Partners in Equity

Greetings, Agents of Impact! Keep an eye out in the clip below for Arthur Wallace, napoleon wallace's father, the one with the hat, who came out to SF for the SOCAP Global premiere of ImpactAlpha's mini-documentary, "Equity & Ownership: Napoleon Wallace and the Reconstruction of Black Wealth." We met Art in Greenville, NC, at his Gold Post Cafe, though we missed the live music and his Friday fish fry. On the other days of the week, at least 10 food entrepreneurs run their businesses out of his kitchen. He took us out to the family's place as well, with a garden, barbershop and several other businesses. And that's all after he sold his specialty wood products business and other companies. It's clear that Napoleon's entrepreneurial roots run deep. That's why I'm so excited to be going to back to NC next week to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where ImpactAlpha and GOOD TRBL are hosting a screening and daylong gathering on Friday, April 4, to build "a playbook for shared prosperity." We launched Re:Construction with a post this week: https://lnkd.in/gWCn4u4v Our "Re:Construction" spring tour will roll on to Washington DC for a party with RWJF at The Aspen Institute on Tuesday, April 8, and then to Boston, where "Equity and Ownership" has been selected for the Boston International Film Festival's Saturday evening showcase, April 12. Napoleon has spent decades building the playbook. We're humbled and inspired to be with him on this journey.

What an incredible year of growth and innovation as part of the The Aspen Institute Financial Security Program Wealth Innovation Cohort Fellowship! Alongside my Partners in Equity colleagues Wilson Lester and napoleon wallace, we've explored groundbreaking models of inclusive commercial real estate ownership. Our cohort's work has proven that when you democratize ownership in commercial real estate, everyone wins - investors, developers, and most importantly, our communities. At Partners in Equity, we're proud to be turning this vision into reality by helping small business owners become property owners. I invite you to learn more about our approach in Aspen FSP's new case study - https://lnkd.in/eYyaRwaK. Deeply grateful to my fellow cohort members who are revolutionizing how we think about commercial real estate ownership. Together, we're building pathways to wealth that work for everyone. Ajia Morris, ???? Lyneir Richardson, Jeff Mendelsohn, John W. Haines, Tracy Hadden Loh and Special Thank you to Aspen Leadership for pulling us together - Ida Rademacher Heather McCulloch Joanna Smith-Ramani Katherine Lucas McKay [Photo from NYC - Winter 2025] #AspenFSP #WealthInnovation #InclusiveCRE #CommunityDevelopment

Today @1pm (Jan 30th) Our Partners in Equity Managing Partner, Wilson Lester will be presenting alongside our brilliant The Aspen Institute Financial Security Program. REGISTER BELOW Thx Heather McCulloch! If you'd like to learn more about innovative approaches to Inclusively Owned Commercial Real Estate (Inclusive CRE)... - How do residents and local business owners become investors in commercial and mixed-use real estate developments in their communities? - How are the developments structured and financed? - How do grantmakers, impact investors, and local leaders support replication in other communities? Join us TODAY AT 1 EST for a national webinar co-hosted by The Aspen Institute Financial Security Program and the Asset Funders Network! Register here (it will be recorded - so if you can't make it, sign up anyway and you sill receive a link to the recording): https://lnkd.in/gn5bPqqC

There’s a missed opportunity in the investment world: over 95% of capital remains allocated to non-diverse funds. This leaves diverse-led funds undercapitalized, despite their proven ability to outperform. This disparity isn’t just about fairness — it’s about untapped potential. A report from the National Association of Investment Companies (NAIC) highlights systemic barriers: smaller commitments to diverse-managed funds, higher asset requirements and inconsistent support from corporate and union pension funds. These challenges restrict market growth and limit wealth creation in communities that could benefit most. Addressing these disparities is critical to building a more dynamic and equitable financial ecosystem. When diverse leaders manage funds, they bring unique perspectives, broader networks and innovative strategies that drive returns and create lasting economic impact. This mission is personal to me. Throughout my career, I’ve championed initiatives to expand opportunities for underrepresented entrepreneurs and fund managers. By supporting diverse leadership in finance, we not only unlock growth but also help close the #racialwealthgap and foster sustainable change. It’s time to reimagine how we allocate capital — embracing equality as both a value and a strategy. Together, we can fuel innovation, empower communities and strengthen our economy.

In 2024 we convened our first cohort of Wealth Innovation Fellows. These seven community developers are spearheading new models of asset ownership across the country, and we’ve learned a lot together over the last year. One high-level takeaway: Inclusively owned commercial real estate (CRE) is an all-around win for investors, real estate developers, and local communities. Inclusive CRE opens the door to asset ownership and wealth building for lower income investors previously locked out of these opportunities. It also brings new capital into previously disinvested communities and builds a loyal customer base because residents have a financial stake in a development’s success. Learn more about inclusive CRE at our upcoming webinar with Asset Funders Network, “Building Wealth Through Inclusively Owned Commercial Real Estate,” on January 30 at 1 p.m. Aspen FSP co-executive director Ida Rademacher will be joined by Wealth Innovation Fellows Wilson Lester, Jeff Mendelsohn, Ajia Morris, ???? Lyneir Richardson, and John W. Haines to discuss the learnings and outcomes of their inclusive CRE work published in forthcoming publications from Aspen FSP. The conversation will also feature AFN's Annika Little and McKnight Foundation's Muneer Karcher-Ramos, who will share insights from a companion brief that explores the many ways philanthropy can engage in similar inclusive ownership projects. Don’t miss this conversation! Register today ?? https://lnkd.in/gZEveJcP?