Afro Caribbean Business Network

Tag: community

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
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
Navigating the Promise and Pitfalls of Social Finance in Canada: Insights from Heather Simpson
At ACBN, our foundation is the proverb “I am because we are.” We believe in ecosystem mobilization—sharing knowledge, uncovering challenges, and building pathways to collective success.
We recently sat down with Heather Simpson, Founder of S4G and a consultant specializing in non-profits and social enterprise, to explore the opportunities and realities of social finance in Canada. Her insights shed light on how this emerging system could reshape access to capital for historically underserved communities and what business owners should keep in mind as the Social Finance Fund (SFF) rolls out.
Where Social Finance in Canada Shows the Most Promise
The Social Finance Fund was designed to drive investment into areas overlooked by traditional capital markets. According to Heather, two sectors stand out:
1. Affordable Housing and Social Purpose Real Estate
  These are tangible, real assets lenders understand—essentially mortgage lending—and they meet urgent societal needs.
2. The Environmental Sector and Net Zero Commitments
  As Canada moves toward its Paris Agreement goals, the demand for environmental technologies and services will grow. The SFF could help de-risk these emerging markets where traditional investors hesitate.
Profitability and Earned Income: Facing Reality
Many non-profits and social enterprises dream of replacing grant dependency with earned income. Heather reminds us:
- Margins are tight. Like most small businesses, social enterprises typically provide stability and jobs, but rarely massive profits.
- Unrealistic expectations lead to disappointment. A social enterprise cannot be expected to outperform traditional businesses while also carrying social deliverables.
- Philanthropic capital still matters. Social finance is a tool, not a full replacement for grants.
Key takeaway for entrepreneurs: Earned income is powerful, but it works best when combined with other funding streams.
Access Depends on Intermediaries
For social finance in Canada to reach marginalized entrepreneurs, the choice of intermediaries—those who distribute the funds—is critical.
- Trust and localization matter. Without community-rooted lenders and loan funds, many racialized and immigrant-owned businesses won’t benefit.
- Specialized programs are required. Tools like guarantee funds, loan loss pools, and operational subsidies are essential to support smaller, riskier, or unconventional borrowers.
What Must Be Clarified for Success
Heather points out that the SFF will only succeed if it:
1. Commits to disaggregated data to track who is receiving capital—and who is not.
2. Focuses on demand-side metrics like loan applications and decline reasons, not just money disbursed.
3. Builds sector capacity through grants and training so organizations can realistically prepare for financing.
4. Clarifies its main focus. If housing and real estate are priorities, this must be transparent so organizations don’t waste time chasing inaccessible funds.
Closing Thought: Building Equity Through Finance
The rollout of the Social Finance Fund is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. Done well, it could reshape how racialized communities, non-profits, and social purpose businesses access the capital needed to build equity and long-term sustainability. Done poorly, it risks reinforcing the same barriers it was designed to dismantle.
Watch the full interview with Heather Simpson here: Watch on YouTube
Learn about our ACBN Membership so we can work with you to build your business: ACBN Membership
October 5, 2025
Racialized Entrepreneurs in Canada: Insights from Alfred Bergeson on Tribe, Wealth, and Ecosystem Building
At ACBN, we live by the principle I am because we are. That philosophy calls us to build together, share knowledge, and create systems where Black and racialized entrepreneurs can thrive.
We recently connected with Alfred Bergeson, Founder and CEO of Tribe Network, to explore how his organization is disrupting the Canadian innovation landscape and carving out new pathways for racialized entrepreneurs in Canada.
Based in Halifax but born in Ghana, Alfred founded Tribe Network as a not-for-profit that connects racialized founders with resources, networks, and opportunities that were once out of reach. His vision is bold: build an ecosystem that is self-sustaining, community-centered, and global in scope.
Why community is the foundation
Tribe Network was born when Alfred realized how unwelcoming mainstream innovation hubs were for racialized entrepreneurs. Few members, mentors, or leaders reflected the community. Instead of leaving frustrated, Alfred created a space where belonging and representation are central.
Takeaway for entrepreneurs: You cannot build alone. Your success depends on your “tribe”—a network that mentors, invests, and celebrates alongside you.
From grants to generational wealth
Tribe started with grant programs like the Black Startup Project, offering $500–$5,000 to help entrepreneurs get started. But Alfred is clear: grants alone won’t close the wealth gap.
That’s why Tribe is launching Tribe Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund aiming to raise $20 million to invest in racialized entrepreneurs in Canada and beyond. With equity investments of $250,000 or more, Tribe is preparing founders to scale globally while building generational wealth at home.
Insight for Black entrepreneurs: Prepare now to attract equity capital. Build ventures that investors see as scalable, not just survivable.
Closing the investment gap
Currently, Black founders receive less than 1% of venture capital dollars in Canada. This is more than inequity—it’s a missed market opportunity. Diverse teams have been shown to outperform, delivering up to three times higher returns.
Message for ACBN members: Supporting racialized entrepreneurs is not charity—it’s smart investment.
Building our own ecosystem
Tribe isn’t just one organization—it’s building an entire ecosystem that complements and challenges existing structures. By creating culturally relevant pathways into entrepreneurship and innovation, Tribe ensures our community doesn’t just participate in Canada’s economy but leads it.
The future is Tribe Ventures
With Tribe Ventures, Alfred is building a global platform that invests in racialized entrepreneurs in Canada while also linking to opportunities across Africa. It’s about ownership, sustainability, and ensuring our community is never left behind in the innovation economy.
Watch the full interview with Alfred Bergeson here: Watch on YouTube
Learn about our ACBN Membership so we can work with you to build your business: ACBN 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
Social Innovation in Canada: Insights from Louise Adongo on Building Mutuality and Collective Power
At ACBN, we believe in the proverb I am because we are. That philosophy drives our commitment to mobilizing ecosystems through shared knowledge and collaboration.
We recently sat down with Louise Adongo, Executive Director of Inspire Communities in Nova Scotia, to discuss the future of social innovation in Canada and what it means for entrepreneurs, leaders, and community builders. Louise brings a rare combination of science, bureaucracy, and grassroots experience, grounded in a lifelong commitment to social justice.
Her insights remind us that if we want to change systems, we must cut through jargon, embrace mutuality, and design funding models that truly serve communities.
1. Demystify the jargon, embrace mutuality
The world of social finance and social innovation often hides behind complicated terms. Louise stresses that at its core, these concepts are simple—and rooted in practices we already know.
Think of susu’s or roscas—community members pooling money, holding each other accountable, and circulating funds for mutual benefit. That is the essence of social finance.
Key takeaway for entrepreneurs: Don’t let jargon exclude you. Break it down, simplify your own language, and design programs that feel accessible to the people they’re meant to serve.
2. Resourcing for transformational change
Louise points out that traditional funding models often prioritize speed and numbers over depth and equity. True systemic change requires multi-year, flexible resources that measure success differently.
- Advocate for upfront capital instead of reimbursement-based funding.
- Push for metrics that value quality of participation, not just outputs.
- Treat social purpose work with the same respect and financing as private-sector work.
Lesson for business owners: Secure funding that gives you room to create lasting impact, not just short-term activity.
3. The challenge of leadership for Black executives
As a Black executive director in a non-B3 organization, Louise highlights the barriers Black leaders face. Often, they are placed on “glass cliffs”—expected to succeed in difficult roles while funding support is pulled back.
Takeaway for entrepreneurs and boards: Support BIPOC leaders beyond optics. Leadership transitions require resourcing, mentoring, and board-level commitment to ensure leaders are set up for success.
4. Multi-solving for community needs
Equity and climate justice are deeply interconnected. Louise calls on us to stop fragmenting issues and instead adopt multi-solving approaches that address immediate needs like food, housing, and mental health while advancing larger goals like climate resilience.
Tip for innovators: Bring experts into community conversations, not the other way around. Real change happens when solutions meet people where they are.
5. A call to action: revive cooperatives and mutuals
Louise’s final message is clear: cooperatives and mutuals are powerful vehicles we’ve allowed to fade from the narrative. They are proven tools for survival, ownership, and collective wealth.
Her advice: Don’t wait until the crisis hits. Learn these models now and bring them back into your networks, businesses, and families as strategies for long-term prosperity.
Conclusion: Building the future of social innovation in Canada
Louise Adongo’s wisdom reminds us that social innovation in Canada doesn’t need more jargon—it needs clarity, mutuality, and courage. For Black entrepreneurs, embracing these principles means building stronger businesses while also shaping systems that work for us all.
Watch the full interview with Louise Adongo here: Watch on YouTube
Learn about our ACBN Membership so we can work with you to build your business: ACBN Membership
October 2, 2025
Community Land Trusts in Canada: A Pathway to Ownership and Security for Black Entrepreneurs interview with Chiyi Tam
At ACBN, we believe in I am because we are—a principle that calls us to build together, share resources, and create sustainable futures.
We recently sat down with Chiyi Tam, Director of the Kensington Market Community Land Trust (KMCLT), to explore how community land trusts in Canada are reshaping ownership and offering stability to businesses, especially those owned by minorities and new immigrants.
With real estate speculation driving up costs and displacing small businesses, CLTs present a powerful alternative: collective ownership that keeps land in community hands forever.
1. Ownership through collective power
Individual entrepreneurs often can’t compete with large real estate investors. CLTs change the dynamic. By pooling resources, businesses and community members can purchase and secure properties that would otherwise be lost to speculation.
- Pooled strategy: Shared mortgages, revenue, and grant applications make ownership possible.
- Protecting small businesses: KMCLT has helped secure long-term leases for immigrant-owned food vendors and other minority-owned shops.
- Collective survival: CLTs shift power from dependency on wealthy benefactors to community-led ownership.
Key insight: Ownership through a CLT means moving from survival to security, ensuring businesses stay rooted in their neighborhoods.
2. Hybrid financial innovation
CLTs thrive by blending business strategies with social innovation. By acquiring commercial and residential properties, they prevent evictions, stabilize rents, and build long-term affordability for entrepreneurs.
3. Learning from history
Chiyi points to examples like the Chinese diaspora’s family associations, which pooled money a century ago to purchase housing. Those investments still provide affordability today.
Lesson for Black entrepreneurs: Our history is full of mutual aid and cooperative strategies. CLTs are a modern continuation of that legacy.
4. Economic democracy in action
CLTs are more than a housing solution—they’re a form of economic democracy. Members don’t just advocate for change; they help decide how land is used.
The next wave of CLTs is moving from preservation to development—constructing new buildings and keeping the revenue local instead of losing it to global developers.
Why this matters for Black entrepreneurs
The CLT model has deep roots in Black civil rights organizing in the American South, where it was created to protect Black farmers from losing land. Today in Canada, CLTs are connected to anti-racist work, Indigenous land back movements, and cultural reclamation projects in places like Nova Scotia.
For Black business owners, CLTs are not just about property—they are about justice, sovereignty, and building the foundation for generational wealth.
Call to Action
If a CLT doesn’t exist in your area—start one. If it does, get involved, become a member, and help raise funds. Every building saved is a step toward reclaiming control of our neighborhoods and securing a future where small businesses thrive.
To learn more about how CLTs can reshape ownership for entrepreneurs, watch our full ACBN interview with Chiyi Tam: Watch on YouTube
Learn about our ACBN Membership so we can work with you to build your business: https://acbncanada.com/membership/
October 1, 2025