Minority Middle Neighborhoods in a Time of Crisis
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago invites you to a virtual convening on Minority Middle Neighborhoods in a Time of Crisis. The event took place on Wednesday, July 29, 2020, from noon to 1 pm CT.
This forum is part of Project Hometown, a new initiative from the Chicago Fed that aims to foster discussion around the challenges and opportunities confronting hometowns in the Seventh District.
Chicago has a rich history of minority "middle" neighborhoods. These are neighborhoods that for decades had a large base of middle- and working-class residents, high rates of homeownership, and active commercial corridors. But as places in the city have become more unequal, these predominantly minority neighborhoods have become increasingly vulnerable to economic shocks. Covid-19, the economic slowdown, and civil unrest have magnified the challenges.
Our goal with this forum, consistent with Project Hometown, is to bring together civic leaders, expert researchers, and Chicago Fed staff to address these issues from diverse perspectives and examine how places can recover from the pandemic, overcome longstanding inequities, and grow stronger.
In this one-hour virtual convening, experts will discuss:
- A recent survey of small businesses in Chicago that examines current circumstances facing minority business owners;
- A new study of conditions facing renters and owners in minority neighborhoods;
- The conditions that expose middle-class minority neighborhoods to particular hardship; and
- Locally-driven activities and responses to help residents and businesses in minority neighborhoods.
This forum is part of Project Hometown, a Chicago Fed initiative created to better understand the challenges facing the people and communities we serve. Through these discussions, we examine how our hometowns can recover from the pandemic, overcome longstanding inequities, and grow stronger.
