Keystone Sessions

What if gentrification isn’t the real problem? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, host Kevin McGinnis sits down with Erik Murray, founder of Eastside Innovations, to unpack how we can invest in historically overlooked “east side” communities without pushing people out. From Kansas City, Kansas to Oakland, California, Erik traces how industrialization, segregation, and policy decisions created “east side disparity”—and how clean energy, innovation districts, and community-led development can turn that into east side prosperity. If you’ve ever wondered how to do real estate development, impact investing, or community revitalization in a way that actually benefits local residents, this conversation is a masterclass. In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why “east side communities” exist in so many cities (East Oakland, East Palo Alto, East Kansas City, etc.) and how industrial smokestacks, redlining, and segregation shaped them. - How to invest in underserved neighborhoods without fueling displacement—and why Eric believes everyone deserves “nice stuff,” not just luxury zip codes. - What a P4 model (public–private–philanthropic partnership) is and how blending capital can reduce risk for investors and create better outcomes for communities. - How clean energy and sustainable housing can lower total cost of living, not just rent—think no electric bills, better construction, lower insurance, and access to transit. - Why not all money is good money and how Eric uses a strict “no asshole rule” to choose investors and partners aligned with community-first values. Erik also shares real stories from projects like Indian Springs / Midtown Station in KCK, his decade in Oakland learning from Black Panther leaders and social justice organizers, and the hard lessons from deals that fell apart—COVID-era hotels, bad capital partners, and policy shifts that pulled millions away from East Side communities. Whether you’re a developer, impact investor, policymaker, startup founder, or community leader, this episode answers big questions like: - How do you de-risk community development projects for private capital? - Can impact investing still deliver competitive returns? - What does prosperity actually look like for East Side neighborhoods? - How can clean energy and innovation districts be tools for equity, not exclusion? If you care about city-building, inclusive innovation, and the future of our neighborhoods, you won’t want to miss this one.

What if gentrification isn’t the real problem? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, host Kevin McGinnis sits down with Erik Murray, founder of Eastside Innovations, to unpack how we can invest in historically overlooked “east side” communities without pushing people out. From Kansas City, Kansas to Oakland, California, Erik traces how industrialization, segregation, and policy decisions created “east side disparity”—and how clean energy, innovation districts, and community-led development can turn that into east side prosperity. If you’ve ever wondered how to do real estate development, impact investing, or community revitalization in a way that actually benefits local residents, this conversation is a masterclass. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why “east side communities” exist in so many cities (East Oakland, East Palo Alto, East Kansas City, etc.) and how industrial smokestacks, redlining, and segregation shaped them. • How to invest in underserved neighborhoods without fueling displacement—and why Eric believes everyone deserves “nice stuff,” not just luxury zip codes. • What a P4 model (public–private–philanthropic partnership) is and how blending capital can reduce risk for investors and create better outcomes for communities. • How clean energy and sustainable housing can lower total cost of living, not just rent—think no electric bills, better construction, lower insurance, and access to transit. • Why not all money is good money and how Eric uses a strict “no asshole rule” to choose investors and partners aligned with community-first values. Erik also shares real stories from projects like Indian Springs / Midtown Station in KCK, his decade in Oakland learning from Black Panther leaders and social justice organizers, and the hard lessons from deals that fell apart—COVID-era hotels, bad capital partners, and policy shifts that pulled millions away from East Side communities. Whether you’re a developer, impact investor, policymaker, startup founder, or community leader, this episode answers big questions like: • How do you de-risk community development projects for private capital? • Can impact investing still deliver competitive returns? • What does prosperity actually look like for East Side neighborhoods? • How can clean energy and innovation districts be tools for equity, not exclusion? If you care about city-building, inclusive innovation, and the future of our neighborhoods, you won’t want to miss this one.

What happens when community capital and culture move in lockstep? In this live episode of The Disruption Lab, we sit down with Brandon Calloway to unpack how KC GIFT is revitalizing Kansas City’s East Side by funding Black-owned businesses—and how his creative venture, Blurred Media, is rewriting who gets represented in anime and manga. It’s a masterclass in practical impact: passion meets logic, storytelling meets metrics, and neighborhood change happens with residents, not to them. You’ll hear how KC GIFT’s focused model works—51% Black-owned in the target area, at least 3 months of revenue, a clear plan for growth and job creation—plus the rigorous backend: legal and accounting hygiene, quarterly reporting, and a full year of bookkeeping, coaching, and marketing support. We also dive into the power of narrative (“storytelling is our stock price”) and why real economic development is algebra—sometimes even calculus. Along the way: the Troost Avenue 20-mile walk that turned into citywide buzz, the rise of individual giving as a modern philanthropy engine, and what leaders learn when they scale without losing trust. Why listen (and share): - Proven outcomes: ~$1.96M granted to 79 businesses, 153 new jobs, and ~209% average revenue growth a year after funding. - Playbook you can copy: A repeatable grant + services model that ties dollars to jobs—not just headlines. - Capital x Culture: How media representation and access to capital fight the same systemic barriers. - Actionable leadership: Saying no, building systems, integrating AI into small-biz ops, and keeping focus. Perfect for founders, funders, ecosystem builders, and anyone serious about inclusive economic development, entrepreneurship, and creative industries that move markets.