LISC Twin Cities Recognizes and Introduces 27 Developers of Color at a Social Mixer Event in the Twin Cities

TWIN CITIES, MN: LISC Twin Cities celebrated 27 Developers of Color in a vibrant ‘Get Acquainted’ social mixer event at the Metropolitan Ballroom and Clubroom in Golden Valley, MN, on March 8th, 2023. The energetic event enjoyed a great turnout, as diverse professionals from various sectors joined the occasion to meet the Developers of Color and learn more about them and their exciting real estate development projects.

LISC TC recognized the first group of Developers of Color, the 2021 Cohort, with a personalized framed certificate as a token of appreciation for their commitment, investment and hard work to support their communities. LISC TC also leveraged the special occasion to introduce the new group of Developers of Color, the 2022 Cohort, which formed towards the end of last year.

Peter McLaughlin, Executive Director of LISC Twin Cities, joined the Developers of Color on stage to share words of appreciation and to reiterate the organization's unwavering commitment to supporting the initiative. The support is provided through investments, technical assistance, personal and professional development training, mentorship, and more. “As our world changes and our communities change, we need to engage and drive the change we want to see in our communities and in our cities. We are helping to change the face of real estate development in the Twin Cities and in the region. We are doing that by helping to identify, recognize, develop and promote a new generation of talented and diverse developers that come from all communities. They have new ideas to support the places they come from in new and different ways. We are here with and for them,” said McLaughlin.

The 2022 Cohort shows an expansion of diversity within the initiative. The 2021 Cohort, the inaugural group, consists of 13 developers, primarily Black men. The 14 Developers chosen in 2022 include 8 female and 6 male developers representing expanded communities, including Black, Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, and African immigrants. There were also changes in the geographic reach of their developments. Many of the projects for the inaugural group were primarily in North Minneapolis and St. Paul. This year projects are mainly clustered along Lake Street in South Minneapolis and extend into the suburbs.

Among the night’s highlights was a video projected on a large screen during the event. It featured the 2022 Developers of Color. The cohort introduced themselves and talked to the audience about their projects and their passion for making positive and impactful changes in their communities. You can watch it on any of LISC TC social media accounts. Here is the video on Facebook.

The program for the celebratory night included hosting by PJ Hill, a member of the inaugural cohort. PJ added richness to the night with his dynamic personality and insightful perspectives. He spoke from the heart to recognize LISC TC and the many other organizations that have supported the Developers of Color since its creation in 2021. He encouraged all Developers in the new Cohort to drive, push, and hold on to their vision for what can be possible. His words were very inspiring and very well received by the audience.

The professional social mixer was another demonstration of LISC TC’s commitment to our communities in the Twin Cities. The messages during the night highlighted the change we need to drive in new development and to increase ownership and build generational wealth within communities of color. This reflects the determination to fuel opportunity through place-based investments to drive social capital. The Developers of Color program also recognizes and highlights the importance of identity and culture in our growing and changing communities in the Twin Cities.

The LISC TC staff attended the event to support the Developers of Color. Gretchen Nicholls,
Senior Program Officer, said, "This work is at the heart of the transformative change that is needed today.  It has been an amazing journey to walk alongside these inspiring and determined developers."  Koa Mirai, Senior Program Officer, added: “These talented developers are scaling historic barriers and bringing a renewed vision of what development looks like today and in the future. We are here to provide them with capacity support and the social and financial capital they need to complete their real estate projects successfully.”

In addition to the support from LISC TC, the Developers of Color initiative and the Social Mixer are made possible by generous funding from various organizations, including 1335 Foundation, Ackerberg Group, Alatus, Associated Bank, Dominium, East Side Funders Group, Flannery Construction, Jay & Rose Phillips Family Foundation of MN, MacKenzie Scott, Mahoney CPAS and Advisors, McKnight Foundation, Midwest One Bank, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, National Equity Fund, Minneapolis Foundation, MN Housing, Northside Funders Group, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, Sand Companies, Sherman Associates, Sunrise Banks, Target, Watson-Forsberg, Weis Builders, Wellington Management, and Winthrop & Weinstine, Inc.

The Developers of Color Get Acquainted - Mixer was a vibrant and fun night to recognize and celebrate these talented and diverse developers who are working intentionally to increase social capital and ownership for all communities in the Twin Cities.

For pictures from the event available for use, click here.

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About LISC Twin Cities: 
With residents and partners, LISC forges resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity–great places to live, work, visit, do business and raise families. Since 1988, Twin Cities LISC has invested over $900 million to build or rehab 17,404 affordable homes and apartments, developed 2.4 million square feet of retail, community and educational space, and served over 7,500 families at Financial Opportunity Centers. To learn more, visit lisc.org/twin-cities or follow us on Twitter @LISC_TwinCities and Facebook @LISCTwinCities.