Liz Ogbu is an architect who works on spatial justice: the idea that justice has a geography and that the equitable distribution of resources and services is a human right. In San Francisco, she's questioning the all too familiar story of gentrification: that poor people will be pushed out by development and progress. "Why is it that we treat culture erasure and economic displacement as inevitable?" she asks, calling on developers, architects and policymakers to instead "make a commitment to build people's capacity to stay in their homes, to stay in their communities, to stay where they feel whole."

Liz Ogbu: What if gentrification was about healing communities instead of displacing them?

What if gentrification was about healing communities instead of displacing them?

Designer, urbanist, spatial justice activist

Spatial justice links geography with equity, suggesting the environment we inhabit influences our access to rights and resources.

Addressing gentrification requires listening to all voices, especially those of marginalized communities facing displacement.

Healing communities involves acknowledging past injustices and working towards inclusive development that honors everyone's stories.