Home » News » OWI Conversations took off an Interview Series with Community Activist

OWI Conversations took off an Interview Series with Community Activist

OWI Conversations, an interview format broadcast production featuring One World Initiative Founder and president Sophia Luo, completed its debut performance this week, showcasing the noted community reclamation guru Majora Carter.

Miss Luo said that this is but the first of a series of interview productions that will be aired and digitally sent throughout the world on the OWI public broadcast networks. “We are lining up guests with an interest in sharing their insights and viewpoints with a global audience for the broadest reach possible,” she said. “Our intention is to provide programming that is entertaining, educational, insightful and inspirational. OWI welcomes world leaders and authorities to join us as interview guests on upcoming programs on subjects of climate change, economic, education, public health, international business development and other global topics. Let your voice to be heard by our global audience and future generations.

Miss Carter is an American urban revitalization strategist and public radio host from the South Bronx area of New York City. Carter founded and led the non-profit environmental justice solutions corporation “Sustainable South Bronx,” from 2001 onward, before entering the private sector in 2008

Filmed in the historic confines of Manhattan’s Algonquin Hotel, the interview featured Miss Carter’s dazzling description of her insight and desire to improve her downtrodden community of the South Bronx where she grew up.

“I was raised with the belief that in order to have a successful life, a person had to leave the squalor of the South Bronx and move on into a more upscale environment,” she said.

“But upon returning to my parent’s home to attend graduate school, I came to realize that with a proper strategy and support, a community could be reclaimed and made more livable and enjoyable by providing the things that people desire in their hometown.”

Having received solid community support and development grants, she was able to lead a movement that revived the neighborhood so dramatically that she was granted a prestigious MacArthur Award for her leadership.

In her just released book, “Reclaiming Your Community: You don’t have to move out of your neighborhood to live in a better one,” she touts the importance of community upgrades that encourage social interaction and community services that people want, enabling the neighborhood to keep its residents at home. “I call it retaining your community’s talent,” she said, adding, “keep ‘em happy, keep ‘em at home.”

OWI focuses on today’s younger generation and are pleased to have involved a group of students who helped with our production, particularly Jonathon Zhao, a rising cinematographer.

OWI is looking forward to the upcoming productions.