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Hi Friends,

This past week moved a little too quick as I got caught up finalizing my upcoming events (see bottom) and trying to balance the incoming on new projects.

One interesting request I received — a major university in the South asked me to underwrite and perform a detailed analysis of a multi-million dollar community land trust (CLT) proposal. For those unfamiliar with CLTs, they are nonprofit organizations governed by a board of CLT residents, community residents and public representatives that provide lasting community assets and shared equity homeownership opportunities for families and communities.

This is a very interesting model. I’ll be taking a deep dive into the larger economics, analyzing both the financial feasibility and its policy implications. I’m curious whether this could be a model for California to take more seriously in certain areas needing investment. Know of any examples of CLTs you could share?

Bay Area Politics

I’ve had several requests to write an op-ed on the CA Congressional 16th recount. There are some major accusations flying around from each camp, and I can’t help but be relieved that I decided not to run again this cycle. Do you have any thoughts or insights on political dynamics behind the recount? I’d love to hear from you!

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What I’m Reading/Watching

• Jonathan Haidt Wants You to Take Away Your Kid’s Phone (New Yorker)

• How America Got Mean (Atlantic)

• Scientists Say New Device Can Scrub 99.9% of Microplastics from Water (Futurism)

• How American politics has infected investing (Economist)

• Birthrates Are Plummeting. Why? (Podcast)

My Upcoming Events

• Thursday, April 25th: LifeMoves Annual Benefit Luncheon (11:30am to 1pm, Palo Alto, CA)

  • Family homelessness remains a hidden epidemic in our community. Many unhoused families are hidden from the public eye - bouncing from place to place, living in garages, basements, vehicles, or in crowded apartments with other families - struggling to find a place to call their own.

  • The LifeMoves 2024 benefit luncheon spotlights the stories of unhoused families who face unique challenges on their journey to permanent housing.

  • Keynote Speaker: Stephanie Land, NYT bestselling author of Maid and Class 

  • If interested in attending, please let me know in replying to this email.

     

• Wednesday, May 1st: Human Rights Watch Silicon Valley Voices for Justice Gala (5:30pm, Menlo Park, CA). Buy tickets here.

  • It will be an evening full of inspiring stories and celebration of the progress Human Rights Watch has made to advance human rights and make real differences to individual lives around the world. Human Rights Watch is one of the world’s leading independent organizations dedicated to protecting and defending human rights. At this dinner, we will have the opportunity to hear directly from HRW’s leaders and researchers on their work to create tangible and lasting change.

  • The evening will begin with a cocktail reception from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, which will then be followed by an hour-long program, and will conclude with dinner and an assortment of delicious desserts.

• Sunday, May 5th. An Intimate Evening for LifeMoves with John and Sandi Thompson & Ajwang Rading (3pm, Woodside, CA)

  • I am SO excited for this event. If you are unfamiliar, John Thompson is a Venture Partner at Lightspeed Ventures and formerly served as the Chairperson at Microsoft (Yes, that Microsoft lol 🙂 ).

  • At this event, we will be asking for attendees to consider a meaningful contribution. If interested in attending, simply reply to this email.

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead.

Elevate,

Ajwang Rading