Afro-Caribbean Business Network | Fireside Chat with Christopher Trotman, Sector Development Manager, Community Impact, Alterna Savings | Monday, October 19, 2026 | Online
When a bank says no, many entrepreneurs feel like the conversation is over. They turn to credit cards, family loans or, worse, high-interest lenders that trap them in debt. Yet there is another path that too few people know about.
Small business microloans in Canada, delivered by credit unions and community partners, are designed for exactly the entrepreneurs traditional banks overlook. In other words, microfinance is not charity. It is fair, affordable capital paired with the support that helps borrowers succeed.
So on Monday, October 19, the Afro-Caribbean Business Network continues the Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Conference 2026 with a virtual fireside chat featuring Christopher Trotman, Sector Development Manager, Community Impact at Alterna Savings, one of ACBN’s key financial partners.
Who Is Christopher Trotman?
Christopher is a social finance professional with more than 12 years of experience supporting nonprofits, social enterprises, co-operatives, and underserved entrepreneurs. At Alterna Savings, he works to mobilize capital and expand access to financing for the people and organizations who need it most.
Specifically, his role includes securing funding for initiatives in affordable housing, social enterprise, and community services. In addition, he partners with government, philanthropic, and private sector leaders to design new lending models and provides financial consulting to community organizations.
Above all, Christopher is guided by a clear belief: financial services should empower organizations to better serve their communities.
Alterna Savings and Community Finance
Alterna Savings is a Canadian credit union with a long commitment to community impact. Through its Community Microfinance Program, Alterna manages community microloan portfolios that serve more than 250 small business borrowers each year across the Greater Toronto Area and the Ottawa region.
Importantly, the support goes beyond money. Alterna pairs its loans with financial education, business planning, credit building and budgeting help. As a result, borrowers gain both capital and the skills to manage it well.
A partnership that puts capital in our community’s hands
For ACBN, Alterna is more than a name on a page. Our ACBN Microloan Fund operates in partnership with Alterna Savings. Through it, Black entrepreneurs can access between $1,000 to $10,000 in direct capital, and graduates who need more can access up to $25,000 through the Alterna partnership. Every loan also comes with coaching support.
Why This Conversation Matters for the Black Community
1. A no from the bank does not have to be final
Many Black entrepreneurs are turned down not because their business does not work, but because they lack credit history, documentation or the right relationships. Fortunately, community lenders look at the whole picture. That makes microloans a critical first step on the capital ladder.
2. Microloans protect founders from predatory debt
Without fair options, too many entrepreneurs turn to high-interest lenders or maxed-out credit cards. Instead, a well-structured microloan with coaching helps founders grow without drowning in debt. In fact, avoiding predatory loans is one of the outcomes ACBN measures in its $8.55 social return.
3. The first loan builds the next one
At ACBN, we name the Four Strikes™ that hold Black entrepreneurs back, and the fourth is systemic barriers to capital and credit. A first microloan, repaid well, builds a credit track record. From there, entrepreneurs can climb ACBN’s Business Loan Hierarchy toward the Black Opportunity Fund, the FACE Coalition and commercial banking.
4. Readiness makes capital work
Of course, capital only helps when a business is ready to use it. This is where ACBN’s 3C Framework™ comes in: Clarity → Connection → Capital. First, get clear on your numbers and build your loan application package. Next, connect with community lenders like Alterna who understand your journey. Finally, access capital that fits your stage and grow from there.
Ready to become loan-ready? ACBN’s Growth Pathway program walks you through the 3C Framework™ with coaching, community and a direct route to funding, including the ACBN Microloan Fund. We are welcoming 100 entrepreneurs into the program.
5. Social finance builds community assets
Finally, Christopher’s work reaches beyond small businesses to affordable housing, co-operatives and social enterprise. Similarly, ACBN is applying community finance to build lasting assets, including our affordable housing project and community bond. Ultimately, when communities control capital, the wealth stays in the community.
What You Will Walk Away With
- How microloans and community lending work, and who they are for
- What lenders look for in a small business loan application
- How to avoid predatory debt and build credit
- How social finance supports nonprofits, co-ops and social enterprises
- A live Q&A with one of ACBN’s key financial partners
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a microloan?
A microloan is a small business loan, often between $1,000 and $25,000, designed for entrepreneurs who may not qualify for traditional bank financing. Typically, microloans come with coaching or financial education to help borrowers succeed.
How do I apply for an ACBN microloan?
First, join ACBN as a member and complete the Loan Readiness Program, which helps you build your application package. After that, you can apply for an ACBN microloan of $1,000 to $10,000, delivered in partnership with Alterna Savings.
I missed the live session. Can I watch the replay?
Yes. Replays of BEEConference sessions will be shared on the ACBN YouTube channel.
Join Us on Day 19
Day 19 continues a full month of workshops through October as part of the Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Conference 2026. So if you have ever been told no by a bank, this conversation is for you.
Fireside Chat with Christopher Trotman | BEEConference Day 19
Monday, October 19, 2026 | Online
Can’t make it live? Subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss a replay, workshop or conversation: youtube.com/@acbn_canada
Connect. Build. Grow.
