This August, NHC Leadership Circle member JPMorgan Chase & Co. partnered with Slate/Panoply to produce a new community-centered podcast, Placemakers.
Over 18 editorial episodes (20-30 minutes in length), Placemakers delves into real stories of community change across America. From the legacy of Jane Jacobs and the history of Atlanta’s public housing developments, to creating space for refugees in Montana and developing affordable housing options for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender seniors, the series brings to light the rich diversity of voices in today’s community development arena.
“All communities face certain challenges. But some people see challenges as opportunities,” said podcast host, Rebecca Sheir, in a Placemakers advertising announcement. “On Placemakers, we bring you stories about… real people in real communities—people who make a difference in how we travel, work, and live.”
In addition to the community-based programming, three custom episodes (five-10 minutes in length) will be devoted to discussing JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s community commitments. Highlighting firm-funded initiatives in Detroit, New Orleans and Seattle, the custom episodes discuss in detail how JPMorgan Chase & Co. employees leverage corporate resources and expertise to create positive change in the communities in which they live and work.
“Our own experts have been interviewed and the content dives into these three places [Detroit, New Orleans and Seattle] where we have significant depth in our involvement with the community,” said head of corporate marketing, Laura Rossi, in a press release. “Podcasts are quickly growing in popularity, and we wanted to be one of the first companies to test the platform.”
In 2015, NHC partnered with JPMorgan Chase & Co. to host a revitalization forum in Detroit to discuss homeownership strategies in the region and using multifamily housing to transform blighted neighborhoods. Our partnership continues through support from Chase for our Restoring Neighborhoods Working Group and associated policy briefs.
Episodes are posted every Monday and will run through December 2016. Archived episodes, transcripts and downloads can be found on Slate magazine’s Placemakers webpage.