Ecosystem Stewards: Building the Infrastructure for Shared Ownership
Every movement needs a bridge between vision, reality, and people who build that bridge. In the world of community-owned real estate, that bridge is the ecosystem — the space where dreams of ownership meet the know-how, resources, and partnerships needed to bring them to life. The people and organizations who create and work in this space are what we call Ecosystem Stewards. They may not always be in the spotlight, but they are builders of the infrastructure for shared ownership: connecting neighbors’ determination to the tools of finance, guiding grassroots groups through complicated processes, and weaving together efforts that might otherwise stand alone. This series, Ecosystem Stewards: Building the Infrastructure for Shared Ownership, lifts up their critical role in ensuring that communities can turn vision into lasting control of land, culture, and future.
This case study profiles Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC), a longstanding leader in cultural preservation, anti-displacement, and community self-determination. Founded in 1980 by Japanese American community activists, LTSC shows how ecosystem stewards provide the relationships, expertise, and tools communities need to achieve lasting ownership.
