Our project continues full steam ahead! We continued conducting our final interviews and searching for the ever-so-illusive narrative for our piece of long-form journalism. We were stoked to interview Mo, the owner of Mo’s Milkshakes and More, which can be found in the Carousel Café in the Daniels Spectrum Building. We also interviewed our resident group member, Elena, who is the co-chair of the EED (Economic and Employment Development Plan) guided by the SDP (Social Development Plan) for Regent Park. Interviewing Mo and Elena solidified our understanding of economic justice for entrepreneurs in Regent as incredibly complex. It can take on many different forms depending on the business's unique needs. Some may struggle with raising the capital necessary to start and maintain a business, while others strive to gain recognition and entrench themselves within the community. Justice is, therefore, case-dependent and does not follow a one-size-fits-all approach. This revelation made us realize that there was no simple answer to the question of economic justice. Yet, it simultaneously motivated us to work harder to develop a more nuanced perspective. This perspective has no explicit heroes or villains but is an assortment of entrepreneurs who simply want to make their businesses last. This is true of all urban issues; they are very multifaceted. It also took us well out of our comfort zones to speak with the entrepreneurs who we likely would have never spoken with if it were not for this project.
In this blog post, we would like to share the story of our journey in creating the narrative for our long-form journalism piece and podcast. While it is not solidified yet, everyone we have spoken with has influenced our process in developing the final project.
For our first interview of the project, we met with Patricia, who told us about her journey to entrepreneurship, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic. In her interview, Patricia highlighted the desire for more opportunities for new business owners like herself to sell and advertise their products.
Secondly, we arranged to meet with Pereira, the owner of B&A Grocery and Variety Store. We were referred here by Patricia, who often visits this shop due to its convenient location and competitive prices. Her referral was necessary and helped ease the awkward tension that arises whenever you walk into a store and ask to speak with the busy owner. As the sole employee of B&A, he works tirelessly to ensure that everything is stocked and the cash register is attended. He gave us very libertarian insights, which we were surprised to hear. We endeavoured to undertake this project with the notion that economic justice includes government intervention, which is necessary to keep local businesses intact. Pereira instead believes aspiring business owners should not rely on government assistance.
The subsequent interview was with Andrew, a manager at Café ZuZu. He gave meaningful insights on how businesses from outside of the neighbourhood situated within it have a role to play in the economic landscape. He highlights Café ZuZu’s pivotal role in attracting new visitors who previously never considered visiting Regent Park.
Picture of Mo in front of the Carousel Cafe Sign (Taken by Elena)
Next, we chatted with Mo from the Carousel Cafe. Mo told us his Mom taught him to cook when he was really young, which is why he started Mo’s Milkshakes and More. Talking to Mo was a wonderful experience– he is full of positive energy. He is very optimistic about the revitalization of Regent Park; he is excited that the revitalization will bring new customers to the Cafe. Interviewing Mo was a great learning experience. Hearing him speak about his businesses made us realize how vital our interviews are; highlighting local businesses in our magazine could enormously impact entrepreneurs like Mo! Mo’s interview also helped us figure out our narrative. Economic justice, for Mo, is tied to opportunity. Mo explained that he hopes his business can grow to gain new customers and sell his products at large community events like Taste of Regent.
Finally, we talked to our group member, Elena. Elena is the co-chair of the EED. Elena told us about how the EED has worked hard to empower Regent Park residents by helping them find jobs in local businesses. One of the key accomplishments of the EED is the “workforce integrator,” which bridges the gap between job seekers and hiring organizations, including local Regent Park businesses. Elena is very optimistic about the work conducted by the EED. Her interview made us realize that economic justice means equitable opportunity for many Regent Park residents and entrepreneurs. Similar to what Mo and Patricia were saying. This perspective really helps us shape the narrative for our magazine. Elena is in a unique position because she understands the economic justice goals the EED is trying to meet and how successful they truly are.
Despite the many shortcomings of Regent Park’s revitalization, many business owners are still optimistic. Long-time resident Mohammad says so himself here:
The Corner Shop Chronicles group members are Elena, Patricia, Jake, and Shreya.