Next City

Meet the co-founder of an organization working to dismantle the “oppression economy” and manifest the “liberation economy.”This episode is sponsored by:The Bottom Line - Sign up for this newsletter exploring scalable solutions for problems related to affordability, inclusive economic growth and access to capital. The Bottom Line is made possible with support from Citi. Solutions of the Year, an 80...

The North Carolina town of Princeville is considered by many to be the first ever founded in the United States by African-Americans. The town’s existence is threatened by the legacy of racism and the future of climate. Yet residents say it persists, in part, because of the value put on Black leadership. This episode is sponsored by:Next City Newsletter - Signing up for our newsletters is the best...

The open secret about philanthropy is that way more resources are put behind making money than giving it away. What we don’t always know is whether the money-making operation shares the same values as its grant-making. This episode is sponsored by:The Bottom Line - Sign up for this newsletter exploring scalable solutions for problems related to affordability, inclusive economic growth and access t...

Having a criminal record stops plenty of people from getting their next job — even if they have a marijuana-related conviction, and even if what was once illegal in their state is now perfectly fine. But there is an algorithm for that, if only cities and states would use it to clear the records of thousands of people.  This episode is sponsored by:Next City Newsletter - Signing up for our newslett...

A change in how banks do business caused an explosion of private companies becoming our landlords. One neighborhood in Los Angeles is part of a movement keeping the control of land and property out of giant corporations’ portfolios and in the hands of communities. This episode is sponsored by:The Bottom Line - Sign up for this newsletter exploring scalable solutions for problems related to afforda...

Almost half of the stores that opened in 2020 was a Dollar Store. The pandemic might’ve contributed to the problem, but it’s not the only issue. Dollar Stores proliferate in low-income neighborhoods where fresh produce and other healthy food access are scarce. Some cities are stepping in to stop the phenomenon. This episode is sponsored by:The Bottom Line - Sign up for this newsletter exploring sc...

A new monument is designed to showcase the rich cultural history and beauty of the predominantly Black community in Crenshaw. A stop for the metro line is being added and usually the comes with gentrification and eradication of culture. So maybe the most critical goal of the project might be this: to show Los Angelenos and visitors to the city that the Crenshaw community—most famously portrayed on...

You’ve probably heard complaints about Uber and Lyft from drivers who spend all day working for the apps but who aren’t full-time employees. A group of drivers started asking, "Why don't we have our own app?" And from there, a new app that is 100% worker owned was born. It’s already live in the nation’s biggest competitive market — New York City. This episode is part of The Bottom Line, a series e...

ChiFresh Kitchen is a worker cooperative, which means the founders share equally in the management of the business and the profits. But those aren’t the only benefits they have in mind. The founders say they’re trying to empower formerly incarcerated women, give themselves a second chance, and show others they can do the same thing. This episode is part of The Bottom Line, a series exploring scala...

Time is running out to reduce our carbon footprint. Did you know that 40% of carbon comes from buildings? Meanwhile there’s a startup called BlocPower that will replace your old heating and cooling systems with a new heat pump — even if you think the building can’t afford to pay for it. This episode is part of The Bottom Line, a series exploring scalable solutions for problems related to affordabi...

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for homelessness. But there is a by-name database. “Built for Zero” is solving chronic homelessness, one person at a time. The key is that organizers ask each person what they need to get off the street.

Don’t listen to people who say our problems are too big to solve. We're here to set the narrative straight on a new podcast from Next City. Join us as we dive into the true tales of city-building superheroes like you. The ones care so much they HAVE to help their communities. Here at Next City, we cover stories straight from the streets about the issues that not enough people are talking about. Ev...