food | music | fashion | lifestyle
We are looking for writers, and content creators to add to our movement.
food | music | fashion | lifestyle
We are looking for writers, and content creators to add to our movement.
CHARLOTTE
In its 7th year, the 40 Over 40 Awards presented by U.S. Bank has become a beacon of recognition for those over the age of 40 who continue to shape the future of Charlotte.
This event is all about celebrating the people who’ve helped shape Charlotte — and we can’t wait for an amazing night filled with fun, energy, and genuine appreciation for our city’s most seasoned leaders.
Join us on April 23rd at Project 658 in Plaza Midwood for dinner, drinks, great company and a night of meeting amazing people. This isn’t your average boring award ceremony - it’s a true celebration party! Get your tickets today. https://www.cltledger.com/40over40awards
AUSTIN
East Austin before gentrification:
Austin is changing, and one of the most apparent examples of this is that vast swath of land east of I-35.
By Natalie Grigson for MySA
Austin is changing, and one of the most apparent examples of this is that vast swath of land east of I-35, or to those of who grew up around here, "the East Side." oday, East Austin is a strange amalgamation of shiny new apartment buildings and start ups, sidewalks dotted with white tech bros on scooters next to Waymos next to an old taqueria or tire shop that has somehow managed to survive. East Austin is a juxtaposition. It is centuries of history and culture, hard-earned through devastating circumstance — which you must know to understand this neighborhood; and with gentrification it is being molded into something barely recognizable.
In the early 2000s (2005-2011), photographer John Langmore was already seeing this trend — old historic homes and buildings being bulldozed and replaced by modern-box-like structures, seemingly, along with their inhabitants. He started a project capturing the culture of East Austin that would become the book Fault Lines. This book contains over 100 photos of the East Side as it was in the early 2000s.
It probably won’t surprise you that hardly anything in that book remains the same today. To see just how different East Austin has become — in a very short 15 years — we traced Langmore’s steps to capture these side by side images of East Austin then, vs. now.
East Austin’s History
Back when Austin was first established in 1839, there was no "East Austin," because there was no major dividing road there. Instead, there was just rolling land east of the Colorado River, formerly the land of the Tonkawa,Lipan Apache and Comanche people. After Emancipation in 1865, this area became home to Black and Mexican American residents, many of them formerly enslaved people and working-class families who built churches, schools and businesses. But this area was just one of many so-called "freedmen’s settlements" in Austin. Clarksville (west of downtown), Wheatville (near UT campus), Kinchonville (north Austin), Masonville and Pleasant Hill (south and southeast Austin), St. Johns (North Austin) and other areas close to downtown were also all freedmen’s settlements. These were places where people of color were, not necessarily safe, but at least safer than in other parts of town, to work; to live.
White supremacy was still enforced by law and custom via "Black Codes," Jim Crow Laws and your run-of-the-mill informal terrorism. By the late ‘20s, even the false sense of safety provided by freedmen’s settlements was stripped away with the 1928 Austin City Plan. This plan effectively forced all Black residents east of what was then East Avenue, and is now I-35. While these laws officially changed in the 60s, this "informal" neighborhood segregation persisted because of housing patterns, redlining and economic barriers.
But for decades, despite Austin's intentional disinvestment and outright exclusion, East Austin thrived culturally, creating tight-knit communities, civil rights movements and a vibrant, living, breathing, culture born from being pushed aside by white people.
Ironically, by the early 2000s, with Austin’s rapid growth and tech-driven economy, white people did what they do best and laid claim to the East Side once again. This neighborhood, once redlined and undervalued, became a "highly desirable" place to live and work for Austin’s new crowd of tech bros and developers, triggering rapid gentrification, rising property taxes, luxury condos and, ultimately, the displacement of many longtime Black and Latino residents. Not for the first time.
Today, East Austin’s history and culture is largely paved over, but next to that yoga and wellness studio or new bougie cafe, you can still find an old taqueria or two; maybe even a resident who’s been there for more than 20 years. At least for now.
#IAMBLACKJACKSONVILLE - COMING JUNE 2026
An interactive social media campaign highlighting the multi-dimensional expression of Black life in Jacksonville. The individuals represented are trailblazers in different sectors of the community and are Jacksonville natives or have been residing in the area for over 5 years.
partner with us
Additional Information
At Arlington Thirty Multimedia Group, we bring stories to life through dynamic content creation, social media management, and strategic marketing tailored for small businesses, churches, and large corporations. With over 30 years of experience in media and entrepreneurship, we understand the pulse of urban culture. Our flagship publication, Urban Core Magazine, highlights the voices, trends, and businesses shaping our communities. From stunning visuals to compelling storytelling, we help brands stand out and connect authentically with their audience. Partner with Arlington Thirty and let’s amplify your brand together!”
Learn More
Let’s grow together—partner with Urban Core Multimedia Group and bring your brand’s story to life.