 --> 00:22:27,480 Speaker 2: So somebody's got to step out and do a nine 369 00:22:27,520 --> 00:22:30,520 Speaker 2: hundred million dollars project. So that way, we're setting the 370 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:35,400 Speaker 2: precedents and we're setting the pathway for other developers, other 371 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:39,440 Speaker 2: black developers to actually enter into the industry. 372 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:43,600 Speaker 1: You had mentioned we're talking about generational wealth that you know, 373 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:46,280 Speaker 1: sometimes it's not about just home ownership, which is a 374 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:48,760 Speaker 1: piece of it or could be a piece of generational wealth. 375 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:51,639 Speaker 1: You said, sometimes it's like the activities and behaviors of 376 00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:54,159 Speaker 1: generational wealth. Can you talk more about that. 377 00:22:55,560 --> 00:22:56,080 Speaker 3: Absolutely. 378 00:22:56,480 --> 00:22:58,479 Speaker 2: You know, one of the things that when you know, 379 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:00,920 Speaker 2: being being an age was really. 380 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:04,960 Speaker 3: Kind of the thing that that sparked me about how. 381 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:07,200 Speaker 2: How they see each other, one to one to one 382 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:09,919 Speaker 2: to the other, and the things that they do and 383 00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 2: the practices. 384 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:11,440 Speaker 3: That they do. 385 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:14,240 Speaker 2: You know, I found that, you know, it was very 386 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:18,040 Speaker 2: fascinating to me because being you know, from Chicago and 387 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:21,840 Speaker 2: watching you know, this kind of homogenized group of people 388 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:27,280 Speaker 2: be able to create such beautiful cities and create such beautiful. 389 00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:29,720 Speaker 3: Cultural aspects. 390 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:33,000 Speaker 2: So it's about language, it's about food, it's about garb, 391 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:35,040 Speaker 2: it's about dress. How do we how do we do 392 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:40,600 Speaker 2: those things? And so I myself cannot create something that says, well, 393 00:23:40,880 --> 00:23:43,480 Speaker 2: here's what we're going to do, right, we all have 394 00:23:43,640 --> 00:23:46,760 Speaker 2: to say, here's a practice that we understand that is 395 00:23:46,840 --> 00:23:54,400 Speaker 2: contributive to the survival of our generational bloodlines from across 396 00:23:54,440 --> 00:23:57,600 Speaker 2: the board. And these are the things. Though we may 397 00:23:57,680 --> 00:24:02,680 Speaker 2: not agree, our agreement is not as important as our 398 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:06,360 Speaker 2: contribution to the sustainability. And so there's a there's an 399 00:24:06,440 --> 00:24:11,880 Speaker 2: incentivization process within this critical mass that should be created 400 00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:14,879 Speaker 2: for us to understand that at the end of this 401 00:24:15,040 --> 00:24:16,840 Speaker 2: at the at the end of our. 402 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:20,360 Speaker 3: Our agreement one to another. 403 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:25,400 Speaker 2: There is sustainability both socially and economically that we can 404 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 2: always rely. I can leave this world knowing that my 405 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:32,880 Speaker 2: children are going to be okay, and and and and 406 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:36,560 Speaker 2: having to you know, mind my own business. You know, 407 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:39,800 Speaker 2: I'm okay with that, and and and contributing my gifts 408 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:43,040 Speaker 2: and talents. I'm okay with that too. And so so 409 00:24:43,119 --> 00:24:45,840 Speaker 2: there has to be a spark, you know that that 410 00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:48,280 Speaker 2: that begins to get us to start thinking, you know, 411 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:49,600 Speaker 2: in this way. 412 00:24:50,320 --> 00:24:53,360 Speaker 1: How do you hold this what becomes a model across 413 00:24:53,359 --> 00:24:55,200 Speaker 1: the country and not just in Chicago. 414 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:02,000 Speaker 2: It's all almost like if I had a crystal ball, 415 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:04,439 Speaker 2: I'd be able to answer that question so much. 416 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:06,359 Speaker 1: Do you know, I mean, this is your wish, you 417 00:25:06,359 --> 00:25:07,800 Speaker 1: get to build it. You get to build a crystal 418 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:08,159 Speaker 1: ball on this. 419 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:12,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, okay, great, So I would I would hope that, 420 00:25:13,119 --> 00:25:17,119 Speaker 2: you know, with all of the different pro cultural programs 421 00:25:17,119 --> 00:25:21,520 Speaker 2: that we're doing in Woodland Central, you can always be 422 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:28,159 Speaker 2: referenced and can always be used as representation to the 423 00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:31,880 Speaker 2: possibilities of what we are capable of doing for ourselves. 424 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:35,159 Speaker 2: And one of the one of the one of the 425 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:37,720 Speaker 2: things that I find really interesting when I'm talking to 426 00:25:38,080 --> 00:25:40,320 Speaker 2: certain people, they stay, well, where has. 427 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:41,200 Speaker 3: This been done before? 428 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:45,880 Speaker 2: And so there's no modern, you know, representation of this 429 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:50,960 Speaker 2: since nineteen twenty one. So this is the beginning of 430 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:54,240 Speaker 2: what a model could look like. And I'm always very 431 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:58,320 Speaker 2: hesitant to say here's a model, you know, and use 432 00:25:58,359 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 2: this model because they think everybody is going to approach 433 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:03,760 Speaker 2: what they do differently. 434 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:05,960 Speaker 3: But if you are using. 435 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:09,240 Speaker 2: The framework that we're doing, I designed it so that 436 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:15,040 Speaker 2: each community can self discover on their basic needings. 437 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:19,439 Speaker 1: And so I've gotten into some economic development in my 438 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 1: hometown Tweet, Ohio, and we're going to go on to 439 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:28,560 Speaker 1: a renaissance of sorts. And I was before downtown was 440 00:26:28,720 --> 00:26:31,879 Speaker 1: that renaissance started, the one that we're in now. A 441 00:26:31,880 --> 00:26:36,000 Speaker 1: lot of corporations started to turn their attention to downtown, 442 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:39,320 Speaker 1: and residents started getting excited and saying, Okay, look, something's 443 00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:43,760 Speaker 1: finally going to happen, right, And so I was frustrated 444 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:46,480 Speaker 1: might be the wrong word, but hoping that we wouldn't 445 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:48,960 Speaker 1: just stand back and watch the show, but that we 446 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:53,000 Speaker 1: would find opportunity to get in because real estate valuations 447 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:55,240 Speaker 1: were going to go up because corporations were starting to 448 00:26:55,240 --> 00:26:57,720 Speaker 1: turn their head. And so my question is, how do 449 00:26:57,800 --> 00:27:02,199 Speaker 1: you not just be your representation, but how can you 450 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:06,160 Speaker 1: provide opportunity even but also be representation to those people 451 00:27:06,240 --> 00:27:09,640 Speaker 1: who are going to be positively impacted by your work 452 00:27:09,960 --> 00:27:12,360 Speaker 1: so that they're just not watching the Jay Byron Show, 453 00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:16,119 Speaker 1: but they see opportunity for them to be part of 454 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:16,880 Speaker 1: something bigger. 455 00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:21,359 Speaker 2: Well, first, I would I would want to render myself 456 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:26,400 Speaker 2: available to those who are looking to achieve what we've 457 00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:28,840 Speaker 2: achieved here at what Mon Central. 458 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:33,680 Speaker 3: The information is free, right, and I'm always. 459 00:27:33,320 --> 00:27:39,120 Speaker 2: Willing to talk with developers and new people in real 460 00:27:39,200 --> 00:27:42,080 Speaker 2: estate to kind of give them and give them an 461 00:27:42,119 --> 00:27:46,359 Speaker 2: aspect of how I approached what I do. This is 462 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:49,240 Speaker 2: certainly not my show. There are several. 463 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:52,119 Speaker 3: Other people who you know, who are involved in making 464 00:27:52,160 --> 00:27:53,439 Speaker 3: all of these things happen. 465 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:59,760 Speaker 2: But you know, you have to know a lot about 466 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:02,240 Speaker 2: a lot of different things when it comes to real 467 00:28:02,359 --> 00:28:08,280 Speaker 2: estate development, and you have to and it's almost the 468 00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:11,679 Speaker 2: industry itself is almost a red line as well. 469 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:14,400 Speaker 3: Right, if we did not. 470 00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:17,240 Speaker 2: Own our own land, I don't think we would be 471 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:25,480 Speaker 2: having this conversation because land is equity, right, And that's 472 00:28:25,520 --> 00:28:29,280 Speaker 2: why we never got our forty acres, because they knew 473 00:28:29,600 --> 00:28:32,080 Speaker 2: that if they gave us those forty acres we would 474 00:28:32,119 --> 00:28:34,640 Speaker 2: have our own equity, and then they also knew we 475 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:39,160 Speaker 2: were capable of self determination and self sustainability as well. 476 00:28:39,840 --> 00:28:42,760 Speaker 2: So it's not that we don't have the ability or 477 00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:44,560 Speaker 2: we don't have the understanding. 478 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:45,920 Speaker 3: A lot of it has. 479 00:28:45,800 --> 00:28:50,640 Speaker 2: To do with access and to be able to create 480 00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:55,000 Speaker 2: access through private and public partnerships with the state and 481 00:28:55,080 --> 00:29:01,160 Speaker 2: the city. The only thing that moves governance is visibility 482 00:29:01,640 --> 00:29:02,960 Speaker 2: and a critical mass. 483 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:06,560 Speaker 3: So this is where, this is where the. 484 00:29:07,560 --> 00:29:09,960 Speaker 2: Where the customary way on how we deal one to 485 00:29:10,040 --> 00:29:13,920 Speaker 2: another in the contributive community. How how important that is 486 00:29:13,960 --> 00:29:18,080 Speaker 2: because once a governor or a mayor or accounting president 487 00:29:18,640 --> 00:29:22,200 Speaker 2: sees all of these people galvanized not just from a 488 00:29:22,280 --> 00:29:26,080 Speaker 2: reactive sense, but from a proactive sense that says, we 489 00:29:26,200 --> 00:29:31,040 Speaker 2: have a plan, right, we will work with said developer 490 00:29:31,160 --> 00:29:33,480 Speaker 2: because they are what they are part of the one 491 00:29:33,560 --> 00:29:37,040 Speaker 2: percent who actually get capital, right, and we'll work with them, 492 00:29:37,080 --> 00:29:39,040 Speaker 2: but they're going to do what we want them to do, 493 00:29:39,360 --> 00:29:41,720 Speaker 2: not what they're going to tell us we're going to get, 494 00:29:41,880 --> 00:29:46,840 Speaker 2: because ultimately that's going to displace us anyway, right, So 495 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:52,000 Speaker 2: we have to be very proactive in understanding the industry 496 00:29:52,160 --> 00:29:54,719 Speaker 2: and understanding you know how investment works. 497 00:29:55,440 --> 00:29:59,080 Speaker 1: And I think finally, so when you look at where 498 00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:02,760 Speaker 1: you live and this is for this is your example, 499 00:30:02,800 --> 00:30:05,880 Speaker 1: but when other folks who are listening to this start 500 00:30:05,880 --> 00:30:10,360 Speaker 1: to think about what opportunities and resources governments provide, you know, 501 00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:12,280 Speaker 1: I think about where I'm at, State of Ohio. It's 502 00:30:12,320 --> 00:30:15,719 Speaker 1: a lot of resources for entrepreneurs and how do you 503 00:30:16,360 --> 00:30:18,200 Speaker 1: how do you tap in though, because that's kind of 504 00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:21,760 Speaker 1: sometimes the trip up is like we don't know where 505 00:30:21,800 --> 00:30:23,760 Speaker 1: that first phone call needs to be made or do 506 00:30:23,840 --> 00:30:26,320 Speaker 1: you have to be somebody to get the attention? 507 00:30:26,800 --> 00:30:27,000 Speaker 4: You know? 508 00:30:27,080 --> 00:30:28,240 Speaker 1: So can you speak on that? 509 00:30:29,440 --> 00:30:29,680 Speaker 2: Yeah? 510 00:30:29,920 --> 00:30:32,960 Speaker 3: You know that's very layered. I mean you you want to. 511 00:30:33,360 --> 00:30:37,520 Speaker 2: It's about partnership, right, and it's it's about a culmination 512 00:30:37,720 --> 00:30:43,360 Speaker 2: of different talents, and it's about having that unified understanding 513 00:30:43,440 --> 00:30:46,840 Speaker 2: that you know, we're all leaders but but but here 514 00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:47,360 Speaker 2: is the. 515 00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:50,800 Speaker 3: Vision that we all share and we are all talking 516 00:30:50,840 --> 00:30:51,840 Speaker 3: about the same things. 517 00:30:51,920 --> 00:30:54,960 Speaker 2: We all want the same things, but we're talking about 518 00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:57,440 Speaker 2: them in our silos. Right, We've got to come out 519 00:30:57,440 --> 00:31:00,840 Speaker 2: of the silo. We've got an actual to become a 520 00:31:00,880 --> 00:31:08,400 Speaker 2: true network of economic development, health, safety, education, tourism, local entertainment, 521 00:31:08,600 --> 00:31:11,600 Speaker 2: international integration, diversity of management. 522 00:31:12,160 --> 00:31:14,320 Speaker 3: Legal accounting. 523 00:31:14,760 --> 00:31:16,360 Speaker 2: We've got to put our we've got to put all 524 00:31:16,400 --> 00:31:19,479 Speaker 2: of our talents into the pot and then connect with 525 00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:24,120 Speaker 2: that that that advocate within governance, that says I will 526 00:31:24,160 --> 00:31:28,520 Speaker 2: advocate for you guys, but you but having the full 527 00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:33,560 Speaker 2: vision is really important, and having a big vision is 528 00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:36,240 Speaker 2: really important. And you know, I'm a I'm a I'm 529 00:31:36,280 --> 00:31:38,560 Speaker 2: a spiritual guy. You know, I'm a PK. So I 530 00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:41,600 Speaker 2: come from from that God sense. And so one of 531 00:31:41,680 --> 00:31:44,400 Speaker 2: the things that spoke to me in my spirit one 532 00:31:44,440 --> 00:31:47,680 Speaker 2: day as I was driving was you don't need permission 533 00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:48,720 Speaker 2: to share the vision. 534 00:31:49,840 --> 00:31:53,520 Speaker 3: And so if we're waiting for permission to share our vision, 535 00:31:54,320 --> 00:31:55,040 Speaker 3: then we are. 536 00:31:54,960 --> 00:31:59,000 Speaker 2: Going to miss the window in which that vision was 537 00:31:59,040 --> 00:32:03,440 Speaker 2: given for us to share. And we're always really scared 538 00:32:03,960 --> 00:32:06,600 Speaker 2: to go out there on our own because nobody wants 539 00:32:06,600 --> 00:32:09,560 Speaker 2: to fall on their own sword. But if somebody is 540 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:12,360 Speaker 2: not brave enough to say, look, here is something very 541 00:32:12,360 --> 00:32:13,560 Speaker 2: big that I've been thinking of. 542 00:32:14,160 --> 00:32:17,520 Speaker 3: Here's how I think it could be put together. You know, 543 00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:22,440 Speaker 3: who who's with me? Right? This there Jerry Maguire moments 544 00:32:22,440 --> 00:32:26,360 Speaker 3: like who's coming with me? Because this is big? 545 00:32:26,520 --> 00:32:29,720 Speaker 2: Right and this is gonna and this is transformational, right. 546 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:34,080 Speaker 2: We don't need transaction anymore. We need transformation. So for 547 00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:36,680 Speaker 2: the people who are wondering like how do I do this, 548 00:32:37,280 --> 00:32:40,520 Speaker 2: come together with the smartest people that you know and say, look, 549 00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:43,560 Speaker 2: I've got some ideas. I know you've got some ideas. 550 00:32:43,920 --> 00:32:47,560 Speaker 2: Let's foltron this thing together. Share it with the governor, 551 00:32:47,680 --> 00:32:49,680 Speaker 2: share it with the mayor, share it with you know, 552 00:32:49,880 --> 00:32:55,320 Speaker 2: our local reps. We started with our local state rep 553 00:32:56,200 --> 00:32:58,840 Speaker 2: who wrote letters for us on our behalf. 554 00:32:59,280 --> 00:33:02,120 Speaker 3: But I had to show him something, you know, in order. 555 00:33:02,240 --> 00:33:05,480 Speaker 2: In order to get him to get him, i want 556 00:33:05,560 --> 00:33:08,200 Speaker 2: to say, bought in, but to get him excited and 557 00:33:08,280 --> 00:33:13,120 Speaker 2: motivated about what the possibilities were, because nobody in development 558 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:17,240 Speaker 2: was talking about micro grids and digital infrastructure and communications 559 00:33:17,320 --> 00:33:18,760 Speaker 2: and we weren't talking about that. 560 00:33:18,840 --> 00:33:21,320 Speaker 3: We were just talking about building buildings and grocery stores 561 00:33:21,360 --> 00:33:22,360 Speaker 3: and affordable housing. 562 00:33:22,960 --> 00:33:26,200 Speaker 2: Just really being able to understand the landscape of our 563 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:27,680 Speaker 2: community and the needs. 564 00:33:27,400 --> 00:33:28,600 Speaker 3: And necessities of it. 565 00:33:28,960 --> 00:33:32,880 Speaker 2: You know, that's that's really kind of you know, in 566 00:33:32,920 --> 00:33:34,640 Speaker 2: the in a few minutes that I have that, I 567 00:33:34,640 --> 00:33:36,960 Speaker 2: would say that that's what's going. 568 00:33:36,880 --> 00:33:45,000 Speaker 3: To be done. 569 00:33:49,920 --> 00:33:52,440 Speaker 1: Black tech, Green money is a production of Blavity afro 570 00:33:52,560 --> 00:33:55,760 Speaker 1: Tech on the Black Effect podcast Network in Nheart Media. 571 00:33:56,040 --> 00:33:59,200 Speaker 1: Is produced by Morgan Debond and me Well Lucas. The 572 00:33:59,200 --> 00:34:03,719 Speaker 1: additional production support by Sarah Ergin in Love Beach. Special 573 00:34:03,720 --> 00:34:06,400 Speaker 1: thank you to Michael Davis and Kay McDonald. Learn more 574 00:34:06,400 --> 00:34:08,759 Speaker 1: about my guests and other tech disruptors and innovators at 575 00:34:08,800 --> 00:34:13,359 Speaker 1: afrotech dot com. Enjoy your Black Tech, Green Money, Share 576 00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:17,600 Speaker 1: this with somebody, go get your money, peace and love. 577 00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:25,600 Speaker 1: Check me out at the annual Black Effect Podcast Festival, 578 00:34:25,680 --> 00:34:29,279 Speaker 1: happening Saturday, April twenty seven in Atlanta. Live podcasts are 579 00:34:29,320 --> 00:34:31,919 Speaker 1: on deck from some of your favorite shows, including this one, 580 00:34:32,000 --> 00:34:34,279 Speaker 1: Black Tech, Green Money, and also some of the best 581 00:34:34,280 --> 00:34:36,920 Speaker 1: podcasts in the game like Deeply Well with Debbie Brown 582 00:34:37,080 --> 00:34:39,960 Speaker 1: and Carefully Reckless. Atlanta is one of my favorite cities 583 00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:42,000 Speaker 1: in the world. I lived there for two years. Actually, 584 00:34:42,200 --> 00:34:45,520 Speaker 1: in my worldview, seeing us successful in every industry and 585 00:34:45,560 --> 00:34:48,360 Speaker 1: not having any limits on our potential largely was shaved 586 00:34:48,360 --> 00:34:50,560 Speaker 1: by Atlanta. To to be there with you doing this 587 00:34:50,640 --> 00:34:53,840 Speaker 1: podcast talking about how we build or leverage technology to 588 00:34:53,880 --> 00:34:56,600 Speaker 1: bill wealth. Come on, man, doesn't get better. I want 589 00:34:56,640 --> 00:34:58,719 Speaker 1: to see you there. Get your tickets today at Black 590 00:34:58,719 --> 00:35:01,280 Speaker 1: Effect dot com back Slash Podcast Festival,