Prosperity That Works

JSMF President and CEO Dr. Jason Q. Purnell talks with JSMF Vice Chair and former Chair John McDonnell about the Foundation’s decision to shift its mission to focus solely on St. Louis. They also discuss JSMF’s largest St. Louis investment to date, the Inclusive Prosperity Partnership (IPP). The IPP is a 10-year, $161M initiative that supports the collaboration needed to co-design solutions that w...

JSMF President and CEO Jason Q. Purnell and Emerging Wisdom's Rebeccah Bennett discuss how St. Louis can harness the cooperation the region has demonstrated during crises to tackle economic challenges that see less publicity but still demand urgent attention. Bennett serves as a facilitator for the Inclusive Prosperity Partnership, where this kind of collaborative muscle is being developed among p...

The conversation explores the transformation of economic mobility outcomes in Charlotte and the lessons that St. Louis can learn from this region's success. It delves into the wake-up call that Charlotte received, the formation of the task force, the establishment of Leading on Opportunity, and the challenges and strategies for community engagement and leadership representation. The conversation e...

In this conversation, Jason Purnell and Manuel Pastor discuss the critical relationship between equity and economic growth, emphasizing that regions with equitable opportunities tend to experience sustainable job growth. They explore the detrimental effects of inequality on economic development, including underinvestment in education and social conflict. Pastor introduces a framework of 'data, del...

In this conversation, Dr. Jason Q. Purnell and his guest, Dr. Raj Chetty , discuss the critical role of place in determining economic mobility, emphasizing that the context in which individuals grow up significantly impacts their future success. Dr. Chetty highlights key factors influencing upward mobility, including the quality of schools, family structure, and social capital. The discussion also...