From stolen land to rematriation, all land ownership and control is rooted in its value to it based on markets that serve the few, not the many. What does it take to decommodify land? Is it possible? Can land and power be redistributed for collective benefit? This talk will take us on a journey through history to examine land ownershipin the United States and the reverberating impacts experienced in the 21st century.

Adriana Abizadeh '12 is a Senior Policy Fellow at the Bloustein School and is the executive director of the Kensington Corridor Trust (KCT) in Philadelphia, whose mission is to utilize collective ownership to direct investments on the corridor that preserve culture and affordability while building neighborhood power and wealth in Kensington. A passionate leader and advocate of social justice paving the way to ensure fair treatment and access to resources for people of color, she is also the President of Catalyst Consulting Group (CCG), a boutique consulting firm that is moving projects forward for nonprofits and other stakeholders. She is committed to the inclusion of those often marginalized and unseen, establishing beneficial connections with community and organizational leaders to impact changes and working alongside others to build a culture where everyone has a fair and just opportunity for health and well-being. Adriana’s expertise is in supporting grassroots organizations with growth strategies and the development of welcoming and inclusive work cultures. She has a BA in political science from Rutgers with a minor in Security Intelligence and Counter Terrorism. She also has an MS in Public Policy from Drexel.

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