Live with Living Cities

Credit is one of the quiet systems shaping who gets to build a future in a city. It can determine whether someone can buy a home, start a business, move into a better apartment, recover from a setback, or access fair financial opportunities. And yet, for many renters, the largest bill they pay every month has historically done little to help them build credit.

In this episode of Live with Living Cities, host Justin Charles is joined by Madelaine Britt, Manager of the Office of Financial Empowerment for the City of Rochester, and Santiago Carillo, Assistant Director...

The City as Capital Convener: How Local Government Leaders Can Unlock Funding for Small Businesses

Small businesses are the lifeblood of local economies, but access to capital remains one of the biggest barriers to their growth and resilience. In this episode, adapted from a Living Cities webinar, we explore how local governments can play a powerful role in strengthening small business ecosystems by serving as capital conveners.

Our panelists share practical insights from Miami, Detroit, and the broader field on how cities can bring together public, private, philanthropic, and community partners to unlock funding, build...

In this mini-episode of Live with Living Cities, Dr. Ahmed Whitt explores the evolving landscape of Opportunity Zones and what the next generation of place-based investment policy could mean for communities across the country.

As policymakers revisit and refine Opportunity Zones through new federal legislation, this conversation examines both the promise and the challenges of these incentives. Dr. Whitt breaks down how Opportunity Zones 2.0 could better align private capital with equitable economic development, community wealth building, and long-term local prosperity, while addressing concerns around accountability, displacement, and who truly benefits.

From policy design to real-world...

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 This month on Live with Living Cities, we're replaying the first in our Rewiring Capital for Strong Local Economies webinar series. In this webinar our facilitator and guests explore the role cities play in shaping the relationships that help small businesses move from survival to long-term growth.

 While many local governments invest in programs intended to support entrepreneurs, uneven participation, low capital readiness, and fragmented efforts across departments remain common challenges. This conversation looks at why th...

In this episode of Live with Living Cities, host Justin Charles sits down with Roderick Wheeler, President and Chief Strategy Officer of Wheeler Social Impact, for a timely conversation about why communities are not peripheral to economic growth, but foundational to it. We unpack how neighborhoods, businesses, philanthropy, and civic institutions are deeply interconnected, and what happens when that ecosystem is either strengthened or neglected.

 Roderick shares a clear-eyed perspective on why long-term economic success depends on intentional investment in the places where people live and work, and why collaboration across s...

In this mini-episode of Live with Living Cities, Norris Williams, Associate Director of Business Ownership, introduces Breaking Barriers to Business (B3)—a bold initiative designed to expand opportunity for entrepreneurs in long undervalued commercial corridors across the Southeast.

Through a partnership with Main Street America and support from Truist Foundation’s Where It Starts initiative, B3 is helping five cities align local government agencies, community-based organizations, and financial capital to better serve small business owners. By strengthening relationships, elevating community voice, and shifting harmful narratives, the initiative is transforming how cities support inclusive entrepreneurship.

Hear how...

In this special year-end episode of Live with Living Cities, host Justin Charles reflects on a year of transformation, learning, and renewed purpose across the Living Cities ecosystem. From a clearer articulation of what it means to be a “Living City” to bold experiments in how capital, knowledge, and relationships flow through local economies, this episode takes listeners inside the ideas and partnerships shaping the future of inclusive prosperity.

The episode features reflections from Living Cities CEO Joe Scantlebury on the organization’s evolution, its sharpened mission, and the growing movement to place people and communities at the ce...

In this episode of Live with Living Cities, host Justin Charles speaks with Sydney Thomas, Conductor at Symphonic Capital, about reimagining venture capital to serve the 99%. Sydney shares how her personal journey shaped Symphonic’s mission, why intentional growth strategies like seed-strapping matter, and the role of storytelling and representation in building inclusive ecosystems.

She also spotlights investments like Canopie, Scout, and Lōvu Health, showing how Symphonic ties business success to social impact. The conversation closes with Sydney’s advice for founders and investors, and her vision for the legacy Symphonic Capital will...

In this episode of Live with Living Cities, guest host Valerie McDowell talks with Ashley Gabb, founder of Gabb Consulting and former executive at Estée Lauder, HP, and Discover, about her journey from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship. Ashley shares lessons on purpose-driven leadership, building equitable systems, and inspiring the next generation of changemakers.

Entrepreneurs can’t succeed alone—they need support systems. In this episode, Philip Gaskin breaks down what it means to build strong business ecosystems. We talk about how cities across the U.S. are helping small businesses grow by connecting people, resources, and funding—and why that matters for creating an economy that works for everyone.

When traditional finance falls short, where can changemakers turn? Host Justin Charles talks with Jim Casselberry of Known about how impact investing directs capital to overlooked communities and ideas. Gain insight, clarity, and real stories of money making the economy more inclusive.

In this episode of Live with Living Cities, host Justin Charles explores the power of catalytic capital and how the Inclusive Capital Council (ICC) is working to transform not just how capital flows—but who controls it and who benefits from it.

You’ll hear from Daniel Nissenbaum, CEO of the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF), and Mileyka Burgos-Flores, founder and executive director of the Allapattah Collaborative CDC in Miami. Together, they share how bold, equity-centered investments are challenging the status quo of traditional finance and fueling community-led economic development.

From national capital strategies to neig...

In this episode of Live with Living Cities, host Justin Charles sits down with Dr. Ahmed Whitt, Director of the Center for Wealth Equity, for a timely and thought-provoking conversation about the rise of artificial intelligence and its far-reaching impact on our economy and communities. As AI rapidly transforms industries, reshapes how we work, and influences who has access to opportunity, this conversation delves into both the promise and the perils of this powerful technology.

This episode examines how AI can drive innovation and productivity—but also how it can deepen existing inequalities if left unchecked. It al...

In this episode of Live with Living Cities, CEO Joe Scantlebury sits down with Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter to explore how shared ownership and solidarity economy strategies are reshaping local governance. Recorded at the City of Saint Paul’s Office of Financial Empowerment conference, this powerful conversation highlights Saint Paul’s role in the Closing the Gaps Network and the broader movement for equitable economic transformation.

Host Justin Charles explores the origin and impact of Living Cities’ Closing the Gaps Network—a bold, national initiative helping cities tackle deep-rooted racial wealth and income disparities. 

Born out of the 2020 Year of Reckoning, the CTG Network has grown into a coalition of 24 cities committed to advancing long-term, inclusive, and community-driven solutions.

In this episode, you'll learn how cities are working to empower entrepreneurs from underserved communities, expand access to homeownership, and dismantle systemic barriers to economic opportunity. 

Through initiatives like Breaking Barriers to Business, local leaders are transforming their policies, practices, and pa...

Welcome to Live with Living Cities, the podcast dedicated to building a just and equitable society by dismantling systemic barriers to financial equity. In this episode, host Justin Charles introduces you to Living Cities, a collaborative of influential philanthropies and financial institutions working to close the income and wealth gap and foster economic justice in cities across the U.S.

The episode explores the historical roots of economic disparities, the necessity of systems change, and the role of collaborative partnerships in expanding access to capital. Featuring insights from Living Cities’ leadership and teams, this episode highlights initiatives li...