A picture of B.A. Grocery Store where we conducted one of our interviews (Taken by Elena)
What We Aimed to Complete:
Oftentimes, beginning a project is the hardest part. These beginning days are crucial in guiding the direction of a project and getting the ball rolling. As such, we determined our goal and the steps necessary to reach it. From there, the next hurdle was implementing our ideas in practice. Our group emerged out of a mutual desire to investigate the experiences of local businesses throughout the revitalization. Given that the principal theme this semester is economic justice, we thought it fitting to highlight the stories of those who make Regent unique. We decided on a magazine which will examine the stories of local entrepreneurs, though we need to decide on the overarching theme. We developed a road map, strengthened communication, and conducted our first interviews.
What Worked:
We conducted successful interviews with three businesses and uncovered valuable information ranging from large corporations to single-person stores. Elena’s confidence alongside Patricia’s thoughtfulness synergize well to create a well-rounded, friendly group. We attribute these skills to explain why our interviewees have been so open and willing to share their stories. There are creative differences among our groupmates, yet we have maintained close communication, allowing us to keep up with one another and discuss the project's progress. Furthermore, the diversity of the entrepreneurs we interviewed produced rich information from both sides of the revitalization, with some being longtime and others new residents. This allows us to develop a more nuanced picture of the revitalization.
Challenges:
Throughout the interview process, we realized that arranging a time to speak with some entrepreneurs can be difficult. Said delays are difficult to accommodate within the narrow timeframe that we have to complete the project, so we may be forced to omit them. Though we have had three successful interviews, we have encountered some businesses that do not trust us enough to be interviewed. Though we were transparent with them, some simply did not want to be a part of it. Among those who do agree to be interviewed, however, some individuals do not agree to be filmed on camera. Though this is a minor challenge, considering the cumulative project is a magazine and podcast, it can sometimes be difficult to humanize a business without a face.
A Picture of the concrete outside the B.A. Grocery Store (Taken by Elena)
Learning experience:
As we reflected on our week as a team, we realized two main things. Firstly, there is a stark difference between the experiences of older and newer businesses. Since the majority of the older businesses are smaller, they face issues regarding capital; they struggle to stay afloat and grow. In contrast, recently established businesses face issues regarding integration; they find it challenging to establish themselves.
As we spoke to local entrepreneurs, we found that physical location is essential in determining experience. Although we have a small sample size thus far, we realized that businesses located on the neighbourhood's outskirts or surrounded by residential buildings reported less traffic. The managers of these businesses also specified conditions that make it more challenging to gain traffic, including the weather. The recent snowstorm was cited as a significant barrier.
How has the course changed our understanding of urban issues:
The course has altered our understanding of key urban issues; it has allowed us to become immersed within Regent. Through our interviews, we connected with community members and observed Regent's changing urban form. Even though we are a team of students and residents, we all found that physically being in Regent and interacting with entrepreneurs was eye-opening. We realized that urban issues affect Regent's entrepreneurs in different ways. In other words, we recognize that urban issues do not have uniform consequences. For example, for some businesses we interviewed, the redevelopment of Regent has affected their ability to stay afloat; for others, the redevelopment has offered opportunities for growth. Without the course, we would not have had the chance to interact with the entrepreneurs we interviewed and learn this from them.
Reflections:
As a team, we were surprised to see the positive response to our project. Thus far, local entrepreneurs have been very willing to interact with us, answer our questions, and tell us their stories. Regardless of their willingness to participate, we learned that creating our project will take longer than anticipated. While many entrepreneurs were willing to share their stories, many are busy. Moreover, the breadth of different businesses in Regent means there are many experiences. So far, we have been unable to find a common theme related to economic justice/injustice; however, we are hopeful that as we continue to conduct interviews, we will learn more, and this missing link will become apparent.
Support:
We are thankful for the help from the FOCUS staff and the Dr. Mehta. The FOCUS staff has been invaluable in procuring technology for our interviews and has provided us with a recorder we used to conduct all our interviews. Moreover, Professor Mehta has been very helpful in guiding our project. As we continue to work, we will need help with the technology, especially when creating our podcast. Moreover, as we continue to conduct interviews and find the links between different local entrepreneurs, we may need guidance to guide the content of our proposed magazine, mainly regarding organization and flow.
The Corner Shop Chronicles Team members are Jake, Elena, Patricia and Shreya