Steal the Street is a collection of short articles focused on gentrification, public space, and community voice. The articles were written for Streetvibes, a street paper in Cincinnati, Ohio, from 2015 through 2019. The focus of Streetvibes is homelessness, so each article focuses on different aspects of homelessness and inequity in Cincinnati, much of it centered around the rapidly gentrifying neighborhood of Over-the-Rhine. Articles include original photographs that further the narratives by providing evidence and perspectives enforced throughout each chapter. The forward is written by Alice Skirtz, author of Econocide.
The housing crisis has been especially pronounced since the 2008 economic crisis. Since then, millions of Americans have been thrust into homelessness and removed from their homes. With the housing crisis growing due to the pandemic and continued neoliberalism, more communities will be displaced and transformed into safe havens for the growth of exclusionary generational wealth. Steal the Street provides a solid foundation to interpret current events and helps us to consider a different future, one without homelessness.
Mark Mussman's previous roles included leadership in adult basic education, workforce development, volunteer coordination, and AmeriCorps service. As an education expert, Mussman brings strategies for community education and a desire to build community connections. A Cincinnati native, Mussman graduated from Walnut Hills High School, where he helped co-found the first Cincinnati high school-based Gay Straight Alliance. Mussman received his Bachelor of Philosophy from the Western College Program at Miami University after working on projects with the Miami Nation of Oklahoma, The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and JumpStart, Middletown. At the University of Cincinnati, Mussman's research focused on commercialism and student trust. After earning an MEd in Educational Foundations and Urban Educational Leadership, and a Certificate of Peace Studies, Mussman received his PhD in Educational Studies. As an AmeriCorps community volunteer, Mussman provided direct instruction to community-based GED school participants through the Urban Appalachian Council and the Northside Community School. Mussman continued his GED instruction at various community sites until embarking on the CAP513 Project. Through an individual grant from People's Liberty, Mussman founded the Creative App Project (CAP513) in 2015, which developed the first mobile app for the Safe and Supported Initiative, a partnership between Lighthouse Youth Services, Human Rights Campaign, HUD, and many other locally-based partner organizations, aimed at reducing instances of LGBTQ+ homelessness among teens and young adults.