Today we’d like to introduce you to Nneka.
Hi Nneka, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
On Mother’s Day Weekend 2016, Nneka Nnamdi was riding home and witnessed what could have been a tragedy. A few children were riding bikes down the sidewalk in front of the demolition of four Baltimore brownstones on Fremont Ave at Lafayette St. The demolition site had a gaping hole in the ground, probably six feet deep, where the basement of one of the homes used to be. There was no gate present to prevent access to the property. If any children had lost control of their bikes, they could have fallen into the hole and been seriously injured. After witnessing that event, she began researching, documenting, reporting, and tracking the dangers and blight caused by these demolition sites and the structures that preceded them.
FBB was initially developed to monitor demolition sites and conditions of vacant properties in Baltimore City. Since 2016, the organization’s efforts to support equitable development and map neighborhood decay have evolved significantly.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, the road hasn’t been smooth due to misgynoir and capitalism. Historic and current policy and practice are roadblocks to justice, equity and sustainability.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Fight Blight Bmore is an economic, environmental, and social justice initiative led by the community and informed by data to address the issue of blight. Fight Blight Bmore has three main functions to:
inform individuals about blight and its impact
create a mobile application to identify, report, and analyze blight data
to support the development of real property that is visioned, led, implemented and owned by the community’s existing residents.
The application will give users guidance on identifying blight and provide information on how blight impacts quality of life and community wellness. Additionally, the mobile system will provide an easy-to-use method to document blighted conditions. After the user documents blight, the mobile system will automatically report conditions to the appropriate parties. The application also will allow users to view and use a variety of analytic tools, as well as follow and update reports of blight.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I am an artist specifically I trained and performed African dance for many years.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fightblightbmore.com/
