Reclaiming Your Community

You Don’t Have to Move Out of Your Neighborhood to Live In a Better One

By: Majora Carter

Narrated by: Majora Carter

Length: 6 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

Majora Carter shows how brain drain cripples low-status communities and maps out a development strategy focused on talent retention to help them break out of economic stagnation.

How can we solve the problem of persistent poverty in low-status communities? Majora Carter argues that these areas need a talent-retention strategy, just like the ones companies have. Retaining homegrown talent is a critical part of creating a strong local economy that can resist gentrification. But, too many people born in low-status communities measure their success by how far away from them they can get.

This is a profoundly personal audiobook. Carter writes about her brother’s murder, how turning a local dumping ground into an award-winning park opened her eyes to the hidden potential in her community, her struggles as a woman of color confronting the “male and pale” real estate and nonprofit establishments, and much more. It is a powerful rethinking of poverty, economic development, and the meaning of success.

"My musical, In the Heights, explores issues of community, gentrification, identity and home, and the question: Are happy endings only ones that involve getting out of your neighborhood to achieve your dreams? In her refreshing new book, Majora Carter writes about these issues with great insight and clarity, asking us to re-examine our notions of what community development is and how we invest in the futures of our hometowns. This is an exciting conversation worth joining.” (Lin-Manuel Miranda)

©2022 Majora Carter (P)2022 Majora Carter

Great story and insights, but needs better editing

The story itself was great and 5 stars, however the audio recording needs MUCH more editing before being released. I first bought the author's physical book as a recommendation from someone I respected.

I began to read it, but life happened and didn't have many opportunities to pick it up again so when I saw the audiobook this was right up my alley. I wanted to support a fellow black developer.

The issue with the audio recording are the countless bloopers that were left in the released version. Countless accounts of the author reading a partial sentence, stopping, and then reading the same sentence over again. Countless accounts of the author saying "breath" or "pause" and starting over again. Along with numerous other behind the scenes musings that should've stayed behind the scenes.

I noticed a little bit of it at the beginning of the audio, and found it endearing at first. However near the middle of the audiobook it got so pervasive it became the uninvited star of the show.

All of this to say I found the author's story and personal insight refreshing and I'm sure if the author were to re-edit the audio and remove the distractions I, and others, would give it a 5 star review down the line.

love the book and what it stands for but....

The recording was the worst I have ever heard. The edit was horrible. Like I said I love the book and recommend it to everyone I know. The audio book was hard to listen to in the middle part. I almost stop listening because it threw off the storyline. Still support her but please redo the recording.

Must Read for Rebuilding Neighborhoods

Majora Carter shares her experiences - good and bad - and her vision of “self gentrification” in this compelling narrative.

Thought provoking, inspirational, audio edits need some work

The book was great, highly recommend. The audio edit needs a second pass. I don’t mind though, didn’t harm the material.

Important book but the edit is bad

Great story and one people should read/hear. That being said, the edit is actually very bad. Majora’s narration is solid but you’ll often see editing mistakes. The same lines repeated several times, mistakes by the narrator and retries are kept for some reason, Chapter 13 being the worst offender of this.

unedited audio

the audio is literally unedited. throughout the reading you hear majora say "pause" "breath" or go back and reread what you just heard. the spacing between sentences can be very long. it was so annoying that I stopped about 2/3s in. I'd like to finish the book but I'm tired of listening to the unedited version of the audio. very disappointing

not properly edited, but really great insights

commentary on direct services and nonprofits was great. the anecdotal experiences explained well how to invest in your own neighborhood

Not edited

I have never asked for a refund on a book until now. I could not get through it. The narrator made so many mistakes. She re-read sentences, started over when she made a mistake, groaned, said “pause” several times, mumbled as though talking to herself, I can go on.