TL IT Solutions’ Post

Myth-Busting Monday! Myth 3: Only the government can lead community economic development. Fact: Collective effort from government, businesses, and community groups yields lasting results! Join forces to build thriving communities! Learn more about effective community economic development strategies from EPS Consulting at www.epsconsulting.ca. #EconomicGrowth #CommunityEngagement #SustainableDevelopment #Entrepreneurship #businessmanagement #businessowner #BusinessGrowth #communitydevelopment #managementconsulting

IMPACT STORY #6: Growth Partners Arizona and Hustle PHX ⭐ Leveraging the power of their respective economic empowerment programs, Andre Whittington and Oye Waddell have jumpstarted community development to expand Black-owned businesses and address the wealth gap. Learn more about these unique programs. ⬇️ #BlackEntrepreneurs #SupportBlackBusiness #StateOfBlackAZ #Entrepreneurship #SBAZ

First, I love this video because the still is a glorious picture of the dreamiest colleague ever: Jess Nizar. Second, I love this because it's a #FlashbackFriday fabulous reflection on REDF's Community Retreat this past summer in Los Angeles. A blissed out few days where we convened 150 entrepreneurs from around the country to lean on and learn from each other and let magic flow. Great wisdom dropped by the amazing: - Michael Hollingsworth of Nu-Way Staffing - David Sall of Conservation Corps of Long Beach - Robin Kumabe of Touch A Heart - Matthew Cuff of Just Q'in BBQ - Meg Erskine of The Refugee Collective - Tracey Williams of urban university and - Father Greg Boyle. S. J. of Homeboy Industries Through their voice, I feel in deep community with folks that Tracey calls "our people", I feel humbled to have REDF be seen as part funder, part educator, and really community builder by Meg, I feel energized to follow Matthew wherever he goes with his "hair on fire" with new ideas, I feel washed over in deep connection with the human spirit when Father Boyle reminds us that the people we have the honor to serve are exactly right just as they are, and that as "they heal, and they let love live through them, then they will recognize the talents that they have". It is the honor of my career to be in partnership with this country's most tenacious social entrepreneurs. Like Robin says, we are part of a movement and together, we can bring this ecosystem to the next level. Let's go. #InclusiveEconomy #Employment #SocialEnterprise

REALTORS® & Residents: Partners in Strengthening Our Communities As real estate professionals, our role extends beyond transactions—we are entrepreneurs and community partners committed to solving real challenges. Recently, I completed a Planning & Zoning course that reinforced the idea that meaningful change starts by addressing the felt needs of a community. A quote that stands out to me comes from my mentor, John M. Perkins, in his book Restoring At-Risk Communities: “Go to the people, live among them, learn from them, love them… Build on what they have.” This approach is crucial when addressing areas facing economic or social decline. REALTORS® are uniquely positioned as both business owners and advocates for positive change. The image below highlights a blighted area that could benefit from this kind of collaboration. Imagine if we, as REALTORS® and residents, worked together to bring spaces like this back to life. By understanding local needs and fostering genuine partnerships, we can help build stronger, more resilient communities. I’d love to hear your thoughts—what role do you believe REALTORS® can play in community development, and how can we better partner with local stakeholders to create lasting improvements? #CommunityDevelopment #RealEstateSolutions #UrbanRevitalization #RealtorsInAction #StrongerCommunities #Entrepreneurship #CollaborativeSolutions #SustainableDevelopment

I love new ideas and #better and #improved ways to #accomplish community #impact. Tried and true, developed #models and #best practices are important too, but there must always be room for the #creative and #innovative. #Social #entrepreneurs are my people. Thinking creatively about how to disrupt the #marketplace with #commerce that makes #impact is an activity worth #investing resources in. Melissa Sevy with ETHIK has shaken up the status quo with corporate gifts. David Gaines is making impact through #coffee at La Terza Artisan Coffee Roasterie. Who are #social #entrepreneurs who inspire you? Community Development Professionals, LLC Community Development Professionals Social Enterprise Alliance

What do you do when a group leader invites you to offer entrepreneurship training to their 30 members, only to find over 250 people eagerly waiting for you? The venue can’t accommodate such a crowd, yet they insist on attending because they’ve already made the effort to be there. This is the moment you summon grace and ingenuity to ensure you do the right thing. Field dynamics can be incredibly challenging, especially in hard-to-reach (H2R) communities. Yet, the work must go on. A big thumbs up to the community development and livelihood promoters who overcome countless challenges just to transform lives. #CommunityDevelopment #LivelihoodPromotion #EntrepreneurshipEducation #H2RCommunities

🌟 Meeting Change-Makers: Andrew Funk's Mission to End Homelessness 🌟 Yesterday, I had the privilege of meeting an extraordinary individual in Barcelona – Andrew Funk, the founder and President of #HomelessEntrepreneur (@HomelessEntrepreneur). His dedication to transforming lives through work and active citizenship is nothing short of inspiring. HomelessEntrepreneur is not just an association; it's a movement with a vision to eradicate urban homelessness. Their approach is unique – they empower homeless individuals by focusing on employment and fostering active citizenship. It's a testament to the belief that with the right support and opportunities, everyone can contribute positively to society. 📢 Exciting News: Andrew will be speaking at the prestigious NIEC2024, the NIEC - Norwegian International Entrepreneur Conference Entrepreneur Conference in Oslo, on November 7. This platform will further amplify the critical message that "If society cares, homelessness will disappear." I am moved by the simplicity yet profundity of this statement. It's a call to action for all of us in our respective fields to play a part in creating a world where homelessness is not the end of the road but a situation from which people can rise with dignity. I encourage my network to check out HomelessEntrepreneur and consider how each of us can contribute to this meaningful cause. Whether it's through mentorship, networking, or simply spreading the word, every action counts. Let's be part of the solution. Because when society cares, change happens. #HomelessEntrepreneur #SocialImpact #EndHomelessness #ActiveCitizenship #NIEC2024 #Entrepreneurship #SocialChange

Grass Roots of Wigan We aren’t looking to create another typical type of infrastructure organisation that maintains the charitable model of helping the needy. We believe the needy are needed. We aren’t looking to build an empire that employs lots of people. We want to grow a network who together learn how to share resource, taking what they need and leaving some for others. An alternative network that relocates power and resource directly to neighbourhoods and grassroot groups that want to work in solidarity towards a vision of collective liberation. Be free to do the work of our hearts and souls. The work that is in our bones. Centring those who live at the margins and not the poverty industry that needs peoples needs to survive. As Rosa Luxemburg wisely said, ‘Those who do not move do not notice their chains.’ If this speaks to you as member of a community, someone alone with a dream, an ally working within a system or a business wanting to invest for the common good - come join us and let’s create our shared future together.

Just had an incredible experience at yesterday's workshop in partnership with BS3 Community Development, we held an inspiring and informative workshop led by Carla Snell. Our attendees walked away equipped with valuable insights and actionable steps for starting their journey as self-employed carers. 💡 Key takeaways included: Understanding the fundamentals of self-employment Navigating the legal and financial aspects Marketing to potential service users Alfred Showunmi shared expert advice and practical tips that can help leverage your passion for care into into actionable marketing strategies. Don't miss out on future sessions like this! Stay connected with us for updates and more opportunities to empower your business. #BS3CommunityCare #BIPC #SelfEmployment #Carers #BusinessSupport #Entrepreneurship #CommunitySupport

True community improvement can and must come from within. If you have a tourism organization and an economic development organization, but no organization concerned with improving the quality of life, things are not going to get better. The key to community improvement isn’t bringing in more from outside, but keeping more local. Only when locals are the investors and when locals own the real estate and commerce will the economy begin to work for the community. We have retooled everything about our communities with this outward focus and it has resulted in exactly what was intended. It is easy to build a CVS in most towns, but hard to renovate a building. It is easy to develop a strip-mall, but hard to add upper floor housing. It is easy to find money to incentivize national chains and developers, but hard to find any way to help locals invest. It should be easy to see that this is a problem. We are so accustomed to doing things this way that we don’t see all the problems it has created. It has led us to be entirely too dependent on outsiders and forget that we are entirely capable of addressing our own problems. When thinking about how we can do better, I like to look back at when our towns were healthiest. People always talk about their communities heyday and how great things were back when. I like to think about the town my grandparents lived in. In this town, businesses were all locally owned. The buildings were all locally owned. People were proud and connected and felt a sense of stewardship for what they had built and for those that came before them. They understood that the well-being of their community was in their own hands. The people in my grandparents’ town were no different from people today, but their place was a world away. These conditions are not something to relegate to the past, as these are the exact same conditions I encounter in vibrant communities today. When working with communities that have been successful in their revitalization efforts, this is the shift that takes place. Empty buildings move back into the hands of concerned locals. Local entrepreneurs spring up from everywhere to fill those buildings. Passionate people replace poor leadership, pride swells, people care, apathy fades. The shift that happens is that people become empowered, and in the process they understand that they are the ones they’ve been waiting for. WE ARE THE ONES WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR. Residents will be the ones to revitalize. This town belongs to the people.