Community Deep: Brick by Brick, Trust by Trust

When I was informed that I had been named a 2026 Diversity in Business Honoree by the Washington Business Journal, my first thought was not about the award itself. It was about the people, my people.

For more than 30 years, the work has never been about personal recognition. It has been about anchoring my community, about building structures that allow neighborhoods, entrepreneurs, and families to thrive long after any single project or moment passes.

This recognition reflects something much larger than me.

It reflects the founders who launched businesses when access to capital was limited. It reflects residents who chose to stay rooted in neighborhoods that were often overlooked or misunderstood. It reflects young leaders who stepped into ownership of their ideas, their spaces, and their future. It reflects partners who believed that equitable development was not a trend, but a responsibility.

Long before inclusive growth became a widely used phrase, we were doing the work , advocating for cultural preservation alongside economic investment, pushing for development models that included the voices of those who have always called these communities home.

Over three decades, I have seen the narrative evolve. I have seen neighborhoods move from being discussed as problems to being recognized as assets. I have seen small businesses become anchors. I have seen young people become decision-makers.

What we are witnessing now is a Power Shift.

A shift from development happening to communities, to development happening with and by communities.

A shift from visibility without influence to presence with ownership.

A shift from short-term projects to long-term infrastructure.

That shift did not happen overnight. It happened because people stayed committed. Because they built when it was hard. Because they insisted on being included in decisions that impacted their futures.

Awards are meaningful, and I am grateful. But they are temporary.

The real work is ongoing. The real impact is measured in businesses sustained, policies influenced, leaders mentored, and neighborhoods strengthened.

This honor belongs to the community that has trusted me to build alongside them for more than three decades. It belongs to every entrepreneur, resident, student, and partner who has poured into this shared vision.

And the work continues.