“Cities work best when they work for everyone; they don’t work when they exclude people.”  
– Egbert Perry, CEO of Integral 

That powerful truth opened this year’s Opportunity Summit—a gathering designed to do exactly what Perry envisioned: build a region that works for everyone. The summit was more than a meeting; it was a moment rooted in intention, driven by action and calling for courage. 

Centering Intention 
Intention showed up before the summit even began. By offering free community tickets to neighborhood leaders and residents, organizers ensured that access to ideas and opportunities wasn’t reserved for institutions or insiders—it was shared with those who are closest to the challenges and most essential to the solutions. 

Because when the people most impacted by housing inequity are in the room, the conversation changes—and so can the outcomes. 

Action Over Analysis 
Far too often, communities are bogged down by endless studies that highlight problems without offering paths forward. But the Opportunity Summit flipped that script. 

Three regional studies, led by the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors, the City of Charleston and a partnership between Greystar and the Chamber, offered data with purpose: 

Here’s what we learned: 

• 42% of households in Charleston are cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing. 
• Black-majority neighborhoods face significantly higher cost burdens than white-majority areas. 
• From 2012 to 2020, the cost of a typical home in the region increased by 87%. 
• The median home price rose 27% in that same timeframe. 

The consensus among speakers? Political will—not more information—is the missing ingredient. The question is no longer what we know, but what we’re willing to do. Are our leaders—and are we—ready to make bold, inclusive choices? 

Breaking Barriers Through Collective Action 
In addition to housing, the summit spotlighted entrepreneurship as a tool for community advancement. Together, these two topics underscored that systems of exclusion are linked—and so must be our solutions. 

We must build bridges across sectors and silos, identifying the policies and mindsets that keep people locked out. Then, we must dismantle those walls with intention, strategy and urgency. 

Culture Shift Starts With Us 
There’s no way around it: NIMBYism (Not In My Backyard) is one of the most significant obstacles to equitable housing. The reflex to say “no” to new development—especially affordable or workforce housing—leaves young people, seniors and essential workers without options in the very communities they serve. 

This is not sustainable. And it’s not just a policy issue—it’s a culture issue. 

If we want our communities to reflect our values, we must speak up and push back against exclusion. We must share facts, humanize stories and engage in courageous conversations. Housing is not just about buildings; it’s about belonging. 

The Role You Play 
Attainable housing advocacy isn’t for someone else to lead. It’s for you: 

• Talk to your neighbors and leaders about the realities of affordability. 
• Show up at public meetings and support inclusive housing policies. 
• Challenge NIMBY narratives with compassion and facts. 
• Push your elected officials to act with courage, not convenience. 

The future we create depends on what we do with the key in our hands. Will you open the door for others—or lock them out?