A need within my community is access to fresh produce. Compared to neighborhoods with majority white residents, there are more grocery stores available. It is more common for majority white neighborhoods to have stores such as “Whole Foods”, “Walmart”, and/or “Target”.  In my community, there are less grocery stores that are accessible within walking distances, but more liquor stores and gas stations. This leaves people to be more prone to drinking, smoking, and eating unhealthy food. This has a lasting impact on the youth specifically because that is what they are used to and what they were raised with. This leads to violence, alcoholism, and drug affiliation issues within the community. I know this from first hand experience, I was and still am used to seeing people drinking and smoking on every corner. The only store within walking distance of my neighborhood is a gas station and a Dollar Tree. I am unable to go and buy fruits, steak, vegetables, etc. for my family, as it is not safe for me to stand at the bus stations due to violence and potential harassment. Same thing applies for public transportation because of the potential dangers. I believe that every neighborhood should have a store that is within walking distance that sells fresh produce to better the community.

This issue in my community is a product of Red Lining. Red Lining took place in Kansas City (Missouri and Kansas) after World War One. Red Lining was set in place to prevent investments in Black Neighborhoods, this is a result of discrimination and racism in the world of real estate and business. Neighborhoods in my community still suffer from the effects of this racism.  Although red lining took place over 100 years ago, the community still faces the repercussions. This also leads to health complications in my community. Not having access to fresh produce and affordable healthy meals, health complications arise. The black and brown communities statistically have a higher rate of high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart diseases, which are linked back to eating and living habits. 

My community should not have to suffer in this way. We deserve the same access as neighborhoods that were invested in and that have residents that don’t look like us. My future goal is to gain an education in accounting and real estate. I wish to reinvest in my community and make a difference and a lasting impact on the community. There should be more grocery stores in our neighborhoods compared to liquor stores and not the other way around. This is what keeps the community oppressed. I am motivated to speak up and advocate for the community in order to fight back on the systematic racism and discrimination. I am so passionate about this especially because I experience it first hand and so does my family and friends.  As a real estate agent I will have the required connections and resources in order to advocate for the community and bring awareness to the issues within. I will be able to endorse projects, conduct volunteer work, and invest into non profits and charities and even run to be a part of the board or council. Real Estate agents do have the necessary power to engage in communities and build them up. I will help enforce the Fair Housing Act in order to prevent the continuation of red lining. I will speak with the community and the youth in order to educate them on financial literacy and give them the tools they need to be successful and navigate through finances no matter what age they are. The community should have the tools and resources to fight against the discrimination and racism and know that they do not deserve to live like this. We deserve equality.