On May 22, 2024, LISC LA celebrated the dedication of 16 small business owners who completed the first-ever Leveraging Real Estate cohort, a transformative six-week course supported by Kaiser Permanente and Bank of Montreal (BMO). The program is designed to equip small business owners in South LA, the Crenshaw District, and the Goodyear Tract with the knowledge and tools needed to become commercial property owners.
With the guidance of instructors Austin Curry of Curry Consulting and Matthew Gates of In The Building LA, participants gained valuable insights into the multi-step process of real estate transactions, including making offers, navigating escrow, and understanding the terminology used by agents, lenders, and other stakeholders.
As part of the course, participants were also coached on how to pitch their businesses, and during the event, many volunteered to take the stage and share their elevator pitches.
Genelle Brooks-Petty shared her vision of purchasing the property that currently houses she and her husband’s business, All Chill, a super-premium ice cream shop. They hope to not only continue growing their business but also to help other value-aligned partners that need an opportunity, like their landlord has given them.
Arely Villegas, of Los Originales Tacos Arabes de Puebla, shared her vision of a brick-and-mortar location for the taco stand turned food truck founded by her mother, Mercedes, over a decade ago. She expressed that she could never have imagined such a possibility prior to taking this course.
“Selling food on the streets is what I’d seen in my neighborhood all my life. I thought that people who owned property were not people like us. But Austin and Matt taught us that we can change that. Diverse communities deserve to own our spaces,” said Arely.
For Arely, learning real estate terminology and the steps that need to be taken to be able to go to a bank or community development financial institution (CDFI) to ask for help were the skills she valued most from the course.
Kandee Lewis, CEO of Positive Results Center – an organization addressing trauma from a cultural and age perspective, said that with the skills she’s gained, she now feels prepared to move forward with her vision. “I’m now on a path where I can talk to a realtor or bank. I’m going into this informed and knowledgeable about successfully securing property and owning it.”
Other businesses who completed the course include:
Boketto Cold Brew LLC, Build to Propser LLC, Crenshaw Yoga and Dance, Enchanted Escape Room, Glow + Flow Franchises, Gorilla RX Wellness Co, JTM Academy, Malik Books, Morris Media Studios, Neumascape Studio, Our Own, Sip & Sonder, and TERMINAL B.
In true LISC LA style, we made sure to support small businesses from the local community at our event – hosting it at ORA cafe and featuring drinks from Leimert Park Wine and bites from Delicious Southern Cuisine, all from south Los Angeles.
Congratulations to all the participants, and we look forward to what they achieve next!