Destination Market Street - Downtown Inglewood Cultural District Association

Income inequality

South Bay

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

In order to enable economic resilience, local leadership and placemaking of the historically and predominantly Black and Brown population, Zeal believes infrastructure is necessary to support residents, small business owners and creative entrepreneurs in creative-led community development of downtown Inglewood. Several key cultural institutions situated in the area means there is a prime opportunity to strengthen the viability of downtown that would only benefit the civic fabric of the entire city. We believe that the gap in organizing efforts with The City of Inglewood’s to establish a property business improvement district, support beautification and building maintenance process for the buildings in the corridor and the arts, social and cultural scene can be fulfilled through the next phase of community studio incubator. Our plan is to form a business association, to convene leadership, provide advocacy and organize resources to these organizations, who are largely renters.

Creative-led Community Development Initiative - Zeal as a worker owned creative arts alliance and social impact studio has established in the past year a pilot through our cooperative that is building the infrastructure for the development of a business association. The association will convene Black cultural institutions and local businesses to co-create wealth building strategies that can produce a reparative process in the economic revitalization of downtown Inglewood.
We will develop a capital campaign to establish a community development corporation to serve as a community arts and business association dedicated to a thriving, safe and economically stable community for all. 

Art + Creative Placemaking - with an emphasis on a thriving local arts and culture scene that will also consider a portfolio of spaces that could potentially be acquired under a community land trust. This would be alongside strengthening the arts and culture production infrastructure of the corridor through cooperative workforce development initiatives. 
Commercial Corridor Development - with an emphasis on community led & centered as well as locally controlled economic renewal .
Planning and Organizing - leadership development of residents and business owners for a thriving community ensuring property owners of the corridor are in right relationship with business and local residents.

Los Angeles County will be different because not only are we establishing a business association but through our pre-existing grantee partnership through California Community foundation we are launching a learning hub on community creative placemaking in the zoned areas connecting historic Leimert Park in the Crenshaw district via the Metro Line with Downtown Inglewood. We feel that this is crucial because we want both of these historic communities of color to have economic sustainability towards growing a tourism presence especially with The World Cup and the Olympics coming to Los Angeles. Locally and globally we want residents and visitors alike to benefit from learning about and experiencing the cultural significance of these communities to Los Angeles County.