Mayor Chokwe Lumumba examines the monumental challenge of advancing racial equity in Jackson, Mississippi. How does he modulate his background as a civil rights organizer and son of a Black Panther as he moves from traditional planning to citizen budgeting and an equity-focused, community-driven agenda? How does he marshal resources, forge alliances with opposing political forces, and deal with the state preemption problem?  

This is the fourth interview in our 5-part video series, Philanthropy & the City, presented by The USC Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy and The Kresge Foundation. The series brings together some of the nation’s foremost leaders at the intersection of philanthropy and urban leadership to explore the essential role of community in establishing local priorities, how philanthropy varies in the context of mayoral leadership styles, and leveraging federal resources at the local level.