Afro Caribbean Business Network

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Investing for Change: Lessons on Impact Investing in Africa from David Harley of Third Way Capital
At ACBN, we are guided by the proverb “I am because we are”—a reminder that prosperity is built through community and collective action. In this spirit, we recently sat down with David Harley, CEO of Third Way Capital, to explore how impact investing in Africa is reshaping opportunities for entrepreneurs, communities, and investors alike.
Third Way Capital is a venture holding company investing in scale-ready SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a mission to see the region become home to some of the best-run companies in the world. Harley’s perspective provides valuable lessons for entrepreneurs seeking to align profitability with purpose.
1. Impact Means More Than Financial Returns
Impact investing in Africa is not charity—it’s a sustainable model of growth. Harley defines it as any investment made with a clear, focused outcome beyond financial return, ensuring the business itself is viable and stakeholders thrive.
Insight for entrepreneurs: Clearly define your non-financial goals—such as advancing gender equality or green energy adoption—just as you define financial targets. This clarity attracts investors while reinforcing your commitment to holistic success.
2. Measure Impact Like You Measure Profit
For impact to be credible, it must be measured. Harley stresses that entrepreneurs should treat impact goals like financial KPIs, with quarterly reviews, progress tracking, and adjustments along the way.
Business takeaway:
- Set best-in-class standards for your goals.
- Track your operational changes and spending toward those goals.
- Acknowledge that some impact metrics are qualitative, but still essential to measure.
3. Patient Capital Builds Lasting Growth
Traditional private equity models often don’t work in developing markets because they demand rapid returns. In Sub-Saharan Africa, businesses often need patient capital—funding that gives them time to build infrastructure and long-term solutions.
As Harley puts it: “You’re building the tracks as well as the train.”
Insight for entrepreneurs: If your business is pioneering new systems in underserved markets, communicate your need for patient growth to investors. Seek funders who understand this long-term vision rather than those pushing for quick exits.
4. Inclusion and Challenging Legacy Biases
Despite women representing up to 80% of professionals in the impact space, only about 30% hold leadership positions. Racial inequities also persist—African-led funds are often unfairly perceived as riskier than Western-led ones, despite superior local knowledge.
Business takeaway:
- Tap into Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), which are opening up to diverse leaders.
- Leverage diaspora networks for funding, expertise, and global connections.
- Recognize that true risk lies in ignoring local expertise, not in embracing it.
A Call to Entrepreneurs: Align Profit with Purpose
David Harley’s insights remind us that impact investing in Africa is about more than capital—it’s about building ecosystems of equity and growth. For entrepreneurs, this means staying clear on your values, seeking aligned investors, and being bold enough to lead with purpose even when the old models resist change.
🎥 Watch the full interview with David Harley here: YouTube Interview
Learn about our ACBN Membership so we can work with you to build your business: Join ACBN
October 16, 2025
Building Financial Resilience in Canada: Why Income Isn’t the Only Measure of Financial Health in Canada with Eloise Duncan
Recently, we sat down with Eloise Duncan, CEO and Founder of the Financial Resilience Institute, to discuss the urgent state of financial resilience in Canada. With 25 years of consulting experience and a commitment to advancing economic equity, Eloise and her team are reframing how we measure and support financial health—beyond just income.
The Power of the Index
Recognizing a massive gap before the pandemic, Eloise created the Seymour Financial Resilience Index (SFRI)—a tool that measures a household’s ability to withstand financial hardship from unexpected shocks like divorce, disability, or job loss.
This independent model gives policymakers, financial institutions, and businesses the data they need to target support where it’s needed most. For entrepreneurs in the ACBN network, the SFRI is a powerful lens to design better services, employee programs, and customer solutions.
Key Insights for Entrepreneurs and Business Owners
1. Financial Vulnerability Exists at All Income Levels
Earning a high salary or having a strong credit score doesn’t always mean financial stability. The Index shows vulnerability across every income group, often tied to behavior or lack of social capital.
Action step: Build solutions that address financial habits and support systems—not just income brackets.
2. Data Can Unlock Targeted Support
The SFRI highlights clear differences between groups, such as millennial women vs. Gen X women, or single-parent households vs. others.
Action step: Move beyond one-size-fits-all approaches. Tailor financial products, wellness programs, and tools to meet the real needs of distinct community segments.
3. Measure Your Impact Over Time
The Index allows businesses to benchmark and track changes in financial resilience, showing whether interventions—like wellness programs or customer tools—are making a difference.
Action step: Use longitudinal data to prove the value of your programs and justify further investment.
4. Canadians Want Empowerment, Not Pity
Seventy-five percent of Canadians want to understand and improve their financial resilience. People are working hard, even under pressure.
Action step: Provide accessible tools that empower individuals and families. The Institute’s new free score tool is one example of how to meet this demand while opening doors for partnerships.
5. Collaboration is Key to Real Change
Inflation, rising housing costs, and food insecurity make this a critical moment for collective action. The Institute offers tiered pricing for subscriber reports to make its data widely accessible.
Action step: Partner with values-aligned organizations to amplify your impact and ensure that support reaches those who need it most.
Final Word: Building a More Resilient Canada
Income is only one part of the picture. By leveraging robust data, entrepreneurs can design programs that strengthen both individuals and communities, creating long-term financial well-being.
🎥 Watch the full interview with Eloise Duncan here: YouTube Interview
Learn about our ACBN Membership so we can work with you to build your business: Join ACBN
October 14, 2025
When Elders Speak: Leadership Lessons from Baba Malik Yakini on Black Entrepreneurial Resilience
At the Afro-Caribbean Business Network, we believe wisdom is capital. Through our series When Elders Speak, we share conversations that help entrepreneurs ground their businesses in values that last.
Recently, we sat down with Baba Malik Yakini, a Detroit-based pioneer whose decades of leadership span food security, cooperative economics, and community empowerment. As the Executive Director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN), Baba Malik has overseen transformative initiatives such as the seven-acre D-Town Farm, youth development programs, and the Detroit Food Commons—home of the community-owned, Black-led Detroit People’s Food Co-op.
His message is clear: resilient businesses and communities require vision, alignment, and institution building. For Black entrepreneurs, his insights are a blueprint for both personal and organizational longevity.
Key Leadership Lessons for Black Entrepreneurial Resilience
1. Align Mission with Spiritual Purpose
True success comes when leadership decisions align with what is just, balanced, and right. Baba Malik reminds us that spiritual grounding ensures organizations stay true to their core mission.
Takeaway: Regularly ask yourself—are my products, partnerships, and operations aligned with my values and long-term destiny?
2. Transition from Soldier to General
With time, leaders must shift from frontline execution to guiding strategy, mentoring, and transferring knowledge. Baba Malik calls this the evolution from “soldier” to “seasoned general.”
Takeaway: Entrepreneurs should document their experiences and build systems for passing lessons forward. This ensures your business thrives beyond your direct involvement.
3. Value Wisdom and Foresight
Elders provide accumulated wisdom that helps avoid repeating mistakes. Their foresight is a critical compass for sustainable growth.
Takeaway: Invite experienced voices into your advisory circles. Wisdom from decades past strengthens decisions for decades ahead.
4. Practice Self-Determination (Kuji Chagalia)
From farming to food co-ops, Baba Malik stresses the importance of defining success on your own terms. External systems often push short-term gains, but self-determined strategies create lasting independence.
Takeaway: Shape business models that serve your community’s needs first, not just outside pressures.
5. Build Institutions That Outlast You
The Detroit People’s Food Co-op isn’t just about groceries—it’s about creating structures that guarantee self-reliance for generations.
Takeaway: Think beyond transactions. Build organizations, co-ops, and partnerships designed to stand long after your tenure.
In Closing
Baba Malik Yakini’s legacy teaches that leadership is about more than growth—it’s about continuity, accountability, and building institutions that strengthen future generations.
Watch the full interview to hear Baba Malik’s wisdom on leadership and Black entrepreneurial resilience:
👉 Watch on YouTube
Learn about our ACBN Membership so we can work with you to build your business:
https://acbncanada.com/membership/
October 13, 2025
The Bravery of Purpose: Redefining Aging, Care, and Social Purpose Entrepreneurship with Carla Leon from Just Like Family Home Care
At ACBN, we stand firmly on the proverb “I am because we are.” Our mission is to mobilize the ecosystem through leaders who challenge convention and build models of business rooted in integrity and impact. Recently, we sat down with Carla Leon, President & CEO of Just Like Family (JLF), to explore how her organization is disrupting franchising, elder care, and community building through social purpose entrepreneurship.
Carla’s story is a reminder that when you anchor your work in empathy and love, it’s possible to grow rapidly, scale boldly, and still put people first.
1. Build From Empathy and Shared Values
The spark for JLF came from a deeply personal need: the founder couldn’t find adequate care for his mother. That act of service became the seed for a movement.
Insights for entrepreneurs:
- Hire and partner with people who share your values—not just financial goals.
- Question “the way it’s always been done.” JLF redefined franchise onboarding and partnerships by asking: What if we put people first?
2. Scale Faster With Social Acquisition
While grassroots growth is powerful, Carla stresses that social acquisition accelerates impact. JLF’s acquisition by over 50 charities boosted growth by 20% in just three months.
Lesson for business owners: Consider strategic acquisitions with mission-driven partners. It’s a win-win model—faster growth for your business and dividends for organizations doing community work.
3. Redefine Stakeholders, Not Just Customers
JLF reframed success by asking: Who else is impacted by our service? Beyond clients, they saw caregivers, families, and communities as stakeholders.
Insight: Map your broader ecosystem. If 30% of family caregivers experience declining health, as JLF discovered, your model must address those ripple effects.
4. Invest in Quality and People
JLF is reshaping elder care by positioning itself as a premium provider. How? By paying caregivers 20–25% more than competitors.
Takeaway: If you want quality, pay for it. Compensation reflects values, attracts talent, and strengthens brand prestige.
5. Use Scale to Solve Social Issues
With infrastructure in place, JLF extends its mission into adjacent projects:
- A Seniors Virtual Calendar to fight isolation, offered in multiple languages.
- A Publishing House helping seniors share their stories, with proceeds going to the Alzheimer’s Society.
Lesson for entrepreneurs: Once profitable, use your platform to tackle systemic challenges in your sector.
Be Brave: Purpose Is the Ultimate Strategy
Carla reminds us that the greatest barrier is often perception. When JLF pulled off a rapid social acquisition in 113 days—something experts said was “impossible”—they proved that bravery, grit, and purpose are the real drivers of innovation.
For Black entrepreneurs in the ACBN network, the message is clear: embrace social purpose entrepreneurship, stretch beyond limits, and lead with love.
🎥 Watch the full interview with Carla Leon here: YouTube Interview
Learn about our ACBN Membership so we can work with you to build your business: Join ACBN
October 12, 2025
Impact Investing in Canada: How the Definity Foundation is Redefining Capital and Equity with Arti Freeman
In a powerful conversation with Arti Freeman, CEO of the Definity Foundation, we explored how the organization is leveraging all forms of capital—not just grants—to create what they call a justice model of philanthropy. For Black entrepreneurs and community leaders, their approach offers valuable lessons on impact, equity, and sustainable growth.
A Justice Model for Philanthropy
Founded in 2018 with $100 million from the demutualization of Economical Insurance (now Definity Insurance), the Definity Foundation has made equity its central purpose. Instead of a traditional charity model, DF embraces a justice model of philanthropy—acknowledging historical wrongs while investing in Black, Indigenous, racialized, and equity-seeking communities.
Particular attention is given to women and youth of colour, who are often the furthest behind in access to resources and opportunities.
Key Insights for Business Owners
1. Think Holistically About Capital
DF reminds us that true equity requires more than just financial resources. They leverage:
- Financial Capital: including impact investing.
- Human Capital: the skills and expertise of their team.
- Social Capital: networks, influence, and partnerships.
- Physical Assets: spaces and infrastructure that can be repurposed for equity work.
Lesson: Entrepreneurs should also map their holistic assets. Beyond money, how can your networks, knowledge, or spaces fuel equity and innovation?
2. Align Investments with Purpose
One of DF’s early moves was investing in Raven Indigenous Capital Partners. This impact investing strategy ensures resources create equity, not just returns.
Lesson: Business owners can also align reserves, supply chains, or partnerships with impact-driven values. Every dollar should advance your mission.
3. Trust Community Ingenuity
DF’s relational model trusts that communities already have the brilliance to solve their own challenges. Their role is to provide flexible, long-term funding and reduce traditional power imbalances.
Lesson: Instead of micromanaging, provide flexible support to your teams and partners. Innovation thrives when those closest to the challenge lead.
4. Make Learning Your Strategy
DF is committed to testing, adapting, and evolving quickly based on feedback.
Lesson: Entrepreneurs should adopt the same mindset—launch, learn, and adjust. Courageous action and humility to learn are the real growth engines.
5. Choose Collaboration Over Competition
“The days of the Lone Wolf are over,” Freeman notes. DF works alongside other foundations, sharing knowledge and due diligence to accelerate change.
Lesson: Entrepreneurs can achieve more by collaborating—sharing insights, resources, and strategies—to strengthen the entire ecosystem.
Building the Future Together
The Definity Foundation is proving that impact investing in Canada can go beyond grants and create systemic change. Their work challenges us to rethink how we use our assets, relationships, and influence to advance justice.
For business owners in the ACBN network, the takeaway is clear: equity and impact are built collectively, not in isolation.
🎥 Watch the full interview with Arti Freeman here: YouTube Interview
Learn about our ACBN Membership so we can work with you to build your business: Join ACBN
October 10, 2025
Impact Financing in Canada: How the DUCA Impact Lab is Building Banking That Benefits All with Keith Taylor
We recently sat down with Keith Taylor, Executive Director of the DUCA Impact Lab, to explore how their innovative approach to impact financing in Canada is transforming access to fair banking and reshaping what financial equity looks like.
Here are the key takeaways and insights for Black entrepreneurs and business owners in our network who are committed to innovation, sustainability, and community trust.
1. Turn Community Challenges into Market Differentiation
The DUCA Impact Lab was born out of addressing exclusion. Decades ago, credit unions emerged because newcomers to Canada were denied access to mainstream banking. Today, the Lab views those same barriers not as setbacks but as opportunities to innovate.
Insight for Entrepreneurs: Center your business model around solving systemic access challenges. By creating pathways for underserved markets, you’re not only serving your community—you’re building a competitive edge that sets you apart.
2. Use Impact Financing to De-Risk Growth
The Lab specializes in impact financing in Canada, proving that lending to underserved groups can be both viable and profitable. Their focus on gathering data and building a track record is essential to shifting narratives around risk.
Insight for Entrepreneurs: When seeking funding, use data and measurable results to demonstrate your community’s reliability and potential. Success stories create confidence for investors and open doors to larger capital pools.
3. Measure Value Beyond Dollars
One of the Lab’s flagship pilots, the Escalator Loan, consolidates predatory high-cost debt into fair, cash flow-based repayment plans. The impact extends far beyond financial metrics. Borrowers reported improvements in:
- Food and housing security
- Mental health and family well-being
- Children’s education and extracurricular access
- Healthcare access (dentistry, prescriptions)
Insight for Entrepreneurs: Highlight the holistic impact of your product or service. Funders and partners are increasingly looking at non-financial outcomes as part of the business case.
4. Build with Trust and Transparency
The Escalator Loan pilot revealed that women of colour disproportionately rely on predatory lending. For these communities, the barrier is not creditworthiness—it’s trust.
Insight for Entrepreneurs: Design your services with transparency and cultural responsiveness at the core. Building trust with historically excluded communities is not just socially responsible—it’s smart business.
Collaboration and Scale: The Future of Banking Equity
The DUCA Impact Lab’s long-term goal is to shift the entire retail credit landscape in Canada, embedding equity into mainstream banking. But to achieve scale, partnerships are critical.
Call to Action for ACBN Members:
The Lab is seeking partners to:
1. Help identify individuals who could benefit from the Escalator Loan model.
2. Collaborate on scaling this program nationally, ensuring its impact reaches more communities.
Together, we can ensure that banking, credit, and capital truly serve everyone.
Watch the Full Interview
Learn more about how impact financing in Canada can unlock opportunity for your business and community. Watch our full interview with Keith Taylor here: Watch on YouTube
Learn about our ACBN Membership so we can work with you to build your business: ACBN Membership
October 8, 2025
Fundraising in Canada: Unlocking Capital and Impact for Black Entrepreneurs with Andre Beaudry
At ACBN, our work is rooted in the proverb “I am because we are.” Collaboration, collective power, and community investment are at the heart of building lasting impact.
We recently sat down with Andre Beaudry, Founder of Velocity Collaboration and a veteran of Canada’s fundraising ecosystem, to uncover essential insights for business owners and organizations navigating philanthropy. His expertise offers practical strategies on fundraising in Canada—from securing corporate partnerships to tapping into generational wealth—and shows how Black entrepreneurs can mobilize resources to create transformational change.
The Secret to Securing Funds: Alignment and Accountability
At its core, fundraising is about aligning values. Success comes when your vision connects directly with a donor’s priorities.
Fundraisers act as the bridge between philanthropists—who want to create impact—and entrepreneurs, who know how to make it happen. For business owners, demonstrating accountability and keeping donors informed is crucial for building trust and long-term relationships.
Philanthropy is especially vital in Canada. Government funding leaves gaps in healthcare, education, childcare, and community services—and your business or organization may be the solution donors are seeking.
Where the Capital Is: Canada’s Largest Asset Pools
To elevate your fundraising in Canada, you must know where the biggest opportunities lie:
1. Corporate Canada (ESG focus): Companies are increasingly investing in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives. Align your mission with their goals to unlock powerful partnerships.
2. The Aging Population: One of the wealthiest cohorts in Canadian history is ready to give. Their focus is legacy and measurable impact. Craft your message around long-term change.
3. Creative Assets: Beyond cash, donors can gift real estate or other assets. Through tools like charitable remainder trusts, they receive immediate tax benefits while your organization gains long-term stability.
Scaling Up: Lessons from Capital Campaigns
If you’re planning a major project, understanding capital campaign strategy is essential:
- Do your research: Be clear about your priorities before asking for money.
- Run a feasibility study: Interview current and potential donors to determine what resonates and how much you can realistically raise.
- Use a Quiet Phase: Raise 70–75% of your goal privately before launching publicly to protect your brand.
- Empower volunteers: Campaign success often comes from well-connected volunteers making direct asks.
Collaboration Is the Key to Lasting Impact
For small organizations and entrepreneurs, collaboration is not optional—it’s a necessity. Partnering with others allows you to share costs, strengthen influence, and achieve far greater results together.
Final Insight: Fundraising in Canada is not just about money. It’s about building relationships, pooling community power, and creating opportunities for collective liberation.
Watch the Full Interview
For more on fundraising strategies, asset pools, and collaborative approaches, watch our full conversation with Andre Beaudry here: Watch on YouTube
Learn about our ACBN Membership so we can work with you to build your business: ACBN Membership
October 7, 2025
AI for Black Entrepreneurs: How Innovation Can Drive Sustainable Growth with Foster Akugri
At ACBN, we stand on the African principle Ubuntu “I am because we are.” Our mission is to mobilize ecosystems through authentic conversations with thought leaders shaping the future of business.
We recently sat down with Foster Akugri—Head of Innovation at Old Mutual Limited in Ghana and Founder of the Hack Lab Foundation—to explore how AI for Black entrepreneurs can work together to unlock productivity, scale businesses, and build sustainable impact. His insights offer a roadmap for every business owner ready to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
1. Harnessing AI to Multiply Productivity
AI has shifted from theory to reality. From tools like ChatGPT to design platforms and automation systems, AI is redefining what’s possible.
What business owners can take away:
- Cut turnaround time: AI streamlines research, drafting, and analysis, letting you deliver results in hours instead of days.
- Expand your capacity: Free up time from repetitive tasks and focus on people, strategy, and relationships.
- Leverage creative tools: Tap into generative AI for posters, flyers, animations, and website design without needing large budgets.
Key Insight: AI isn’t about replacing people—it’s about giving entrepreneurs the breathing room to innovate and lead.
2. AI and the Future of Work
AI is flattening barriers to entry, making space for non-technical founders to launch tech-enabled ventures.
- Reduced barriers: Anyone with vision can now use AI platforms to build prototypes or execute technical tasks.
- Rise of the generalist: Tomorrow’s professionals will be able to wear many hats, creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs.
- The caveat: AI provides knowledge, but not wisdom. Human experience and judgment remain irreplaceable.
3. Building Businesses That Last
Foster’s experience supporting SMEs highlights one recurring issue: too many businesses lack proper systems and governance.
Lessons for entrepreneurs:
- Great ideas need structure—set up systems that can run without you.
- Adopt institutional discipline—borrow lessons from banks and large firms to build processes that ensure sustainability.
4. Innovation Through Anticipation and Community
The Hack Lab Foundation is a model for forward-thinking entrepreneurship. By training communities on emerging skills years before they’re needed, they help talent leapfrog industries.
For ACBN business owners, this means:
- Stay ahead of global trends like blockchain or AI.
- Use competitions and collaborative challenges to inspire innovation within your teams.
5. Lead with Purpose, Become a Change Agent
Foster’s closing message is clear: entrepreneurs must prioritize purpose and community impact.
- Put stakeholders first: Impact investors seek businesses driven by mission, not just profit.
- Shift perspective: Where others see problems, train yourself to see opportunities.
- Be the change agent: Leadership starts with self-discipline—your mindset sets the tone for your family, community, and business.
Closing Call
AI is one of the greatest tools of our generation, and for Black entrepreneurs, it’s an opportunity to level the playing field. The key is to embrace it, prepare your business with strong systems, and lead with purpose.
Watch the full interview with Foster Akugri here: Watch on YouTube
Learn about our ACBN Membership so we can work with you to build your business: ACBN Membership
October 6, 2025
Day 1 – Small Business Month Series: Core Values for Small Business
Small Business Month Series: Day 1 — Core Values for Small Business
Welcome to the series
ACBN Canada and Empowered 4x have teamed up for a 24-day sprint to help you start strong or tune up what you’ve already built. Day 1 set the foundation with facilitator Chris-Beth Cowie and ACBN co-founder Ryan Knight. Every session will be compiled into an Empowered 4x learning vault so you can revisit the material later.
What are core values for small business?
Core values for small business are the non-negotiable principles that guide how you operate—especially under pressure. They shape your brand, your team culture, and the customer experience. More importantly, they turn tough choices into consistent actions.
Why this matters for Black entrepreneurs
Because access to networks and capital can take longer, clarity saves time and protects energy. Clear values help you choose aligned partners, set fair policies, and build trust in rooms that weren’t designed with you in mind. As a result, your business moves with confidence instead of reacting to the loudest voice or the fastest dollar.
Values beat vibes
“Vibes” fade when stakes are high. Written values act like fences: you can’t write rules for every scenario, but values keep decisions inside healthy boundaries. Without them, small compromises can snowball into costly issues.
Core values in real life
• Partnership fit: A founder ended a restaurant partnership after a co-owner ignored allergen-safety protocols—integrity and safety weren’t shared values.
• Customer care: Empowered 4x pairs a strict no-refund policy with grace. Even when a deadline is missed, the team explains policies, explores options, and aims for a better outcome. In practice, compassion and excellence sit beside accountability.
Where core values show up daily
• Hiring and leadership: Who you bring in and how you coach.
• Pricing and policies: Payment plans, guarantees, refunds.
• Partnerships: Which sponsors or collaborators you accept.
• Operations: From safety checklists to how you handle mistakes.
• Marketing: The promises you make—and keep.
A 15-minute exercise to define your top 3–5
1. Reflection moments
  When were you most proud at work? Which value was present? Conversely, when were you most frustrated? Which value was violated?
2. Role models
  Who do you admire and why? What do you refuse to emulate?
3. Hard lines
  Under financial pressure, what line would you never cross?
4. Future story
  How do you want people to describe your business in 10 years?
5. Daily behaviours
  What actions should happen even when no one is watching?
Write down themes you repeat. Then cluster them into 3–5 clear words (for example: Integrity, Safety, Service, Equity, Excellence).
Make values operational (not ornamental)
• Translate each value into 2–3 behaviours
“Safety” → “We label allergens and confirm orders twice.”
“Equity” → “We publish payment-plan options on every offer.”
• Add a decision rule
“If a decision conflicts with any value, we pause and escalate.”
• Publish and teach
Include values in proposals, onboarding, and team meetings.
• Review weekly
Ask, “Where did we live our values? Where did we drift, and why?”
Common pitfalls (and quick fixes)
• Too many values
Fix: Cap it at five. If everything is a priority, nothing is.
• Vague words
Fix: Pair each value with behaviours a stranger could observe.
• Values vs. incentives mismatch
Fix: Align bonuses, promotions, and vendor choices to the values.
ACBN x Empowered 4x: how we support you
Empowered 4x is values-driven (community first, equity, excellence) and offers professional virtual office services, training, and coaching to help you build structure. ACBN focuses on breaking barriers—especially access to capital—through microlending, loan readiness, and ecosystem connections. Together, we help you turn values into momentum.
Homework
Identify your 3–5 core values and write behaviours under each. Then ask: do I live these values daily? If not, what will change this week?
Next up: Day 2 — Mission
Tomorrow we’ll craft a one-sentence mission that turns values into direction—and into decisions you can act on immediately.
Be sure to join us for our next session: https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/empowered-4x-8081928236
Dont forget to become an ACBN Member by visiting: https://acbncanada.com/membership/
October 4, 2025
Social Purpose Real Estate in Canada: Insights from Graham Singh
At ACBN, we hold firm to the principle I am because we are. That means looking beyond short-term fixes and investing in solutions that build collective strength for generations.
This week, we sat down with Graham Singh, CEO of the Trinity Centres Foundation, to explore one of the largest untapped opportunities in Canada: social purpose real estate. With nearly $500 billion worth of faith-based properties across North America in transition, Graham believes we are standing at the edge of a once-in-500-year opportunity to redefine ownership, impact, and equity in our communities.
For Black entrepreneurs and impact investors, this conversation is more than real estate—it’s about creating sustainable spaces that fuel business, community services, and generational wealth.
The real estate revolution
Faith-based properties once bustling with activity are now underused or at risk of being sold off to private developers. The Trinity Centres Foundation is stepping in to ensure these properties are not lost but redeployed for community benefit—through renovations, partnerships, and development projects that include affordable housing.
Takeaway for entrepreneurs: These properties represent an opportunity to connect impact investing with social good, creating space for non-profits, businesses, and community growth.
Key lessons for entrepreneurs and investors
1. Measure impact through reduced rent
  The biggest measurable outcome of social purpose real estate is lowering rent for non-profits and charities. Like affordable housing, this ensures essential community organizations can thrive in costly urban centres.
2. De-risk to unlock institutional capital
  Large investors, like pension funds, require stable returns. By having foundations accept initial risk, these investments become viable. Montreal’s Initiative Immobile Communauté multiplied its fund fivefold through this model.
3. Shift from landlord to equity partner
  Instead of just renting space, new models give community groups equity stakes in properties—stabilizing financing and decolonizing old ownership structures.
4. Invest in human capital
  The Windmill Microfinance example shows that small loans to skilled immigrants unlock massive returns—reducing reliance on social services and filling vital roles in the economy.
5. Push for policy intervention
  To compete with private developers, social purpose organizations need tools like first rights of refusal, longer timelines to raise capital, and rapid-deployment funds.
A time for action and healing
This opportunity is about more than property—it’s about equity, decolonization, and repairing systems that have historically excluded marginalized communities. By engaging in social purpose real estate in Canada, Black entrepreneurs can help secure spaces for charities, non-profits, and businesses that keep our ecosystem thriving.
To dive deeper into this $500 billion opportunity and hear Graham Singh’s vision for Canada’s future, watch the full interview here: Watch on YouTube
October 3, 2025