This series explores the historical foundations of the American Southwest and their effect on urban issues today, including the region's worsening housing crisis. 

Housing segregation was made illegal in 1968, but its effects remain visible in Southwest cities. A coalition of researchers, advocacy groups and community members recently completed the Mapping Racist Covenants (MRC) Project, which identified exclusionary language still present in the contracts of many Tucson neighborhoods. Though about a third of residents lived in an area with racist restrictions at the time of the study, this work helped spur state-level changes to make removing discriminatory language easier. 

This episode primarily features Dr. Jason Jurjevich, Director of the MRC Project and assistant professor at the School of Geography, Development and Environment at the University of Arizona. Dr. Jurjevich dives into the MRC project, as well as his other work evaluating plumbing poverty in the US and the use of  Census data as a policymaking tool.

Music by Ketsa: Innuendos

Mapping Racist Housing Restrictions in Tucson

On this episode of Big Blend Radio, longtime fair lending and CRA expert Josh Silver discusses his new book, Ending Redlining: Through a Community-Centered Reform of the Community Reinvestment Act (Armin Lear Press, March 25, 2025). With the first major overhaul of CRA rules in nearly three decades set to take effect in January 2026, Silver explains what these changes mean for banks, communities, and the future of economic justice.

From the rise of online banking and cryptocurrency to the challenges of gentrification and housing affordability, Silver shares why a community-centered approach to banking reform is essential to ensuring fair lending and reinvestment in historically underserved neighborhoods. He also highlights the role of community banks, the power of documenting success stories, and how everyday citizens can take action to foster lasting change.

Learn more about Josh Silver and his work:
Website: https://www.endredline.com/
Substack: https://joshsilver.substack.com/

Ending Redlining: Josh Silver on Reforming the Community Reinvestment Act

Select Big Blend Radio interviews that are featured in the digital, interactive Big Blend Radio & TV Magazine and Parks & Travel Magazine. Hosted by Nancy J. Reid and Lisa D. Smith, mother-daughter travel team and publishers.

The Journal of the Southwest Radio Hour brings the voices of researchers, educators, activists and community members working to better understand the region’s past and envision possible new futures.

New tracks tagged #Red Lining