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Culture is defined by the people who comprise it. But culture is more than just art, music, and tradition鈥攊t is the lifeblood of a community, it fuels connection, and it can inspire innovation that leads to transformative solutions addressing the unique challenges each community faces. Historically marginalized communities, in particular, are often eager to protect core elements of their culture, especially because dominant systems see the power of those elements and seek to exploit it.

That鈥檚 why community-led efforts to protect and sustain culture are so important. In this original six-part series, YES! explores myriad ways communities are creating culturally sustaining economies that not only protect key aspects of a given culture, but also strengthen those cultural building blocks for future generations, empowering community members to grow, thrive, and deftly respond to challenges, threats, and opportunities.

As a series, 鈥淏uilding the Block鈥� explores several unique approaches to addressing societal ills that often disproportionately impact historically marginalized communities, including Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian, and other people of color, as well as immigrants and those living on a low income. From innovative, collective approaches to relieving the debt that can thwart the opportunities of a generation, to collaborative solutions combating the cultural destruction wrought by gentrification, to the rich history and ongoing efforts to restore land to Indigenous and Black people, to the quiet but essential role played by grocery stores that cater to specific immigrant and ethnic groups, 鈥淏uilding the Block鈥� examines how communities are building cultural sustainability in their own neighborhoods and beyond.

Organizing to Cancel Debt Fuels Systemic Change

The elimination of student debt is just the first step in mitigating the pervasive effects of racial capitalism.
By Cinnamon Janzer
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Stolen Lands: A Black and Indigenous History of Land Exploitation 

Colonization through genocide, land theft, and the imposition of private property has dispossessed Indigenous and Black peoples of their homelands across the continents for generations.
By PennElys Droz
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Indigenous and Black Communities Are Finding Common Cause for Land Justice

Historically, Indigenous and Black folks have been turned against each other by colonizers and enslavers. Now, communities are learning from one another and finding solidarity in seeking to reclaim stolen lands.

By PennElys Droz

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The Fight for Housing Justice in Los Angeles

From the Los Angeles Tenants Union to Downtown Crenshaw, communities of color in L.A. are rewriting the rules of housing rights.
By Jaisal Noor
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A Taste of Home: How Ethnic Grocery Stores Create Community

Ethnic grocery stores have served as a cultural pillar of immigrant communities. Can they survive today鈥檚 economic challenges?

By Michelle Chen

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The Grassroots Fight for Housing Justice in Baltimore

Tired of waiting for the city to address housing justice, Baltimore鈥檚 constellation of grassroots activists and institutions are charging forward to keep residents in their homes and increase availability of affordable housing.

By Jaisal Noor

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Healing the Land and聽Themselves

Indigenous, Black, and queer farmers are buying land with the aim to restore and nourish nature along with their cultures and聽communities.

By Michaela Haas

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This series was funded by a grant from the Center for Cultural Innovation鈥檚 , which encourages the development of burgeoning alternative economies and fresh social contracts in ways that can help artists and cultural communities achieve financial freedom. Reporting and production of the series was funded by this grant, but YES! maintained full editorial control of the content published herein. Read our editorial independence policy.