The Urban Development Accelerator Convenes in St. Louis, MO
The Urban Development Accelerator (UDA) brought together leaders from four National Urban League affiliate organizations in St. Louis, MO from June 2nd – 4th, 2024. In this real-world classroom, contextualized by the visionary real estate development work of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis (ULMSTL), CEOs and affiliate leaders from the Springfield Urban League, the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio, the Urban League of Nebraska, and the Urban League of the Upstate engaged in an immersive learning experience. Though participating affiliates’ portfolios, business models, and local landscapes vary, they were challenged throughout the convening to be clear, strategic, and fully committed to the realization of their respective visions.
“We [Urban Leaguers] have a right to do what we do, and to do it on a big level.” Michael McMillian, President and CEO, ULMSTL
The experience kicked off at the headquarters of the ULMSTL, formerly a free-standing Sears location that historically served St. Louis’ Black community. The building was an important landmark for residents, operating not just as the only major shopping center in the area, but also as a convening hub and large employer of north St. Louis’ Black residents. When the property closed, it had a detrimental impact on the peripheral area. The local Urban League saw an opportunity to give new life to this building and the surrounding communities by reclaiming the property to once again be a purposeful gathering space offering services to its residents.
Convening at this building allowed UDA affiliates to see how ULMSTL is an example of a realized vision, informed by an unwavering dedication to enriching and supporting the community it serves. Their achievements in real estate and community development are showcased by an impressive 25 property portfolio valued at over $100 million, unfettered by the profit motive. ULMSTL’s strategy is grounded in their desire to minimize liabilities by only committing to projects that they have fully funded, even if this means delayed or staged execution of pending projects.
At the historic headquarters building, visiting affiliate leaders were greeted with insights from ULMSTL’s President & CEO, Mr. Michael McMillan and Regional Executive Vice President of Workforce and Economic Development, Mr. Michael K. Holmes. They engaged in a discussion focused on the visualization and realization of their development strategy, speaking to their purpose, why they take on new projects, and how they cultivate long-standing, effective public and private partnerships. Their goal is to rebuild and invest in properties throughout St. Louis and Ferguson’s Black communities in order to instill a sense of pride and resilience in these regions, and to encourage other businesses, developers, and homeowners to do the same. ULMSTL believes that by developing anchor properties in the community, they will begin to attract other investors who want to open businesses and create jobs in the neighborhood.
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis is not aiming to make a profit from their development, rather they are investing in these projects for the greater good of the community. Reflecting on their strategy and motivation, Mr. McMillan challenged participants by asking, “What would happen to these properties if we don’t do something with them? If we don’t rebuild our community, who is going to step up and do it?"
Inspired by ULMSTL’s approach and invigorated by their own visions, affiliates began the hands-on learning experience with a tour of the greenhouse and hydroponic units located on the property of the affiliate’s headquarters. This development, which serves as a farm, classroom, and local business venture, showcases the Urban League’s commitment to community empowerment and sustainable development. The greenhouse and hydroponic farms offer fresh, locally grown, and nutrient dense food options to residents, and provide opportunities to teach them how to grow their own food. Through this initiative, they are empowering community members to become more self-sufficient, save on food costs, and have access to their own sources of fresh, healthy foods.
For participants of the Urban Development Accelerator, this tour offered expanded ways of thinking about addressing challenges, such as food insecurity, job access and other disparities in their own local communities. Additionally, its creative partnerships had affiliate leaders reflecting on new ways to access leverage, support, and collaboration for their own visions.
After hearing from senior leadership about the objective and execution of ULMSTL’s real estate and community development strategy, it was important to see the impact in real-time. UDA participants were taken on a tour of St. Louis and Ferguson to visit properties owned and developed by ULMSTL. Accompanied by Mr. Holmes, participants were guided through each project, learning the stories behind them from acquisition to realization, and their long-lasting purpose. Through this tour, affiliate leaders were able to see firsthand the effects of the Urban League’s economic development, and how they are using their investments as a bridge between the business world and the larger community and region.
The intentional and strategic vision, informing the acquisition and/or development of each property encouraged affiliate leaders to think innovatively. Discussions around aspirations and approach left the UDA cohort collectively exploring how ULSTL’s development method could align with the needs of their community and affiliate, while pondering, “How can I make the Urban League the first choice?” when new development opportunities arise in their areas. Participants kept coming back to Mr. McMillan’s opening words, “We have a right to do what we do.”
Through the tour, presentations, and subsequent discussions, ULSTL highlighted their ability to identify community needs, develop a strategic and appropriate solution, and execute on it. For example, the newly acquired Centene Corporation complex in Ferguson, MO had sat empty following the pandemic and the corporation’s redevelopment of a new headquarters. ULMSTL capitalized on this opportunity to repurpose the facility and transform the site into a new community asset where local residents can access employment and childcare services, while simultaneously expanding the existing regional food distribution and logistics operations. It will be a place that neighborhood residents and their children can turn to for help, for empowerment, and for the resources they need to thrive.
Urban Development Accelerator participants continued their learning journeys by exploring their own visions for their communities. Affiliate leaders engaged in a peer sharing exercise, where they examined their development vision statements and had the chance to workshop their own projects with each other while also receiving fundamental feedback from Abt Global’s real estate development consultants. Each affiliate’s development plan is unique to the needs of their affiliate and community and will require diverse strategies in order to be fully realized and successfully executed. However, they are all united by their mission and the Urban League’s purpose: to create an ecosystem that empowers Black and underserved communities to achieve economic stability and sustainability.
The combination of the content provided, and the first-hand experience of expansive development spearheaded by an Urban League, left participants of the Urban Development Accelerator excited and inspired to bring their learnings back to their own projects and communities. They left St. Louis with a more structured and intentional vision for their development plans. This activation sparked affiliate collaboration and reinvigoration of what it means to be a part of the Urban League movement. Our communities are in need, and the leverage of the Urban League brand and leadership is a necessary tool to bring hope, action, and meaningful change through real estate and community development across the country.