Today we took a tour of the Hill District and met with Terri Baltimore. She shared that community development successes often come from authentic engagement and respect for local history and voices. One specific place we stopped along our tour was an August Wilson mural. She told a funny story about how the mural was painted three different times until the local residents were finally able to recognize the face of August Wilson. This just goes to show how involved the community is and the how important their culture is to them. When residents are empowered to shape their neighborhood’s future, progress becomes sustainable and meaningful. Another main talking point was about Salem’s Market and Shop ’n Save which have both recently closed their Hill District locations, prompting serious concern about a resurging food desert in the area. With both closures, the Hill District faces a critical lack of nearby fresh food options, forcing residents to travel to distant stores. This takes time and extra money that the residence have to spend, just to get fresh products. Terri talked about Salem’s potential reopening with a different business model. This would be a great opportunity for the community to fund a grocery model that both listens to and grows with the community.

Business leaders can best support communities by listening first. Along the tour, we met with several people who just happened to be passing by, and they passionately told us about their community or their business. When companies move beyond transactional involvement and instead become invested in the personal lives of residents in the community, they can better understand and collaborate with each other. The tour was very inspiring to listen to their stories and how they use the past to fuel their desire for a better community. It’s a place where the rich past can elevate the future. The overall sense of comradery and community reminds me of stereotypical Irish hospitality. We can learn from the Hill District and relate it to Carrigart Ireland, and how the community places high value on cultural continuity, especially honoring the neighborhood and its history.