[SCEWC2024] Reversing out-migration starts with investing in local talent, urban revitalization expert says

At the Smart City Expo World Congress on Nov. 5 at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue in Spain, urban revitalization strategist Majora Carter delivered a keynote urging global leaders to rethink their strategies for low-status communities. The event, which draws innovators and policymakers from around the world, gave Carter a platform to emphasize the often-overlooked human capital in these areas and present her vision for reversing out-migration through “talent retention.”

Carter, founder of the Majora Carter Group, coined the term “low-status communities” to describe areas typically labeled as underprivileged or low-income. She explained that “status” reflects the systemic inequalities that shape these communities, including disparities in public health, career opportunities, and access to essential resources like food and clean water.

“These are places where smart kids are expected to measure success by how far they get away from their communities,” Carter said. She highlighted the pressure young people in low-status areas face to leave in search of success, arguing that this exodus drains communities of valuable talent and weakens local economies.

Majora Carter, urban revitalization strategist and founder of the Majora Carter Group, delivers a keynote at the Smart City Expo World Congress on Nov. 5, 2024, at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue./Park Su-hyeon

Carter criticized the conventional approach of funneling billions into these areas without yielding significant improvement. She called for “talent retention” strategies similar to those used by successful corporations. “If we aren’t investing in the people who were born in these areas, we’re not leveraging existing human capital to help communities recover economically,” she said.

Carter shared examples of successful initiatives aligned with her approach. In the South Bronx, she led the transformation of a neglected area along the Bronx River into an award-winning park, creating local jobs and boosting community engagement. “Now, families who once avoided the river have their children working on restoration projects,” she said, emphasizing the long-term effects of community-driven environmental projects.

Carter also stressed the need for high-quality amenities—like parks, green infrastructure, and social gathering spaces—in low-status communities to foster belonging. She referred to “third spaces”—places beyond home and work that encourage social interaction—as vital to a neighborhood’s social fabric. “When walking around your neighborhood, do you feel like you’re part of a dynamic community, or do you feel you have to move out to live in a better one?” she asked.

Carter emphasized that revitalization efforts must go beyond beautification. She pointed to local entrepreneurship and community-led projects as essential for reshaping residents’ perceptions of their neighborhoods. She highlighted The Boogie Down Grind, a café and bar in the Bronx, as an example of how community-driven spaces can serve as cultural hubs. “Community-driven spaces can serve as cultural hubs, challenging stereotypes about low-income areas,” she said.

Carter concluded by urging policymakers and city planners to prioritize human-centered urban development, warning that a “smart city” is incomplete without addressing inequality. “Our cities cannot be smart without practicing talent retention in low-status communities,” she said. “I hope that you all see yourselves in that light, and going forward, we can share more of these victories together by showing that no one has to move out of their neighborhoods to live in a better one.”