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Regional Equity '08 Summit Reportback

Regional Equity Conference 08The Richmond Equitable Development Initiative (REDI) brought a delegation of 15 individuals to the Third National Summit on Equitable Development, Social Justice, and Smart Growth in New Orleans. This summit brought together more than 1,700 people who are working on or interested in advancing regional equity on the federal, state, and local levels, including REDI's delegation, which included policymakers and administrators from Richmond, organizers with faith-based institutions, those representing labor, social justice researchers and advocates. REDI's delegation hoped to learn more about strategies, programs and projects that can be applied in Richmond and throughout the local region and that can result in, among other things, quality jobs, a healthier and cleaner environment, affordable housing and development that results in community benefits.

 

One of the REDI Delegation members was Richmond Councilmember Tom Butt who has recounted his experience on his personal blog, tombutt.com and excerpted below:

"On March 6-7, I attended the PolicyLink Regional Equity ’08: The Third National Summit on Equitable Development, Social Justice and Smart Growth. It was my first time back in New Orleans since shortly after Katrina (see Report on a Week in New Orleans, November 13, 2005). Although I had worked in the lower Ninth ward in 2005 (Holy Cross neighborhood), I didn’t have a chance to go take a look at it. Interestingly, the Lower Ninth seems to have become sort of pilgrimage destination for people who want to see what utterly failed public policy looks like."

You can read more of Councilmember Butt’s article on his blog.

The complete letter and the summit framing paper are available online.

The Conference website is: regionalequity08.org

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