Development Digest Special Edition: April 16-18 Highlights

This extended edition of the Development Digest encompasses three dynamic days full of strategic engagements, an insightful conference, and valuable personal connections. Here’s a detailed look at the activities from April 16th to 18th.

April 16th: Local Development and Community Engagement

I started Tuesday, April 16th, with my usual morning routine, followed by catching up on personal and Midwest Support Foundation emails, ensuring I stayed connected and responsive to ongoing projects. The day involved hands-on work at a vacant apartment in The Pershing.

Later in the day, I participated in the Kick Off session for the Indiana Avenue Certified Strategic Plan. This a significant portion of this meeting focused on reconciliation and reparations for the Indiana Avenue community, acknowledging past injustices and discussing plans to mitigate their effects. City of Indianapolis - Department of Metropolitan Development and Elizabeth Kennedy Landscape Architect, PLLC showcased their commitment to addressing these historical issues, reflecting a community-wide dedication to healing and improvement.

April 17th: Networking and Learning at the DevelUp Conference

On Wednesday, after morning preparations and a strategic meeting with Janine Betsey , I traveled to Chicago with my friend and partner Kevin Brown II for the Baker Tilly DevelUp Conference. Day 1 reception was an excellent opportunity for networking, where I met several influential figures in real estate development. After connecting with Brandon Rule through several Clubhouse and Zoom calls, I finally had the chance to meet him in person. During our conversation, he emphasized that my focus in real estate aligned well with the expertise and interests of Daryl J Carter , as he pointed in his direction to show me who he was. Taking Brandon's advice, I introduced myself to Daryl as we were both leaving the venue, leading to a brief but insightful conversation as we walked out. The day concluded with a dinner, offering further opportunity to deepen professional relationships with Keith Broadnax , Jonah Anderson and others that they work closely with.

April 18th: Engaging Insights and Unplanned Visits

Continuing in Chicago, I started the day by attending Day 2 of the DevelUp Conference. The highlight was the "State of The Market" session moderated by Collete English Dixon , featuring panelists like Daryl J Carter , Robert Byron , Donahue Peebles , and Faron A. Hill . This session was filled with invaluable insights, though the gems shared there were exclusive to attendees, underscoring the value of participating in such enriching events.

Following this, I attended a session on building equitable entrepreneurial ecosystems, then took a personal detour to visit my aunt while in Chicago and while waiting for our Ubers, I was able to have a short conversation with Donahue. This visit to my aunt unexpectedly extended from one to two hours. Returning to the conference, I joined a session titled "Holistic Community Development: Creative Approaches to Drive Community Impact," where I had the pleasure of meeting Christopher Senegal in person. I had no idea that he would be at the conference but I actually invested in his Lyons Ave Project in Housing via the Reg CF offering he put together a few years ago.

Instead of attending another session, I chose to network and met Kevin L. Newell, MBA from Milwaukee, a fellow Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity brother. Without him knowing, I have been following both him and the company he founded, Royal Capital , since I heard him speaking in room on Clubhouse during the recent pandemic and their ventures have been a huge inspiration. Our conversation about our fraternity and ongoing projects was both inspiring and a reaffirmation of the power of networking.

Kevin Brown II and I then took a brief drive through Gary before heading back to Indianapolis, reflecting on the rich experiences and the people we had met, while observing the real estate market.

Reflecting on a Productive Stretch

These three days have been packed with activities that span from intimate community discussions to broad networking events across state lines. Each interaction, whether planned or spontaneous, reinforced the importance of staying engaged, informed, and open to unexpected opportunities.

Stay tuned for more insights as we continue to navigate through the complexities of real estate development, community engagement, and personal growth.