Anchoring Black Business for Economic Empowerment: The Journey of Little Jamaica CLT, Toronto | Anyika Mark

What if we could reshape our neighborhoods into thriving epicenters of empowerment and economic opportunity, all while honoring the deep-rooted histories of our communities?  Today, we turn our focus to the Little Jamaica Community Land Trust (LJCLT), a pioneering initiative dedicated to anchoring Black businesses and fostering economic stability in this vibrant neighborhood in Toronto. We are thrilled to be joined by Anyika Mark who is not only an active advocate for community change as the Community Engagement Coordinator of this CLT but also the Director of Communications for Black Urbanism Toronto (BUTO). In our conversation, we’ll delve into: How the history of Little Jamaica since the 1950s informs the CLT’s mission The importance of mixed-use development in addressing community needs The critical role of protecting Black-owned small businesses How can a community land trust empower neighbourhoods to thrive while maintaining their cultural identity? Let’s find out! Acknowledgements: This episode is brought to you by Untitled Planning and the Canadian Network of Community Land Trusts (CNCLT). For all episode show notes, and additional details about the series and CLT please visit www.untitledplanning.com Credits: Production: Untitled Planning Music: Side Hustle by SLPSTRM