Redirecting our Focus with Help from Emerging Markets

11th March, 2015

Before our weekly studio meeting on Wednesday (March 11), Matt, Soham and I had to opportunity to speak with Daniel Tellalian, director of Emerging Markets, a consulting firm based in LA that pursues business opportunities in low-income neighborhoods. He sat down with us at the Cammilleri Café on campus so that we could pick his brain on what “livable” means to him.

Emerging Markets, Daniel told us, has two main focuses: supermarkets and banks. These, the firm has concluded, are the systems that low-income areas need the most. Through his time at Emerging Markets, Daniel identified the necessities of a livable community: safe streets, access to healthcare, access to education, and ultimately, an increase in income and wealth.

While businesses may initially be more partial to opening up branches in more affluent areas, there are revenue opportunities to be had in low-income areas like our nearby South LA community. The incentives for institutions to do business in places like these come not in the form of charitable appeals to the conscience, but in strictly financial terms. “These people get up, go to work, buy groceries every day,” Daniel said; “there’s clearly money here.”

However, instead of bringing in large corporations or any other businesses into the community, Daniel suggested that we focus on what we already have a surplus of. For example, USC has a vast amount of potential in providing opportunities to better impact the community. Whether it is having a safe space, or a wider market, or providing other sorts of incentive to businesses.

From our interview with Daniel, as well as other community stakeholders we have realized that the community, which has a rich diversity and culture, already has unique businesses that are doing plenty for the community. Breaking the boundaries between USC and the community could be an essentail route in becoming a more livable community.