Steven Rogers works to support Evanston Black community on historically Black-owned lands

In 1929, white property developers forced seven Black families to leave their land in Evanston just as the Great Depression started. Steven Rogers — an Evanston resident, entrepreneur and former Northwestern professor — said learning about that displacement and subsequent loss of Black wealth broke his heart. So when he saw previous attempts to develop the land at 2715 Hurd Ave. falling through, Rogers decided to act. He acquired the land in December, placing the land back under Black ownership.