2009 08 14_warren_ministerial

1

john a. powell

Director, Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and EthnicityWilliams Chair in Civil Rights & Civil Liberties, Moritz College of Law

Warren Ministerial Alliance

August 14, 2009

Advancing Opportunity in the Mahoning Valley

2

Today’s Conversation

Opportunity matters – neighborhoods & access to opportunity

Patterns of racial and economic segregation

Recommendations for organizing around criminal justice reform & housing

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix: Targeted universalism Coalition building Transformative leadership

3

Opportunity matters

Place and life outcomes

Opportunity Matters: Space, Place, and Life Outcomes

4

“Opportunity” is a situation or condition that places individuals in a position to be more likely to succeed or excel.

Opportunity structures are critical to opening pathways to success:

High-quality education

Healthy and safe environment

Stable housing

Sustainable employment

Political empowerment

Outlets for wealth-building

Positive social networks

Place Has a Profound Impact on Health, Well-Being, and Child Development

5

6

Opportunity is Racialized

Structures and policies are not neutral. They unevenly distribute benefits and burdens.

Institutions can operate jointly to produce racialized outcomes.

This institutional uneven distribution & racial marking has negative consequences for all of us.

Lower

Educational

Outcomes

Increased

Flightof

Affluent Families

Racial and Economic Neighborh

ood Segregati

on

SchoolSegregati

on &Concentra

ted Poverty

7Place and Life Outcomes

Housing, in particular its location, is the primary mechanism for accessing opportunity in our society

For those living in high poverty neighborhoods, these factors can significantly inhibit life outcomes

Housing

Childcare Employment

Education

Health

Transportation

Effective Participation

8

Opportunity Matters: Neighborhoods & Access to Opportunity

High poverty areas with poor employment, underperforming schools, distressed housing, and public health/safety risks depress life outcomes

A system of disadvantage

People of color are far more likely to live in opportunity deprived neighborhoods & communities

9What are the implications of opportunity isolation?

• Poor economic outcomes, lower educational outcomes, degraded asset development

• Poor health conditions, higher exposure to and risk from crime

• Psychological distress, weak social and professional networks

Individual

• High social costs, distressed and stressed communities, fiscal challenges

• Weakened civic engagement and democratic participation

• Underdeveloped human capital, poor labor outlook, poor economic development prospects

Community & Economy

What are the costs of opportunity isolation? 10

Individual/family costs Living in “concentrated disadvantage” reduces

student IQ by 4 points, roughly the equivalent to missing one year of school (Sampson 2007)

Societal cost Neighborhoods of concentrated poverty suppress

property values by nearly 400 billion nationwide (Galster et al. 2007)

11

Opportunity Mapping

Because opportunity is a spatial phenomenon, maps are an effective representation

Opportunity mapping is a research tool that allows us to understand the dynamics of opportunity Maps are incredibly efficient, compacting volumes of

data into single pictures that can be understood at a glance

Maps allow us to understand volumes of data at a glance through layering

12

Demand

Connec

tion

Supply

Layering of Information

13

Opportunity Mapping

The Kirwan Institute has performed opportunity mapping for a variety of areas, including:

Massachusetts

14

Baltimore

15

Detroit:

African American men are isolated from neighborhoods of

opportunity in Detroit

16

& closer to home.. Cuyahoga County

Subprime lending, race, and foreclosure

17

Opportunity in Ohio

Darker shades are associated

with higher levels of

opportunity

18

Northeast Ohio

Darker shades are associated

with higher levels of

opportunity

19

Patterns of Racial and Economic Segregation

City of Warren

Mahoning Valley area

20

Population Decline

1990 2000 2010 2015 2020

Series1 613623 604973 587642 581032 571059

545,000

555,000

565,000

575,000

585,000

595,000

605,000

615,000

Population (& Projections) for Youngstown-Warren-Boardman MSA

http://www.regionalchamber.com/EconomicDevelopment/FactsFigures/PopulationAndTrends.aspx

21

City of Warren, OH – Demographic data

44,473 people Median age: 36.8 years Foreign born 1.1%

Data from 2005-2007 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates

Race or Ethnicity PercentageOne race 97.9 White 69.7 Black or African American 27.3 American Indian or Alaskan Native 0.1 Asian 0.4 Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0.0 Some other race 0.3Two or more races 2.1Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 1.0

22

City of Warren, OH – Economic data

Median household income (in 2007 inflation-adjusted dollars):

$33,122

Median family income (in 2007 inflation-adjusted dollars):

$41,312

Families below poverty level: 22.1%

Individuals below poverty level: 24.9%Data from 2005-2007 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates

23

Index of Dissimilarity

• Measures whether one particular group is distributed across census tracts in the metropolitan area in the same way as another group.

• Range 0-100; Higher values = high degree of segregation

•Interpretation: A value of 60 means that 60% of the members of one group would need to move to a different tract in order for the two groups to be equally distributed.

Groups 1980

1990 2000 Change over time

White with Black

64.6 57.4 49.9

White with Hispanic

20.6 26.8 24

White with Asian

33.2 26.2 22.6

Black with Hispanic

50.1 40.2 42

Black with Asian

62 59.6 48.1

Hispanic with Asian

34.5 35.1 27.8

City of Warren

http://mumford.albany.edu/census/WholePop/CitySegdata/3980892City.htm

Blacks and Hispanics are re-segregating.

24

School Locations

Mahoning and Trumbull counties

Darker shades indicate higher percentages of non-whites

25

School Poverty

Mahoning and Trumbull counties

26Lowest-Performing Schools are usually High-Poverty Schools.

27

Index of Dissimilarity

• Measures whether one particular group is distributed across census tracts in the metropolitan area in the same way as another group.

• Range 0-100; Higher values = high degree of segregation

•Interpretation: A value of 60 means that 60% of the members of one group would need to move to a different tract in order for the two groups to be equally distributed.

Groups 1980

1990

2000 Change over time

White with Black 78.2 76.9 72.8

White with Hispanic

51.8 49.6 48.5

White with Asian

42.3 43.9 38.4

Black with Hispanic

56.8 57.2 51.2

Black with Asian 78.1 75.7 67.5

Hispanic with Asian

59.5 57.6 52.7

Youngstown – Warren MSA

http://mumford.albany.edu/census/WholePop/WPSegdata/9320msa.htm

Between 1990 and 2000, segregation between all groups decreased.

28

Racial Differences in Neighborhood CharacteristicsYoungstown-Warren, OH MSA

Data are provided for households, & households have been classified by the race/ethnicity of the household head. 

http://mumford.albany.edu/census/SepUneq/PublicSepDataPages/9320msaSep.htm

29Unemployment: Youngstown-Warren MSA

Date Youngstown-Warren MSA

June 2009 14.1%

May 2009 13.1%

June 2008 7.3%

http://www.regionalchamber.com/EconomicDevelopment/FactsFigures/LocalEconomy/Unemployment.aspxhttp://www.regionalchamber.com/EconomicDevelopment/FactsFigures/Monthly%20EconomicIndicators.aspx

30

Youngstown-Warren-Boardman MSA EMPLOYMENT

http://www.regionalchamber.com/EconomicDevelopment/FactsFigures/LocalEconomy/JobGrowth.aspx

31

Organizing and Advocacy

Framing the issues

32Fragmentation, Regionalism, and Equity

Investing in equity builds the economy of the entire region, thus uplifting everyone

“…even controlling for the fact that growth itself probably lowers poverty and inequality, improvements in various equity measures are likely to improve regional performance and therefore benefit city dwellers and suburbanites alike.” (p. 98)

“But our research, both in Los Angeles and in the rest of the country, suggests that individuals and communities that are better connected to regional opportunities experience higher incomes and increased efficacy.” (p. 12)

Pastor, Manuel, et al. Regions that Work: How Cities and Suburbs Can Grow Together (University of Minnesota Press, 2000).

33

Creating Empathetic Space

Everyone needs help now and then; we all want to do better

We share deep values, concerns, and hopes

Addressing the problems that have a racial footprint has implications and benefits for all members of society, not just marginalized groups – linked fate

It’s not “robbing Peter to pay Paul;” instead, everyone benefits

http://www.equaljusticesociety.org/2008/12/talking-about-race-in-the-obama-era/

34

Framing Conversations

Lead with values:

Opportunity “Everyone deserves a fair chance to achieve his/her

potential.”

Security “All people should have the tools & resources

necessary to support themselves & their families.”

Mobility (moving forward) “Everyone in our society should have the chance to

move forward in economic and educational status, no matter where they started out.”

Talking Points: Opportunity and Economic Recovery (2009). Opportunity Agenda.

35

Framing Conversations

Lead with values:

Community “We are all in it together in our society and share

interests and responsibilities for each other and the common good.”

Equality “What we look like or where we come from should not

determine the burdens, benefits, or responsibilities that we bear in society.”

Redemption “People grow and change over time, and deserve a

chance to start over after missteps or misfortune.”Talking Points: Opportunity and Economic Recovery (2009). Opportunity Agenda.

36

Organizing for Criminal Justice Reform

Seek analyses of successful efforts elsewhere Gather data such as whether crime increased, feelings

of public safety, etc.

Learn about how those efforts were conducted Campaign strategies Communication tactics

Compare the Warren area to the areas involved in other efforts How does your community relate? How does it differ?

37

Crime in the Youngstown-Warren area

“The overall crime rate in the Youngstown-Warren area has improved in the last few years, making the area a safer place to be.

The U.S. average is 50.

An index of 100 is the least crime, thus the higher numbers are more attractive.”

Source: Editor and

Publisher Market Guide

2008

City  Index

Peoria, IL  83.61

Pittsburgh, PA  43.02

Youngstown, OH  37.13

Erie, PA  34

Syracuse, NY  30.85

Cleveland, OH  30.33

Lansing, MI  27.02

Dayton, OH  26.37

Grand Rapids, MI  25.65

Fort Wayne, IN  25.62

Akron, OH  22.9

Elkhart, IN  19.7

Chicago, Il  19.45

Detroit, MI  19.02

Buffalo, NY  17.91

Toledo, OH  17.7

http://www.regionalchamber.com/EconomicDevelopment/LivingInYoungstown/CrimeRates.aspx

38

Ohio Criminal Justice Reform Initiatives

Ohio Justice and Policy Center (OJPC) in Cincinnati

In 2004 OJPC sued the Ohio Secretary of State and 21 boards of elections who had been erroneously advising felons that they could not vote. OJPC was co-counsel to two class action lawsuits against the Ohio Department of Youth Services (2007 & 2008), forcing the state to make major improvements to the existing system. Additionally in 2008 they filed a class action suit challenging residency restrictions for convicted sex-offenders.

39

Ohio Criminal Justice Reform Initiatives

Voices for Ohio’s Children: Juvenile Justice Initiative (Columbus and Cleveland)

Earlier this year Voices partnered with nearly 20 other Ohio based organizations from across the state and created a work group to publish a report called: “Framework for Transforming the Juvenile Justice System.” This report provides a model Ohio Department of Youth Services (ODYS) care continuum. Although the report identifies sixteen attributes of a model ODYS, one of the center points of this vision is to reduce institutionalization by expanding effective community-based alternatives.

40

Ohio Criminal Justice Reform Initiatives

ACLU of Ohio The ACLU works on criminal justice reform issues

specifically related to juvenile justice. They released a 2009 report card for Ohio’s Juvenile Justice System publicizing the ways that Ohio is failing its children, such as, permitting them to be routinely shackled, requiring them to be charged as adults for certain crimes, and waiving their right to an attorney. Defending children’s right to counsel and access to the courts is one of the ACLU’s main juvenile justice emphases. ACLU Ohio also offers a variety of informational and advocacy resources on their website including the “cradle to the prison pipeline,” juveniles’ rights, and pending legislative action.

41

Reform on a National Level

Ban the Box

This campaign calls for the elimination of the questions about past convictions on initial public employment applications. This campaign challenges many “boxes” on a variety of applications (i.e. employment, housing, social services, etc.) we are required to check that supports structural discrimination against formerly-incarcerated people.

Banning the box on public employment applications will contribute to public safety because it will promote stable employment in our communities. People with jobs and stable community lives are much less likely to return committing crimes in order to survive.

Boston, San Francisco, Chicago and Minneapolis/St. Paul are among the cities that have removed the box from applications for government jobs. Boston’s ordinance extends to vendors with government contracts.

Partially quoted from: http://www.allofusornone.org/campaigns/ban-the-boxhttp://www.examiner.com/x-662-Strange-News-Examiner~y2009m1d10-Ban-the-box--exconvict-job-seekers-no-longer-required-to-disclose-criminal-past

42

Reform on a National Level

The Justice Project – Opportunities for Reform

Improving Eyewitness Identification Procedures Expanding Post-Conviction DNA Testing Improving Forensic Evidence Testing Procedures Improving Standards for Admissibility of Accomplice

and Snitch Testimony Ensuring Proper Safeguards Against Prosecutorial

Misconduct Expanding Discovery in Criminal Cases Electronic Recording of Custodial Interrogations Ensuring Standards for the Appointment and

Performance of Counsel in Capital Cases

43

Reform on a National Level – The Justice Project’s Successes

Ensuring Passage of the Innocence Protection Act- TJP led a five-year campaign to pass the Innocence Protection Act (IPA), the first federal death penalty reform legislation to pass Congress and be signed into law. The IPA includes funding for the Kirk Bloodsworth Post-Conviction DNA Testing Program, which provides funding for DNA testing of individuals who may have been wrongfully convicted.

Leading the Campaign to End the Juvenile Death PenaltyOn March 1, 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the juvenile death penalty in a landmark 5-4 decision in Roper v. Simmons. TJP coordinated a national campaign, “Kids Are Different,” to illustrate that kids are mentally, emotionally and physically different from adults and therefore less culpable for their actions.

Preserving Habeas CorpusThe Justice Project successfully fought legislation in the 109th Congress that would have effectively eliminated federal review of criminal cases and increased errors and injustice in the criminal justice system.

How can we advocate for opportunity communities?

44

Neighborhood Revitalization45

A systems response Where are your key

leverage points? What are the critical

intervention points?

Equity focused Creating a

community for all (not a model of gentrification)

Emphasis on strategic collaboration

Neighborhood

Revitalization

Housing Stock

Public Investm

ent

Geography (Local; Regional)

Larger Market Forces

Neighborhood

Leadership

Institutional

Partners

Anchor Instituti

ons

46

Remedying Opportunity Isolation

Adopt strategies that open up access to levers of opportunity for marginalized individuals, families, and communities Connect people to existing opportunities throughout

the metropolitan region

Bring opportunities to opportunity-deprived areas

Invest in people, places, and linkages

47

People, Places, & Linkages

48Questions or Comments? For More Information, Visit Us On-Line:

www.KirwanInstitute.org

49

Appendix

50

Targeted Universalism

Targeted Universalism recognizes racial disparities and the importance of eradicating them, while acknowledging their presence within a larger inequitable, institutional framework

Targeted universalism is a common framework through which to pursue justice. A model which recognizes our linked fate A model where we all grow together A model where we embrace collective solutions

51

Interconnectedness

Recognize the

interconnectedness of our being and our fate

Develop and implement solutions that benefit ALL members of society

Reject the myth of scarcity

Strengthen our democracy

Collaborate and focus on coalition building

Interconnectedness provokes both political and spiritual questions.

Coalition Building52

We need to move from transactional level to a deeper transformative level What would this look like? What are the costs and consequences of this

transition?

Coalition across groups, space, ideology

Ethics of connectedness and linked fate Structures, policies, institutions actively disconnect us

whereas they could proactively connect us

53

The Path to Transformation

Moving from a transactional to a transformational paradigm requires redefining the self in relation to others

Moving beyond the self: “In every major religious tradition the ideal is unity, and separation leads to suffering.”

* * * * * * * * * *

What interferes with building these transformational relationships?

What kind of leadership is required of us?

Transactional v. Transformational Leadership

54

Transformational Leadership

Transformational leadership is about implementing new ideas These individuals continually change themselves They stay flexible and adaptable They continually improve those around them

Transformational leaders have been written about for thousands of years--being both praised (Christ and Buddha) and cursed (Attila the Hun and Genghis Khan)