The 28208 zip code in Charlotte, NC, including the Lakeview neighborhood, is one of the city’s areas with significant economic challenges. Residents born in this neighborhood have less than a 5% chance of transitioning out of poverty into the middle class.

Originally established as a mill village for white workers in the late 1930s, Lakeview became predominantly Black in the late 1960s due to urban renewal and white flight. Today, the community faces ongoing challenges, including issues of trust, gentrification, and a lack of meaningful engagement.

Jamaal Kinard and Adrian Sundiata from the Lakeview Neighborhood Alliance (LNA) join us to discuss their efforts to improve the quality of life in the Lakeview neighborhood.

You’ll Hear:

(05:49) The origins of Lakeview as an exclusive park and neighborhood to its transformation and renaming, and how these shifts have impacted the residents' identity and unity.

(13:35) Why the Lakeview community has faced significant socio-economic challenges and what short-term and long-term efforts are being taken to address them.

(23:50) How the Lakeview Neighborhood Alliance rebuilds trust within the community and creates a solidarity economy.

(41:03) How the gift card program has evolved from a pandemic response into a tool for financial education and empowerment, serving nearly 170 residents in 2024.

(45:36) Why immediate relief should be balanced with advocating for systemic solutions like universal basic income and housing reform rather than relying solely on nonprofit efforts.

Connect with Jamaal Kinard and learn more about Lakeview Neighborhood Alliance.