Entrepreneurship as activism? Resisting gentrification in Oakland, California
This article investigates the cultural politics of entrepreneurship as a form of opposition to gentrification in Oakland, California. Building on Watkins and Caldwell’s (2004) foundational work, I examine the relationship between political projects––resisting gentrification, racial and economic disp...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Fundação Getulio Vargas, Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo
2018-06-01
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| Series: | RAE: Revista de Administração de Empresas |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://bibliotecadigital.fgv.br/ojs/index.php/rae/article/view/74970/71785 |
| _version_ | 1827164437821259776 |
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| author | Alison Hope Alkon |
| author_facet | Alison Hope Alkon |
| author_sort | Alison Hope Alkon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article investigates the cultural politics of entrepreneurship as a form of opposition to gentrification in Oakland, California. Building on Watkins and Caldwell’s (2004) foundational work, I examine the relationship between political projects––resisting gentrification, racial and economic disparities––and the cultural work of signifying a community’s continued presence amidst displacement and glorification of newcomers. Based on 30 interviews with employees of food justice non-profit organizations, social enterprises, and government agencies, I argue that activists promote food-based entrepreneurship to create employment and business opportunities for long- term residents that enables them to stay in their hometown. In doing so, the contributions of long-standing communities to Oakland’s diverse food cultures are highlighted. However, property values are rising rapidly that even these opportunities cannot ensure that long-term communities remain. For this reason, I conclude by offering examples of direct action and policy advocacy that can supplement these entrepreneurial approaches. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T10:26:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7a2e3b2b8aed478b9e5675719b810030 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0034-7590 2178-938X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-03-21T01:16:36Z |
| publishDate | 2018-06-01 |
| publisher | Fundação Getulio Vargas, Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo |
| record_format | Article |
| series | RAE: Revista de Administração de Empresas |
| spelling | doaj.art-7a2e3b2b8aed478b9e5675719b8100302024-08-03T02:47:51ZengFundação Getulio Vargas, Escola de Administração de Empresas de São PauloRAE: Revista de Administração de Empresas0034-75902178-938X2018-06-01583279290Entrepreneurship as activism? Resisting gentrification in Oakland, CaliforniaAlison Hope Alkon0University of the Pacific, Department of Psychology, Stockton, CA, United States of America This article investigates the cultural politics of entrepreneurship as a form of opposition to gentrification in Oakland, California. Building on Watkins and Caldwell’s (2004) foundational work, I examine the relationship between political projects––resisting gentrification, racial and economic disparities––and the cultural work of signifying a community’s continued presence amidst displacement and glorification of newcomers. Based on 30 interviews with employees of food justice non-profit organizations, social enterprises, and government agencies, I argue that activists promote food-based entrepreneurship to create employment and business opportunities for long- term residents that enables them to stay in their hometown. In doing so, the contributions of long-standing communities to Oakland’s diverse food cultures are highlighted. However, property values are rising rapidly that even these opportunities cannot ensure that long-term communities remain. For this reason, I conclude by offering examples of direct action and policy advocacy that can supplement these entrepreneurial approaches.http://bibliotecadigital.fgv.br/ojs/index.php/rae/article/view/74970/71785Entrepreneurshipfood justicecultural politicsactivismgentrification |
| spellingShingle | Alison Hope Alkon Entrepreneurship as activism? Resisting gentrification in Oakland, California RAE: Revista de Administração de Empresas Entrepreneurship food justice cultural politics activism gentrification |
| title | Entrepreneurship as activism? Resisting gentrification in Oakland, California |
| title_full | Entrepreneurship as activism? Resisting gentrification in Oakland, California |
| title_fullStr | Entrepreneurship as activism? Resisting gentrification in Oakland, California |
| title_full_unstemmed | Entrepreneurship as activism? Resisting gentrification in Oakland, California |
| title_short | Entrepreneurship as activism? Resisting gentrification in Oakland, California |
| title_sort | entrepreneurship as activism resisting gentrification in oakland california |
| topic | Entrepreneurship food justice cultural politics activism gentrification |
| url | http://bibliotecadigital.fgv.br/ojs/index.php/rae/article/view/74970/71785 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alisonhopealkon entrepreneurshipasactivismresistinggentrificationinoaklandcalifornia |