Power to the people 

In 1971, when John Lennon penned the consummate protest song “Power to the People,” advocating for grassroots empowerment leading to critical social change, he might’ve had an organization much like the Kensington Corridor Trust in mind.

Kensington Corridor Trust puts power back in the hands of the community 

It has been six years since Adriana Abizadeh-Barbour was appointed as the first executive director of this nonprofit. 

Since that time, amazing strides have been made. Under her leadership, the Camden native has created a model for putting stability and growth back into the hands of the people who live and work in the neighborhood.

As the organization enters the Trenton market, the leaders will draw on a successful, replicable strategy that has changed the lives of residents in unimaginable ways. 
 
Leveraging her education at Rutgers University-Camden, where she majored in Political Science and minored in Security Intelligence and Counter Terrorism, while also drawing on her teaching at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy,  combined with her hands-on experience in community development, Adriana has the full menu of complex skills needed for her evolving role. 

Why local residents come first 

Growing up in New Jersey, Adriana saw first-hand that financial support for the state’s neighborhoods, especially those in underserved areas, were intentionally prioritizing corporate and governmental goals and increasing the profits for outside investors. 

While at the same time, the critical needs of local neighbors were being overlooked. 
 
To remedy the situation, the Kensington Corridor Trust was launched. Relying on community involvement with a focus on self-determination, they sought out businesses and individuals with a common zip code, explaining the power of collective real estate ownership.

With aggressive fundraising efforts and grants, including model and replication support from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Trust acquires real estate, enabling those in the community to build wealth through collective property ownership.

Working together gives everyone a voice 

By putting influence into their hands and providing the resources to recreate their neighborhood through redevelopment, residents have the opportunity to reach consensus and make decisions regarding many critical decisions – such as introducing a clean, green environment, offering affordable housing, improving the schools, having access to efficient, inexpensive transportation and deciding which small businesses and shops will be invited to have a presence in the community.

Collectively, they have the power of change. 

Lessons learned along the way

Adriana has gained key insights from various aspects of her own efforts. From sitting on multiple boards to teaching at Rutgers to leadership role as the Trust’s executive director, she brings energy, enthusiasm and expertise to encourage others.

Here is what she has learned so far:

Passion is an essential attribute.  You do not need to be an expert to effect important change. The residents who come together to co-govern bring their lifetime experiences, memories of better times and hopeful expectations for future outcomes. It is their commitment to achieving their shared goals that is even more important than professional expertise.
Proof of concept consistently shows that given the choice, people are confident of achieving success and they are excited about the chance to participate in collective ownership. They want to be responsible for making decisions that impact their daily lives, and they appreciate the chance to build a strong community.
Judged only by external standards, people may look the same. But it is important to recognize that each person and each community is unique and seeks different results, even if they share common experiences. 

To learn more about the Kensington Corridor Trust or to support its impact as it focuses on Trenton, please visit kctphilly.org.