Superpowers for Good: Empowering Changemakers for Social Impact via Regulated Investment Crowdfunding from the SuperCrowd.

I’m not a financial advisor; Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions.

Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.

When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or invest after clicking a link here, we may earn a commission. Engage to support our work.

Devin: What do you see as your superpower?

Steve: One of the nice things about getting older is you have a little more wisdom, or you hope you have a little more wisdom to kind of reflect on how you got to where you're at now. I began to realize after the housing crisis blew up, after spending 20 or 30 years in a certain career, I had three or four different kinds of careers. Also, I knew a lot of people. So, I think of myself as a connector. 

In this episode of the Superpowers for Good show, I had the privilege of hosting Stephen Shaff, the visionary founder of Community-Vision Solutions, Benefit LLC. Stephen shared insights into his groundbreaking initiative, the Community Alliance Project, aimed at revitalizing underserved communities in a sustainable and inclusive manner. His approach, rooted in decades of social enterprise and activism, offers a fresh perspective on community development that leverages the strengths of diverse sectors for collective progress.

Stephen's journey began with a realization that conventional community revitalization efforts were often fragmented and under-resourced, unable to effectively counteract market forces or address deep-seated inequalities. "The community revitalization paradigm is dysfunctional and grossly under-resourced," Stephen observed. This acknowledgment led him to explore a more holistic and cooperative model, one that could harness the potential of social enterprise and the broader community for meaningful impact.

The essence of the Community Alliance Project lies in its collaborative framework, bringing together faith-based organizations, nonprofits, local businesses, activists, and other stakeholders to work towards common goals. By integrating various sectors, including housing, arts, education, and civic engagement, the project aims to build vibrant, self-sustaining communities where everyone has a stake in the outcome. Stephen's approach underscores the importance of inclusivity and shared value, principles that are critical in countering the forces of gentrification and displacement.

One particularly compelling aspect of Stephen's strategy is the emphasis on utilizing existing assets within communities, such as underutilized land owned by faith-based organizations. By forming strategic partnerships, these assets can be transformed into mixed-use developments that provide affordable housing, community services, and commercial spaces, all while preserving the community's cultural and social fabric.

As I reflect on my conversation with Stephen, I am struck by the potential of his model to effect transformative change. The Community Alliance Project represents a beacon of hope for underserved communities, offering a path to empowerment and prosperity through collaboration and innovation. Stephen's dedication to this cause is not only inspiring but a testament to the power of unity in overcoming the challenges that face our society today.

In embracing this model, we can all play a part in building a more equitable and vibrant world, one community at a time.

Stephen will speak at SuperCrowdBaltimore at the B&O Railroad Museum on Thursday. This event addresses directly how we can support community builders like Stephen with impact investments via crowdfunding. Register today with the discount code SUPERCROWD to save 30 percent.

AI Episode Summary

1. Stephen Shaff is the CEO and founder of Community-Vision Solutions, which focuses on rebuilding underserved communities with authentic, community-oriented approaches.

2. Community-Vision Solutions is a culmination of Stephen's 35 years of experience working in social enterprise, activism, and organizing, leveraging a network of resources and solutions for community development.

3. Stephen's work began with a pivot from being a political and social psychology PhD candidate to entering the affordable housing sector, realizing that real estate could be used for social impact.

4. He learned that the community revitalization paradigm was dysfunctional and under-resourced, incapable of combating market forces, leading him to explore social enterprise for greater impact.

5. Another observation was that revitalizing communities can be a multi-billion-dollar opportunity, but it usually misses the involvement of local organizations, something Community-Vision Solutions wants to address.

6. The Community Alliance program aims to integrate various sectors, such as funding sources, activism, political advocacy, and expertise, to foster community-driven change and development.

7. A practical example provided is working with a church that, facing gentrification, can partner with Community-Vision Solutions to develop housing, repair the church, and create sustainable income while serving community needs.

8. Stephen emphasizes that to effectively use crowdfunding, which is a democratic and beneficial tool, communities need to amplify their reach, as small entities often lack the necessary extensive network for success.

9. Stephen identifies his superpower as being a connector and convener, able to bring together various sectors and networks to create collaborative and effective solutions for community development.

10. He encourages others to visit the Community-Vision Solutions website to learn more and engage with their work while emphasizing that building scalable, replicable solutions requires collaboration and shared learning.

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How to Develop Connecting As a Superpower

Stephen Shaff's superpower, as he articulated in our interview, can be encapsulated in the term "connector." This term highlights his ability to bring diverse groups together for a common purpose, facilitating collaboration and collective action. Stephen's superpower is rooted in his genuine interest in people and his capacity to connect across various networks, including political, business, and community sectors. His knack for engaging with a wide array of individuals and treating them with respect and dignity underpins his success in mobilizing collective efforts for community development.

An illustrative story of Stephen's superpower in action involves his work with an arts organization facing eviction due to their landlord's decision to sell the property. Drawing upon his vast network, Stephen assembles the necessary resources, developers, and capital to form a joint venture that benefits the arts group. His deep understanding and authentic involvement in community arts add a layer of trust and credibility, showcasing his ability to not just connect people but align their interests towards a shared goal.

To develop the superpower of convening, Stephen suggests engaging with diverse networks and being genuinely interested in learning from others. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration and the mutual exchange of resources and knowledge. Visiting platforms like the Community-Vision Solutions website can offer insights into effective cross-sector collaboration and provide opportunities for connection and growth.

By following Stephen Shaff’s example and advice, you can make convening a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world, bringing together diverse groups to collaborate on solutions that benefit communities and foster sustainable development.

Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!

Guest Profile

Stephen Shaff (he/him):

Founder, Community-Vision Solutions…

I’m not a financial advisor; Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions.

Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.

When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or invest after clicking a link here, we may earn a commission. Engage to support our work.

Devin: What do you see as your superpower?

Pooja: That's such a hard question. Two things come to mind. One, I feel like I'm a bit of a generalist. Another one is that I have had my fair share of mistakes running businesses and making investments, and I feel very comfortable at this stage in my life to really be upfront about it.

As the host of the Superpowers for Good show, I've had the privilege of meeting many changemakers who are dedicated to making a positive impact on the world. One such inspiring individual is Pooja Mehta, the founder of The Marigold Effect and Vice-President/Co-Owner of AMPM Enterprises. In our conversation, Pooja shared the profound influence of marigolds in her approach to business and philanthropy, offering a refreshing perspective on growth and community support.

Pooja described The Marigold Effect as inspired by the flower's role in a garden, where it supports the flourishing of surrounding plants. "Marigolds, when they are planted in a garden, really help other vegetables flourish," she explained, highlighting her mission to help businesses thrive through a similar symbiotic relationship. This concept resonates deeply with me, as it encapsulates the essence of what we aim to explore on the show: the power of individual actions to foster collective prosperity.

Under Pooja's guidance, The Marigold Effect has taken a novel approach to philanthropy and business support, emphasizing simplicity and accessibility in its microgrant program. By cutting through the red tape typically associated with grant applications, Pooja's initiative allows small businesses and nonprofits to focus on their core missions without being bogged down by onerous requirements. This approach not only aids the recipients directly but also sparks a broader conversation about the nature of support and investment in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Pooja's insights into investment crowdfunding were particularly enlightening. She revealed how this approach democratizes access to capital, allowing community members to invest in local businesses they believe in. This model of mutual benefit and support is a cornerstone of The Marigold Effect, fostering a sense of ownership and connection among investors and entrepreneurs alike.

Reflecting on our conversation, it's clear that Pooja Mehta's work with The Marigold Effect and AMPM Enterprises exemplifies the kind of innovative thinking and community-oriented action that can drive real change. Her approach to business and investment not only nurtures individual enterprises but also contributes to a healthier, more vibrant community ecosystem. As we continue to share stories of impact on Superpowers for Good, Pooja's vision serves as a powerful reminder of the potential within each of us to be agents of positive change.

Pooja will be speaking at SuperCrowdBaltimore and SuperCrowd24. Join us for those events. The discount code SuperCrowd will save you 30 percent in Baltimore and 50 percent for SuperCrowd24.

AI Episode Summary

1. Devin Thorpe, the show host, introduced his guest Pooja Mehta, the founder of Marigold Effect, which is named for marigolds' property of helping other plants thrive – an analogy for how her business helps other businesses flourish.

2. Marigold Effect focuses on three main areas: business advising, legal consulting, and impact investing, with the goal of reducing gender and racial wealth gaps.

3. Pooja discussed their micro-grant initiative, which aims to simplify the grant application process for non-profits, matching the level of effort with the size of the grant. It supports organizations working to close the wealth gap, particularly in the Washington DC area.

4. Pooja emphasized the importance of understanding the different perspectives of a founder and an investor, highlighting the need for founders to evaluate the sources of capital and choose terms that align with their business growth.

5. At SuperCrowdBaltimore, Pooja will be discussing strategies for businesses when considering raising capital, including the possibility of strengthening through reinvestment as opposed to external investment.

6. Pooja appreciates investment crowdfunding for the accessibility it offers to investors and as an additional pool of capital for founders, noting its unique ability to nurture mutual benefits between investors and founders.

7. For beginners in investment, Pooja recommends investing in things one understands, diversifying investments, and balancing expectations for potential return.

8. On the legal side of raising capital, Pooja emphasizes the importance of education about the process and compliance with securities laws while highlighting Regulation CF for its structure facilitating public fundraising.

9. Pooja cited her generalist approach and comfort with discussing past mistakes as her superpowers. She feels these attributes allow her to provide valuable insights and ask probing questions to help entrepreneurs strategize effectively.

10. To learn more about Pooja's work or to connect with her, one can visit her website, MarigoldEffect.co, and attend SuperCrowdBaltimore or SuperCrowd24, where she is set to speak on topics relevant to entrepreneurs and investors.

We invite you to share this episode with your community.

How to Develop Empathetic Wisdom As a Superpower

Pooja Mehta's superpower is "Empathetic Wisdom." This combination of traits embodies her ability to understand others deeply and offer insightful, experience-based guidance.

In our discussion, Pooja shared how her diverse experiences across different sectors and the lessons learned from her mistakes have equipped her with a unique perspective. She emphasized the value of embracing one's errors as learning opportunities and being transparent about them. This openness, coupled with her legal expertise and personal experiences, allows her to ask the right questions, helping entrepreneurs to strategize effectively and make informed decisions amidst the myriad choices they face daily.

An anecdote that exemplifies Pooja's superpower involves resolving cultural conflicts among employees in her restaurant business. She approached the situation with empathy, understanding each person's perspective, and emphasized the shared vision despite personal differences. This story illustrates how her superpower of empathetic wisdom enables her to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics and foster a harmonious working environment.

To develop a superpower like Pooja's, consider these tips:

1. Be clear on your values: Understanding your core beliefs can guide your decisions and actions.

2. Embrace openness and curiosity: Remain open to new experiences and actively seek to learn from others, even in unexpected situations.

3. Learn from mistakes: View failures as opportunities for growth and be willing to share these experiences to help others.

4. Practice empathy: Try to understand others' perspectives and backgrounds, especially in challenging situations.

As the host of Superpowers for Good, I'm continually inspired by guests like Pooja, who not only possess remarkable abilities but also a willingness to use them for the greater good. Her story is a powerful reminder that the path to wisdom often involves embracing our vulnerabilities and remaining open to the lessons life teaches us.

By following Pooja’s example and advice, you can make empathetic wisdom a personal strength. With practice, it could become a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.

Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important…

Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.

When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or invest after clicking a link here, we may earn a commission. Engage to support our work.

Devin: What do you see as your superpower?

Julie: This might seem a little bit unconventional, but for me, I think it's really an embrace of a beginner mindset.

In the realm of immersive art and entertainment, Meow Wolf stands out not just for its kaleidoscopic, mind-bending exhibitions, but for its profound commitment to using art as a vehicle for social impact and community development. Founded as an artist collective in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Meow Wolf has evolved into a significant force in the experience economy, redefining what it means to engage with art. Under the leadership of Julie Heinrich, Chief Impact Officer, Meow Wolf's mission transcends the conventional, weaving together creativity, inclusivity, and societal change.

At its core, Meow Wolf is about immersive experiences that invite participants of all ages to step inside the mind of an artist. The exhibitions, spread across locations in Denver, Las Vegas, and soon in the Houston area, offer a unique blend of art and storytelling, where every narrative is interlinked, creating a vast, interconnected story universe. This innovative approach to art is not just about spectacle; it's about creating a space where art becomes a shared, tactile experience, fostering a deep connection between the audience, the artists, and the narratives they explore.

Julie Heinrich's journey with Meow Wolf underscores a narrative of creativity and community. The organization's inception as an artist collective was a response to the restrictive nature of the traditional art scene, aiming instead to build a community grounded in generosity and inclusivity. This ethos has carried through to Meow Wolf's operations today, with a significant emphasis on hiring local artists and creating art that is accessible and engaging for diverse audiences.

The Meow Wolf Foundation, led by Julie, embodies the organization's commitment to leveraging art for societal benefit. The foundation's initiatives focus on art access, healing, and transformation, particularly targeting grassroots projects, BIPOC-led or serving organizations, and youth-focused initiatives. This strategic focus not only amplifies underrepresented voices in the art world but also demonstrates a belief in art's power to catalyze positive change within communities.

One of the foundation's notable strategies is its emphasis on supporting projects that make art accessible to broader segments of the population, including those in rural or underserved areas. By funding programs that, for example, facilitate school trips to cultural spaces or promote cultural sharing in indigenous communities, the foundation ensures that the transformative power of art reaches beyond urban centers, touching lives across diverse social and geographical landscapes.

The story of Meow Wolf, from its humble beginnings to its current status as a cultural powerhouse, is a testament to the potential of art to bridge divides, inspire change, and build community. The involvement of notable figures like George R.R. Martin, who provided early support for the venture, adds a layer of intrigue, illustrating the unexpected intersections between popular culture and the art world.

As Meow Wolf continues to expand, both physically and into digital realms, the question of how art impacts society becomes even more pertinent. With Julie at the helm of impact initiatives, Meow Wolf is not just creating art; it's crafting experiences that challenge, delight, and, most importantly, bring people together in a shared journey of discovery and transformation.

“We've always been, as I mentioned, very community-minded since those early days of art making in the warehouse space,” Julie says. “Our artists were even dumpster diving for trash to create beautiful, expressive, maximalist creations.”

In a world where the arts are often sidelined in favor of more "practical" pursuits, Meow Wolf's success story serves as a powerful reminder of the essential role creativity plays in fostering vibrant, inclusive, and dynamic communities. Through its immersive experiences and community-focused initiatives, Meow Wolf isn't just changing the way we see art; it's changing the way we see the world.

Throughout her time with Meow Wolf, Julie has employed her superpower, a beginner’s mindset, to help her drive impact.

AI Episode Summary

1. Julie Heinrich is the Chief Impact Officer of Meow Wolf, an immersive art and entertainment company that provides creative experiences for people of all ages.

2. Meow Wolf started as an artist collective in Santa Fe, New Mexico, as a reaction to the restrictive local art scene, leading to the creation of large-scale immersive experiences.

3. The company, which employs hundreds of artists, has exhibitions in New Mexico, Denver, Las Vegas, and Texas, with plans to expand further.

4. Author George R.R. Martin, who resides in Santa Fe, was the original landlord and financial backer for Meow Wolf's first exhibition.

5. Julie leads Meow Wolf's newly launched nonprofit foundation focused on art access, healing, and transformation, primarily supporting grassroots, BIPOC-led, and youth-focused initiatives.

6. The foundation's grants are distributed across the regions where Meow Wolf operates, supporting local artists, cultural accessibility, and the preservation of cultural practices in diverse communities.

7. Julie's superpower is embracing a beginner's mindset, starting each day fresh and open to new experiences, which she believes is key to personal growth and transformation.

8. She credits a guided meditation and a moment of silence in nature for inspiring her to pursue her current role at Meow Wolf, highlighting the importance of allowing space for creativity and new ideas.

9. Julie advises exploring the intersection of art and healing, suggesting activities like drawing, singing, dancing, and spending time in silence to foster creativity and personal well-being.

10. To learn more about Meow Wolf and the Foundation, visit MeowWolf.com and connect with Julie on LinkedIn; the grant application process is currently a closed system due to limited resources.

How to Develop a Beginner’s Mindset As a Superpower

Julie’s superpower revolves around consistently embracing a beginner's mindset, which involves starting each day fresh and being open to new experiences and ideas. This approach allows her to approach challenges and opportunities with a fresh perspective, unburdened by previous setbacks or the constraints of routine. It's a mindset that fosters learning, growth, and innovation, and she hopes to inspire her team at Meow Wolf with this same outlook, emphasizing the potential for renewal and the chance to approach tasks with rejuvenated energy and creativity.

Julie illustrates her superpower through her personal journey toward her current role at Meow Wolf. Embracing the beginner's mindset and being open to joy and creativity led her to reach out to Meow Wolf's leadership, driven by her admiration for their work and the desire for more creativity in her life. This proactive step was fueled by moments of silence and reflection, including a profound experience in the Ojito Wilderness under a full moon, which culminated in her decision to seek a significant career change and reconnect with her roots.

For developing a beginner's mindset as a personal strength, Julie suggests:

* Exploring the intersection between art and healing and considering how creative activities like drawing, singing, or dancing can be therapeutic and open new aspects of oneself.

* Allocating time for silence and reflection without pressure, allowing space for creativity and new ideas to emerge, especially during activities that encourage a state of flow, such as walking, being in nature, or driv…

I’m not a financial advisor; Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions.

Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.

When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or invest after clicking a link here, we may earn a commission. Engage to support our work.

Devin: What is your superpower?

Joel: That's a loaded question, but my ability and desire to help the next generation, if you will, behind me and train them on what needs to be done to shorten the learning cycle toward their success.

Wall Street Capital Partners, a big real estate developer in Northern Virginia, is tackling a project in historic Old Town Alexandria. CEO Joel Miller joined me to discuss the project, including the unusual step of offering shares to small investors in the community.

The project is interesting on many levels, including the fact that the development will replace some surface parking where the project will be built with multi-use structures that include affordable housing, market-rate housing, retail and high-tech parking.

The project, six blocks from both the waterfront and the DC Metro, is conveniently located in a prime–read that expensive–location.

“We're having a percentage of units affordable, which is something people kept scratching their heads on and were blown away by, especially,” Joel says. “Folks in the city and other investors–they're like, ‘How are you going to do that?’ But we found a way to get it done.”

The parking system uses automation to park the cars for tenants who use an app or fob to retrieve their vehicles, receiving them almost as if from a vending machine.

The $48 million project doesn’t require funding from the public or the local community, Joel says. Opening investment to the community is part of a strategy for allowing the community to participate directly in the economic benefits of the project. It also grows out of Joel’s superpower–mentoring. This decision gives rising developers an inside look at the business of real estate development.

To make the shares available, Joel is using Small Change, a FINRA-member regulated investment crowdfunding portal led by Eve Picker. “Eve is outstanding,” he says. “She's great to work with. She knows her stuff. She really gets the job done.”

AI Episode Summary

1. Devin Thorpe, the host, introduces Joel Miller, CEO and founder of Wall Street Capital Partners, during the "Superpowers for Good" show.

2. Wall Street Capital Partners is a development firm in the Northern Virginia area, originally branching out from its sister company, Wall Street Capital Advisors.

3. The company has a history of providing debt and equity for various commercial projects, including office, multifamily, and retail, and is now also engaged in development.

4. They are working on a unique project called Old King Henry in Alexandria, Virginia—a historic district with limited supply and affordability issues where development is challenging due to restrictions.

5. The Old King Henry project involves redeveloping surface parking into multifamily housing over retail, located conveniently near the waterfront and metro.

6. The project provides a percentage of affordable housing units, which is unusual and challenging to achieve in Old Town Alexandria but was important to the developers.

7. A mechanical parking system is utilized in the project, which allows for efficiency by reducing the need for deep underground or large above-ground parking structures. Cars are parked and retrieved by the system, reducing space requirements.

8. Part of the project includes townhomes with private balconies, and Joel emphasizes the opportunity for minority visibility in the retail spaces.

9. Joel's partner has an extensive background, having developed over 15,000 units of multifamily housing, with the Lumen in Tysons Corner being a notable example of past successful projects.

10. The capital raise for Old King Henry through the platform Small Change is highlighted, demonstrating Joel's commitment to community involvement and allowing people to invest in the project for as little as $1,000.

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How to Develop Mentoring As a Superpower

Helping the next generation of real estate professionals is a genuine passion for Joel. One of the ways he does this is with his podcast, Mornings with Joel. He shared the story of the podcast came to be:

I was the capital markets instructor for an organization called REAP–this is an organization that exposes minorities and others to the basics of commercial real estate and all the different paths that they could take as it relates to generating their wealth. 

One of the questions that always came up was, “I want to learn more. I want to talk more. But we often get these CEOs that come to talk to us and I can never reach them after the event. So, is there any way we can reach you after the event?”

And so what we started doing was we started having our staff meetings and letting those people listen in on the staff meetings where they can, in essence, look over our shoulder and see on a regular day-to-day basis how we get deals done, how do we structure, what are the challenges, what's this, what's that, how do we price them and how do we do all those things. And then that grew to, well, I'm not just interested in capital markets, I'm interested in this [other topic].

It was like, “Do you know anybody that does XYZ?” It was like, “Yeah, I do. So why don't I invite that person to our staff meeting and you could call in and listen to our conversation?” 

It grew to the point where it was like, “Wait a minute, that's a podcast!” People wanting to see and learn from others. So, we opened up our Rolodex, and we said, “Hey, I know slews of people in top-level positions in commercial real estate. Why don't I do a show with them? No charge, no fee, no nothing. Just let people come and learn from the masters in commercial real estate.”

So we started doing that. It's been very successful–the Mornings with Joel podcast. We did that specifically to help people, the next generation behind us, really learn what it's all about to get into this commercial real estate space.

He describes his decision to open this round of funding on the project to his passion for helping the next generation. 

“We wanted to be able to work with people in the community, other minorities that are trying to get started in the commercial real estate space and give a hand back and say, ‘Hey, if you got a thousand bucks, you can get in this deal, look over our shoulder and see how it all works from the inside out and learn that business,’” he says.

You can develop your mentoring ability by following Joel’s example. With practice, you can make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.

Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!

Guest Profile

Guest-Provided Profile

Joel Miller  (he/him):

CEO / Managing Partner, Wall Street Capital Partners

About Wall Street Capital Partners: Wall Street Capital Partners is a Real Estate Developer, Investor, and Syndicator and lender of Debt and Equity for the Commercial Real Estate markets. 

Website: wallstreetcapitalpartners.net

X/Twitter Handle: @WallStCapital

Other URL: smallchange.co/projects/the-King-Henry

Biographical Information: Joel Miller serves as CEO of Wall Street Capital Partners (Advisors), a Real Estate Syndication firm based out of Atlanta, GA, which specializes in sourcing and arranging debt and equity for acquisitions, development and recapitalization of Commercial Real Estate. The firm also invests in its own acquisition and development projects as a GP investor. The current pipeline includes over 1,100 Multifamily units, primarily in Atlanta and the mid-Atlantic region.Joel M…

I’m not a financial advisor; Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek appropriate counsel before making investment decisions.

Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your streaming device–Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.

When you purchase an item, launch a crowdfunding campaign or invest after clicking a link here, we may earn a commission. It’s an easy way to support our work.

Devin: What do you see as your superpower?

Jim: The thing that I think I'm particularly good at and that I think other folks that do work like mine maybe aren't as good at is that I can identify the difference between a good idea and a good idea that actually works.

Living in Baltimore, one of the 19 US cities with over 100,000 in population and a Black majority, Jim Kucher, a professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, leads the social innovation certificate program. He sees the effects of historic and current systemic social injustices and how social enterprises are one way of addressing them.

Jim, who will speak at SuperCrowdBaltimore, cites Lawrence Brown from Morgan State University as the expert on the social disparities between white and Black communities in their city. A map showing neighborhoods in the town by racial composition shows an L-shaped area through the heart of the city that is predominantly white. The east and west sides of the city are primarily Black. Brown calls the areas the “White L” and the “Black Butterfly.”

“He has done a brilliant job of overlaying any number of social disparities, be they health, be they economic disparities, be they home ownership,” Jim says. “Every single one of them lays almost perfectly directly over those racial demographics.”

Brown is working on documenting the history of redlining in Baltimore, which evidence now shows to have been the origin of the practice enforced by the Federal government preventing banks from lending in predominantly Black neighborhoods. A literal red line defined no-lending communities.

Baltimore provides a textbook for defining social injustice. “Baltimore, because of that, is also a textbook for how this can be fixed,” Jim says.

Jim has identified four reasons why Baltimore is a great place for social entrepreneurs.

* Higher than average percentage of people with graduate degrees.

* Baltimore has substantial wealth “despite what people may think from the outside.”

* The city is the optimal size for effective networking–big enough to have all the resources and small enough to access them.

* The city is home to a variety of social problems, giving innovators plenty to work on.

Jim is excited to see people succeed and doesn’t begrudge anyone accumulating wealth, but does argue that enough can be enough:

I have a presentation that I've been using for years now around the basics of how to fix capitalism through social enterprise. There's a slide that I have in that presentation that talks about mega-yachts. I use a line that's intended as a bit of a joke but also very, very serious. 

Is there anybody on the planet that really needs a 160-foot mega yacht? I mean, I don't know about you, but I could probably learn to get by with 140 feet. You know, those last 20 feet are just kind of excessive.

The program Jim directs at UMB is a graduate certificate in social entrepreneurship. It requires a bachelor’s degree to start the program but is only 12 credits rather than the 36 typical of master’s programs. You can complete the online program in one year. 

“One of the reasons we did it that way is because a lot of the folks that are doing good work in social change already have various advanced degrees–master's in social work, sometimes an MBA–but they need specific skills around what's unique about social enterprise,” Jim says. 

Throughout his career, Jim has leveraged and honed a superpower of opportunity discernment. He can distinguish between a good idea and one that will work as a business.

Jim and the folks at UMB have partnered with The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, to host SuperCrowdBaltimore on March 21st at the B&O Rail Museum. The program features a deep roster of both prominent local community builders and crowdfunding experts from across the country. The event allows everyone to learn how to be a social entrepreneur or an investor who supports them. Register now with the discount code SuperCrowd to save 30 percent.

AI Episode Summary

1. Devin Thorpe introduces his guest, Jim Kucher, from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, highlighting Jim's expertise in social impact and entrepreneurship.

2. Jim describes the graduate certificate in social entrepreneurship he directs at the university, explaining that it's a 12-credit, one-year, fully online program designed for individuals with advanced degrees who need specific skills unique to social enterprise.

3. The graduate certificate covers innovation in social settings, product/service development considering community needs, and marketing strategies for different stakeholders, including constituents, funders, and product/service buyers.

4. Jim emphasizes the importance of understanding how to finance social enterprises, teaching students to blend and time various financing strategies to create sustainable ventures.

5. Devin and Jim discuss the SuperCrowdBaltimore event, where Jim's program will be formally introduced, and the benefits of social entrepreneurship in addressing issues with capitalism, such as income inequality and when profit is excessive.

6. Jim credits a colleague, Lawrence Brown, for research on racial wealth gaps in Baltimore and explains the adverse effects of historical redlining practices on black communities.

7. Acknowledging the social and economic disparities in Baltimore, Jim notes that the city presents an ideal environment for social innovation due to its educated population, quiet wealth, manageable size for building networks, and range of social problems to address.

8. Jim's superpower is identifying the practicality of good ideas, knowing which ones can realistically work, and understanding when to walk away from unfeasible ones, using his experience with the impact of 9/11 on capital markets as an example.

9. He advises aspiring entrepreneurs to do simple arithmetic, like profit and loss statements and balance sheets and cautions that pursuing entrepreneurship based solely on a passion for an art or craft might lead one away from the actual passion itself.

10. Jim provides his email ([email protected]) and directs the audience to the University of Maryland, Baltimore website for more information on the social entrepreneurship program, mentioning the SuperCrowdBaltimore event and other upcoming events for interested individuals.

If you’d like more people to support diverse founders and social entrepreneurs, please share.

How to Develop Opportunity Discernment As a Superpower

The power of opportunity discernment often manifests, Jim says, in what he chooses not to do rather than what to do.

One of the best things about performing that analysis is that you don't get pulled into something that can cause you harm. 

We launched a technology company in the late 90s–I say we, my wife and I. The idea came out of my work in my MBA studies at the University of Baltimore. We licensed the federal technology. Everything was going quite well. We were getting some early investors. 

And then somebody flew a plane into the side of a building in lower Manhattan. As you may recall, when 9/11 happened, all the capital markets dried up. Happily, we had the good sense to realize that that was a fatal blow to the business. We got out with our skin mostly intact.

The sort of mythical entrepreneur is this person that we think of with this incredible drive and this incredible push that can just sort of literally run through brick walls. I've tried to run through brick walls. The brick wall doesn't move. Your head hurts, but the bri…

I’m not a financial advisor; nothing I write in Superpowers for Good should be considered investment advice. You should seek appropriate counsel before making investment decisions.

Remember, you can watch the Superpowers for Good show on e360tv. To watch the episode, download the #e360tv channel app to your streaming device–Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV–or your mobile device. You can even watch it on the web or YouTube.

When you purchase an item, launch a crowdfunding campaign or invest after clicking a link here, we may earn a commission. It’s an easy way to support our work.

Devin: What do you see as your superpower?

Mark: I've been an active ceramist. I'm a craftsman. I love the crafts, which are different than the fine arts. Architecture is first a craft, which is to make something work. Then there's the next level: to make it work beautifully. Then, if you keep going, you enter the fine arts. But you have to start with the crafts to make things work.

After building a successful architectural firm in New York City, Mark Winkelman was looking for projects with more impact and scale. When he found the Pajama Factory in Williamsport, Pennsylvania he recognized his new home.

Mark describes the history of the Pajama Factory:

It's an accumulation of eight industrial buildings that started in the 1800s, 1883; Lycoming Rubber Company invented and made Keds sneakers here for about 15 years.

Then it rolled into the depression, and they rented out space to various shoe companies and Weldon Pajama Company. There were fabric companies, and they made garments. Weldon grew and eventually bought the building in 1950 or 52 and renovated it a little bit.

Then they went out of business in the 70s, I think. No one was wearing pajamas in the 70s. That's probably why that happened. 

But anyway, it's a very large complex of 300,000 square feet in eight buildings surrounding a courtyard. We have been renovating it in pieces for the creative class–for artists and small businesses. We do this by dividing up the big floor plates into smaller spaces. We've got 160 spaces rented now and built. We're 100% occupied.

He also described the current varied use of the space:

We've got a little of everything. We run two nice Airbnb units, and we use them to invite folks out and check it out. We have maybe a dozen folks living here. Well, some of them are just living in their studios, but otherwise, we have half a dozen apartments.

Then we've got a hundred other spaces. We have all kinds of businesses in them. The ground floor is more retail. We've got event spaces. We've got the community wood shop, the clay studio, a pasta maker, a great coffee roaster and coffee shop. We've got a bicycle recycle shop. The list goes on and on. We have a mosque. We have a selfie lounge. We have an art store. It goes on and on.

Mark is now leading a capital campaign that includes a regulated investment crowdfunding campaign hosted by Small Change. He explains the strategy:

We've got a grant from the state. We've got some money from a bank. So this [crowdfunding campaign] is a piece. I mean, at 300,000 square feet, ultimately, it needs millions to restore the building. So, we keep piecing away at it.

What we hope to do in this next round–which we've started–is to deal with some parking lots, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems, and we need to do roofs. The difficulty we've had is that banks require cash flow; you borrow against cash flow. But when you buy an empty building, you have no cash flow. And this is just this huge building in this small town, and nobody could imagine how it would get filled up. 

So, we need to borrow money from outside the traditional sources to build, expand, and allow the capital to grow. This has meant that we've deferred long-standing maintenance and improvement issues, and we need to take care of them now. It's pretty clear the project is going to be a complete success. Now it's a half success. At least it's something.

The project is now an essential part of Williamsport. “The pajama factory seems to be hugely appreciated by an awful lot of people. It's the young who generally leave town; they're finding excuses to stay here,” Mark says.

To create this impact, Mark has deployed his craft as a superpower.

AI Episode Summary

Here's a summary of the key points from the transcript:

1. Mark Winkelmann is an architect who has developed a project called the Pajama Factory in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

2. The Pajama Factory is a complex of eight industrial buildings that have been repurposed to house artists and small businesses with spaces for creative work and living.

3. The buildings began as a rubber company in 1883, eventually housing the production of Keds sneakers and later pajamas before they were converted into the current creative space.

4. The Pajama Factory includes a variety of spaces, such as Airbnb units, apartments, artistic spaces, light manufacturing, a community woodshop, a clay studio, a coffee roaster, and retail spaces.

5. Mark moved to Williamsport specifically for the Pajama Factory project after many years as an architect in New York City and the desire to take on significant projects.

6. The project is currently raising capital on Small Change, a crowdfunding site for social impact real estate projects. The funds will be used for maintenance, HVAC systems, parking lots, and roof repairs.

7. The Pajama Factory has become an important part of the local community, attracting and retaining residents and supporting the growth of businesses.

8. There is a waiting list for spaces at the Pajama Factory due to its popularity, with a turnover of around 10% per year.

9. Future plans for the Pajama Factory include the creation of more studio spaces and additional apartments, ranging from affordable units for artists to high-end lofts.

10. Mark's superpower lies in the combination of his architectural skills, his experience with historic buildings, his love for interacting with people, and his appreciation for craftsmanship, all of which contribute to the success of the Pajama Factory project.

To learn more about the Pajama Factory and connect with Mark, visit the website pajamafactory.net, and for information on the crowdfunding campaign, visit smallchange.co.

If you’d like more people to see this episode, please share.

How to Develop Craft As a Superpower

Craft as a superpower is intriguing to me. Mark describes it as lying on a spectrum between function and fine art. As an architect, he says, “There are people that put up a building, and then there are people that make an art statement with buildings.”

He says this concept has a metaphorical application to almost any discipline. “I guess it goes a step further with community building, which has nothing to do with the physical. It has everything to do with people and interactions. It takes care. What is a craft? A craft is you're making something better than it needs to be to simply function.”

He explains his approach to building a home as a craft to explain how to develop your craft:

When working on architecture, I get a brief: build a house. That's simple enough; you put some bedrooms together and make the thing work. I then proceed to take that simple problem and make it complicated, adding in all these other aspects. Where does the sun come up? Where's the weather coming from? How many, how many guests come in? How often? How does this structure work ideally in so many different ways? 

I make a complicated problem and then try to solve that problem. Then maybe it's beautiful because it works on so many levels.

One vital aspect of developing your craft, he says, is to set high or difficult goals to get past mere function.

By following Mark’s example and advice, you can make your work into a craft, adding beauty to functionality. With practice, you could make this a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.

Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important th…

I’m not a financial advisor; nothing I write in Superpowers for Good should be considered investment advice. You should seek appropriate counsel before making investment decisions.

Remember, you can watch the Superpowers for Good show on e360tv. To watch the episode, download the #e360tv channel app to your streaming device–Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV–or your mobile device. You can even watch it on the web or YouTube.

When you purchase an item, launch a crowdfunding campaign or invest after clicking a link here, we may earn a commission. It’s an easy way to support our work.

Devin: What do you see as your superpower?

Irma: My superpower is to be a humble person.

Irma Sanchez, the founder of Accesso Capital Fund, is sponsored by Coca-Cola to help educate Latina entrepreneurs like herself on raising capital with regulated investment crowdfunding. 

There are 2.3 million Latina-owned businesses in the United States; about 18 percent of Hispanic women run their own businesses. According to one source, they are 50 times more likely to start a business than average Americans.

Irma partners with the Latin American Association in Atlanta. She works with Bill Huston, a nationally recognized crowdfunding expert, to help train women to use crowdfunding. The strategy is unfamiliar in that community, but they are excited to make progress.

She also uses her regular role as a commentator on Telemundo to share the message. “It is an honor, as a Latina and a migrant, to be the voice of the voiceless on a television channel that reaches the world. We wanted to use this Telemundo platform to change lives transform lives. We can do it through education in a massive way through Telemundo.”

In a moment that demonstrated her humility, she generously shared her personal history:

I want to be a story of inspiration for many women who are listening and watching me right now; if I could do it, anyone can do it. 

I come from Bolivia; I was born in Bolivia. I grew up in Venezuela and migrated here to the United States. However, my life as a child was traumatic. That is why I have been on a mission to make educational programs to support women entrepreneurs for 15 years. 

I have been an entrepreneur since I was a child. When I came home one day, my dad and sister had passed away, and it was a real shock to my mother and me. Imagine how my mother was at that moment and how I was. 

Then, my mom, over the course of time, taught me how to be an entrepreneur. She also passed away. Today, I am very grateful to my family for leaving me a great legacy, which I want to pass on to my community. 

I started to sell empanadas. I started to sell shoes. I started to sell chocolates. I started to sell whatever my mother put in my way. That has helped me to be a humble person now, a person who can work as a team. 

When you are alone, when you feel alone, there is no other option but to say, ”OK, let's get together. Let's see how my strengths can help you, and you can help me with my weaknesses.”

In other words, I believe 100 percent in teamwork, and that's why I believe 100 percent in crowdfunding: we can help each other grow our businesses.

Irma’s rallying cry to her peers is that together, they are unstoppable. “We are one of the fastest-growing economic groups in the world. However, we are receiving less than 1 percent of venture capital. This is the moment to unite and say, ‘We are going to move forward together.’”

AI Episode Summary

1. Devin welcomes Irma Sánchez and expresses gratitude for her presence. Irma thanks Devin for the opportunity and considers it an honor to be there.

2. Irma discusses her partnership with Coca-Cola, which sponsors educational programs for Latina entrepreneurs, helping them transform their businesses, access credit, and reach investors.

3. She is actively involved with the Latin American Association in Atlanta, providing educational courses and consultancy to teach the Hispanic community about Crowdfunding, a concept previously unfamiliar to many of them.

4. Irma is also working with Acceso Capital Fund to create innovative programs using artificial intelligence and industry leaders in Crowdfunding, like Bill Houston, to generate capital for the Hispanic community.

5. Much of Irma's work is directed toward empowering Latina women. She collaborates with leaders, including Mónica Cucalón from the Latin American Association and directors from Telemundo, to further educate and support Latino businesses through media and programs.

6. Irma emphasizes using Telemundo as a platform to reach a wider audience, change lives, and transform them through education. They create segments that are broadcast to a broader public.

7. Devin asks Irma to share her personal story. Irma discusses her difficult childhood in Bolivia and Venezuela, losing her father and sister, and learning entrepreneurial skills from her mother. She transformed her painful experiences into a life mission to support entrepreneurial women.

8. Irma sees humility as her superpower, aiding her to empathize with and understand others. She stresses the importance of self-improvement through spiritual and physical activities, such as meditation and yoga, to maintain balance and serve the community better.

9. Irma believes in the potential of the Hispanic community, citing its significant economic impact with a combined buying power of $2.3 trillion. She encourages support for Latina entrepreneurs, stating they significantly contribute to the economy through purchasing power and job creation.

10. Devin mentions that Irma will be participating in the upcoming SuperCrowd24 event on April 17-18, which will include a presentation on Crowdfunding tailored to the Hispanic community. Irma can be contacted on LinkedIn for those interested in her work or partnerships.

Know a Latina Entrepreneur Who Should Get This Information? Share it!

How to Develop Humility As a Superpower

Irma explains how humility is essential to her work. “We have to be humble; we have to be able to feel other people's pain, to be able to understand other people. I think that is what my life has taught me, not only to be a humble person but to be able to serve my community in the best way, wherever I am.”

She has traveled the world, often to speak at conferences. She still sees her vital mission as listening to her community to see what they need and how she can meet their needs.

Irma invokes her own experience with faith when asked for tips to develop humility. “I have done it through my belief. I believe in God. I connect to divinity, and I pray every morning that it gives me the tools to understand people in terms of their projects and dreams.”

By following Irma’s example and advice, you can strengthen your humility. With practice, it could become a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.

Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!

Guest Profile

Irma Sanchez  (she/her):

Irma Sanchez, Acceso Capital Fund 

About Acceso Capital Fund: Acceso Capital Fund presents a transformative opportunity in the entrepreneurial landscape, focusing on Latina entrepreneurs. A Catalyst for transformative change, we are more than a funding source; it’s a dedicated partner in the growth and success of Latina entrepreneurs; our holistic approach, cultural competence, and innovative strategies position us as leaders in the entrepreneurial space, driving success for our clients and contributing to broader economic growth and diversity. ✨️ACCESO CAPITAL FUND” 🌍 Crowdfunding ..creating capital for the Latino market !!

Company Facebook Page: fb.com/groups/138660492826999/

Biographical Information: Irma Sanchez, the founder of Acceso Capital Fund, is a dedicated strategist and a regular television commentator on Telemundo Atlanta. Her goal is to improve financial access for the Hispanic community, helping them build capital in an economy where Latinos have a significan…

I’m not a financial advisor; nothing I write in Superpowers for Good should be considered investment advice. You should seek appropriate counsel before making investment decisions.

Remember, you can watch the Superpowers for Good show on e360tv. To watch the episode, download the #e360tv channel app to your streaming device–Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV–or your mobile device. You can even watch it on the web or YouTube.

When you purchase an item, launch a crowdfunding campaign or invest after clicking a link here, we may earn a commission. It’s an easy way to support our work.

Devin: What do you see as your superpower?

George: My superpower is the ability to combine the analytical, the data with the human connection and the empathy required to live in a society.

When I met George Cook, the founder and CEO of Honeycomb Credit, about seven years ago, he and I chatted about the social impact of local community investing. I was skeptical. Over the years since I’ve become a true believer. I relished my conversation with him for this episode, focusing on the societal benefits of local investing.

Honeycomb Credit is one of the leading players in regulated investment crowdfunding. The SEC-regulated FINRA-member portal primarily helps small businesses with debt financing. It is quickly approaching $25 million in business financing since its founding.

There are nearly 30 million small businesses in the US. Most of them have capital needs. This is a big potential market for Honeycomb Credit–and for the investors like you who participate in the loans.

George grew up in Appalachia in a family that operated a community bank for 130 years. “I grew up in the family business. I fell in love with relationship lending, working with business owners who are literally sitting across the street from the branches that I was working out of and loved working with us, hearing their stories and playing a small piece in their growth journey.” 

He shares his vision for the community impact of the work he does.

This is such an opportunity to do well while you do good. 

The diversity of business owners is: We're working with businesses that support disabled entrepreneurs. We have a ton of veteran-owned businesses. More than half of the businesses we work with are owned by BIPOC business owners. Almost two-thirds are women-owned businesses, and over 40 percent of the businesses we work with are in low to moderate-income communities.

It's an incredibly diverse group of entrepreneurs that we get to work with. Every single one of them has these incredible, inspiring stories that just get us fired up every single day to come to work and know that we're playing this tiny little piece in their growth journey. That's how we want our investors to feel.

For every single offering, we help coordinate a professional video shoot to help the entrepreneurs tell their stories. It's almost a little mini shark tank where you can come to the Honeycomb site and hear these stories. 

You can dig in and understand the health of the business, too. Of course, that's important. But then you get to decide which of these businesses you want to put your own hard-earned money into and see that money go to work in your community.

With my skepticism of community investing’s social impact long retired, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to invest in Honeycomb Credit’s loans. I made my first loan about 18 months ago, and every payment has been made on schedule, as promised. The business, a local restaurant, is thriving.

George has built Honeycomb Credit utilizing his superpower, an ability to use both data and a human connection in decision-making. For the sake of brevity, let’s call it analytical empathy.

AI Episode Summary

1. Devin Thorpe introduces his guest, George Cook, the founder and CEO of Honeycomb Credit, one of the leading crowdfunding portals focused on small businesses.

2. George Cook shares that Honeycomb Credit has grown from raising $1 million to being on its way to raising $25 million across its platform.

3. The platform enables small businesses to raise capital from customers, fans, community members, and internet supporters who are interested in aiding small businesses in their growth journey.

4. Honeycomb Credit has funded various businesses, including puzzle companies, ice cream shops, coffee shops, and microbreweries, helping them to purchase new equipment, launch product lines, or open additional locations.

5. The platform returns on investments can be compelling, offering a way for people to build a portfolio of loans with significant yields while also strengthening community ties as businesses repay their local supporters.

6. George discusses his background in banking and credit analytics and the need he saw for small businesses that were being left behind by traditional lending as industries evolved.

7. He shares the story of how he and his business school classmate co-founded Honeycomb Credit after his classmate, a former investment banker, had difficulties obtaining an SBA loan.

8. Honeycomb Credit focuses on empowering small businesses to raise capital from those who believe in them and know them, reinvigorating a sense of community lending.

9. George emphasizes the diversity of business owners who use Honeycomb, including women, BIPOC entrepreneurs, veteran-owned businesses, and businesses in low to moderate-income communities.

10. The company conducts thorough due diligence on all businesses seeking to raise money, including financial reviews, background checks, and credit reports, but also considers the businesses' community connections and customer relationships.

If you think more people should invest in their local community, please share this post.

How to Develop Analytical Empathy As a Superpower

George expanded on how he thinks about his analytical empathy superpower.

As a society, we talk so much these days about big data, machine learning and artificial intelligence and how that's changing everything. We forget the human connectivity. We sometimes think the world is all data. We forget that qualitative data can be just as important. An algorithm can't answer all your questions because so much of what we experience in the world isn't just a clean number. 

Is the baget at the bakery–does it taste good? That's a hard thing to put into an algorithm to get a good result. So, being able to have an empathetic human connection while at the same time understanding and being able to leverage the power of data–if you can put those things together, the sky is the limit.

George uses his analytical empathy on every offering. Not only does the team crunch the numbers, but they also dive into the story to better understand what makes the entrepreneur and the business tick. They recognize that the numbers aren’t the only thing that matters.

He offers a profound starting point for developing greater analytical empathy. We’ve got to do away with the idea that we have to agree fundamentally with people to respect them. “At the human level,” we can “respect and appreciate” people even if we disagree.

Ultimately, George brought the conversation back to the impact of small business lending and community capital. He challenges us to remember that “nobody fights about ice cream.”

By following George’s advice and example, you can develop analytical empathy as a skill. With practice, you can make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.

Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!

Guest Profile

George Cook (he/him):

Co-Founder & CEO, Honeycomb Credit

About Honeycomb Credit: Honeycomb is a community capital platform where independently owned small businesses can borrow expansion loans from their own customers, fans, and community members.  With Honeycomb, beloved local businesses are unlocking fair capital while building community wealth in the neighborhoods they serve.

Website: www.honeycombcr…

I’m not a financial advisor; nothing I write in Superpowers for Good should be considered investment advice. You should seek appropriate counsel before making investment decisions.

Remember, you can watch the Superpowers for Good show on e360tv. To watch the episode, download the #e360tv channel app to your streaming device–Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV–or your mobile device. You can even watch it on the web or YouTube.

When you purchase an item, launch a crowdfunding campaign or invest after clicking a link here, we may earn a commission. It’s an easy way to support our work.

Devin: Laura, what do you see as your superpower?

Laura: I'm very friendly, I'm outgoing, and I like to get to know people.

Devin: Zach, what do you see as your superpower?

Zach: I will be the first to admit I don't have the charisma of Laura. I'm constantly thinking about food and flavors and combos and what's going to go good together.

Laura Harris and Zach Meier and building a healthy vegan protein bar company in Colorado. This enables them to take advantage of Colorado’s intrastate exemption from securities rules for IPOs to raise capital from the local crowd exclusively.

The company has three flavors on the market:

* Blueberry Coconut

* Salted Chocolate Cherry

* Peanut Butter Banana

The last one was a challenge for Zach, the chef who develops the bars. “A funny story with the peanut butter banana. I am deathly allergic to bananas,” he says. “So creating that recipe for the peanut butter banana bar was a bit of a task. It was a lot of whipping up some ingredients, putting them together, having people taste them, getting their honest feedback, and then just, like, doing it again.”

Laura shares how she came up with the idea:

Having worked in the service industry for most of my adult life, you never get a break. Protein bars became a staple of my diet. I always had one on my server apron if I was serving or on top of the register if I was bartending. 

Back in 2018 summer, I was bartending a lunch shift, took a bite of another competitor's bar and thought, man, I wish this thing was packed with spinach. I would love for it to not contain any artificial flavors and no refined or added sugar.

I thought about it for a few minutes and did some searching on Google and Amazon, and there was nothing like it. So, six months later, I enlisted the help of Zach. 

Zach is passionate about making great products. “Creating these recipes was a lot of fun, just with the ideology of super minimal ingredients. Everything is clean, everything all-natural, you know, not using any chemicals or preservatives, or added sugars because I always like to say that real foods taste the best.”

Investing in the company is an opportunity to have impact in several ways. The company founder is an LGBTQ woman, ticking two impact boxes for investors with goals to support diverse founders. The products are vegan, which could have climate and animal welfare benefits. The bars are healthy, potentially helping people to live longer, healthier lives. That’s a lot of impact!

The company is raising via CrowdSprout.co under state crowdfunding laws, limiting investors to that state.

AI Episode Summary

1. Devin Thorpe hosts Laura Harris and Zach Meier on the Superpowers for Good show to discuss their company, Greens Gone Wild.

2. Laura started Greens Gone Wild to create snack bars packed with spinach and no added sugars or unnatural flavors.

3. The company offers three products: Almond Butter with Blueberry and Coconut, Salted Chocolate Cherry, and Peanut Butter Banana bars.

4. They are crowdfunding on Crowdsprout.co, a Colorado-exclusive platform where locals can invest and receive equity and bars and contribute to a charity.

5. Laura's future plan involves living a van life to promote the product across Colorado; Zach will handle backend operations.

6. Laura's superpower is her ability to genuinely connect with people and her passion for real food ingredients.

7. Zach's superpower lies in his culinary skills, particularly in creating exciting flavor profiles with clean, natural ingredients.

8. Both find using their skills to contribute to the well-being and diets of their customers and their communities rewarding.

9. Laura encourages listeners to visit their website to purchase products and consider investing in the growth of the company.

10. The co-founders' dedication to providing healthy and tasty snack options is underscored by their interaction with customers and commitment to quality ingredients.

Want to invest but live outside Colorado, share this with friends in the state.

How to Develop Interpersonal Skills As a Superpower

Laura says that her ability to relate well with people is a critical part of her success in business. She honed her ability to care for and about people after her father had a stroke.

The biggest time where I really was able to give a lot of myself to someone else was when I took care of my dad. He had a right-side ischemic stroke and was on the floor for three days before anybody found him. So, he was not doing great when our neighbor found him. 

So, I moved from Minneapolis back to my home state of Virginia to help him and just see him through this healing journey post-stroke. There were so many challenges that he faced. I always made sure I showed up for him every day and did anything that he needed me to do and help out in all the ways that were best for him, to give him love and support and make sure he had a good last five years of life.

Laura says the first thing to do to strengthen interpersonal skills is to listen. “When you ask someone questions, be genuine. Pause. Let them finish. That'll be lesson number one.”

“Show love,” she says of a second aspect of developing interpersonal skills. “If someone needs help, help them do it out of the goodness of your heart. And, uh, not just to try to gain something.”

By following Laura’s example and advice, you can strengthen your interpersonal skills. With practice, you can make them a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.

Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!

How to Develop Culinary Skills As a Superpower

Zach shares the story of how he uses his culinary superpower:

I grew up kind of in the middle of nowhere, Wyoming. Not kind of, like in the middle of nowhere, Wyoming. It was a food desert up there. 

Being from just such a small kind of reclusive community, people aren't necessarily open to trying new foods. The idea of veganism up there, or like, health foods, is still a poked fun at subject. 

I've been able to, when I go home when I visit family, bring some food culture back to them, to maybe open their eyes a little bit more. Just because it says vegan, just because it says spinach, just because it says protein bar, doesn't necessarily mean that it’s going to be gross.

It's this ideology of, like, oh, spinach is gross. Spinach is a relatively flavorless ingredient. Adding the combination of its fruit, its vegetables–just because it’s vegan, it’s not bad. It's not scary.

His advice to people is to “Just eat it” when you are presented with a new food to try!

By following his example and advice, you can strengthen your culinary skills. With practice, you could make them a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.

Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!

Guest Profile

Laura Harris (she/her):

Founder & CEO, Greens Gone Wild

About Greens Gone Wild: Welcome to Greens Gone Wild! The CPG industry's only non-GMO, vegan, spinach-packed protein bar loaded with a full serving of spinach. Our bars are gluten and soy-free. Plus, there's no added sugars, fillers, or preservatives. We believe in a genuinely healthy bar with ingredients we know, like, and trust. In our bars, you'll find nut or seed butter, dates, un…

I’m not a financial advisor; nothing I write in Superpowers for Good should be considered investment advice. You should seek appropriate counsel before making investment decisions.

Remember, you can watch the Superpowers for Good show on e360tv. To watch the episode, download the #e360tv channel app to your streaming device–Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV–or your mobile device. You can even watch it on the web or YouTube.

When you purchase an item, launch a crowdfunding campaign or invest after clicking a link here, we may earn a commission. It’s an easy way to support our work.

Devin: What do you see as your superpower?

Vicky: I believe my relentlessness or tenacity, determination, whatever you want to say that is, has been a real driver in my life–always.

“The Humane League works to end the abuse of animals raised for food,” says the nonprofit’s president, Vicky Bond. “We're working to end cages for laying hens worldwide through our work with the Open Wing Alliance.”

Always an animal lover, Vicky trained as a veterinarian. She shares her experience:

While training to be a vet, I witnessed factory farms for the first time. I got to see how these animals suffered day in and day out in these systems. As a veterinarian, you would go on a farm and treat the individual animal. 

You may give bulk antibiotics for the animals, but you weren't treating the fundamental issue: these systems are wrong. Animals should not be in them, and being in them causes them a lot of suffering. 

So, while doing my veterinary degree, I went and did a master's of environment, development and policy and learned about the impact of policy work of that institutional change that you can make and how much you can scale up impact.

So, when I left that school–I did work as a vet for a while–but I also got involved in more activist-led things, in policy change and ended up being able to work what I do now, which is to create change for farm animals on a large scale, impacting hundreds of millions of animals versus what I could have done as a veterinarian, which would have probably been much smaller on the individual level of animals.

The work is staggering. In the US alone, producers are raising about 1.5 billion chickens, including broiler and laying hens. About 9 billion are raised annually in this country alone–broiler chickens are slaughtered after just six weeks.

Vicky describes what she’s seen firsthand:

I've been on these on these farms. You walk into a very large shed, and all you can hear is the clanging noises of the birds' beaks and feet on the metal because that's their entire life. They spend their life in this metal cage, four or five of them–not even enough space to spread their wings. They will be fed, given water, and that's all they get. They never get to see sunlight. They never get to spread their wings. They often end up pecking at each other through sheer boredom. They end up with broken bones. All in the name of cheap eggs.

“When we talk about the world, we're talking about over 70 billion land animals raised and slaughtered every year for food,” Vicky says. It's not sustainable. The cruelty is not sustainable. The food system itself–we need to move to more plant-based options to remove some of the eggs, dairy, and meats from our diets so that we can have a sustainable food system.”

She is emphatic that animal suffering needn’t be a part of our food supply. “It is perfectly plausible for us to have farming systems that are higher welfare and that move away from these intensive practices that see animals stacked on top of each other, beak to beak,” she says.

“We want a day when animals aren't abused for food,” Vicky continues. “We want to see that through incremental change, like ending cages, like ending farrowing crates, which is where mama pigs are put while they're pregnant–and they can't even turn around.”

The Humane League is making progress. “We started this work over a decade ago now,” she says. “At the time in the US, 5 percent of birds were cage-free here for laying hens; we're now at 14 percent. So, we're seeing an impact of 130-plus million birds every year.”

Throughout her career, she has used and strengthened her tenacity, making it a superpower.

AI Episode Summary

1. The Humane League, led by President Vicky Bond, aims to end the abuse of animals raised for food, predominantly by working with food companies to improve farm animal welfare in their supply chains.

2. They also focus on policy and legislative changes, advocate for individual diet changes, and aim to end the use of battery cages for laying hens through collaborative global efforts with the Open Wing Alliance.

3. The Humane League engages in peaceful protests to raise public awareness and hold companies accountable for farm animal welfare, especially in regard to ending the confinement of laying hens in cages.

4. Vicky Bond described the poor conditions of caged hens, emphasizing the lack of space and natural behaviors, highlighting the broken bones and the lack of access to sunlight, which leads to suffering—all for the production of cheap eggs.

5. Vicky argues for a sustainable food system that doesn't include farm animal cruelty, stating that higher welfare farming systems are possible and that we should shift towards plant-based options to maintain sustainability.

6. Incremental changes advocated by The Humane League have led to significant welfare improvements, citing that the percentage of cage-free hens has increased from 5 to 14 percent in the US, thereby affecting the lives of over 130 million birds annually.

7. Vicky Bond transitioned from veterinary practice to animal welfare advocacy after witnessing the suffering of animals on factory farms, realizing she could have a broader impact on animal welfare through policy change and activism rather than individual veterinary care.

8. Actions that individuals can take to support the Humane League include volunteering, taking digital action through Fast Action Network, raising awareness on social media, donating, and making informed purchase decisions based on welfare-conscious product labeling.

9. Vicky encourages a gradual approach to changing dietary habits towards plant-based options, acknowledging that swift changes can be difficult and recommending gradual steps like "Meatless Mondays" or substituting one meal a day with a plant-based alternative.

10. Finally, Vicky shared her superpower of tenacity, recounting her refusal to back down against industry leaders, such as a rabbit farm donor, ultimately influencing him to consider cage-free options, highlighting the importance of staying persistent to achieve goals.

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How to Develop Tenacity As a Superpower

Vicky shared a story that illustrates her tenacity:

A number of years ago now, I was working on rabbit farming. So rabbit farming–we don't hear of it that much, but it's the second most farmed species in Europe. 

I was working across Europe. I was at a conference and trying to push to end cages for rabbits as well because they're predominantly in battery cages in Europe. 

We're at the conference, and I didn't know at the time, but he was the largest owner of all the systems, basically, in Austria, Germany and other places. After the conference, he came up to me and said, “Well, it's nice to meet you, but what would you know about rabbit farming? This is unrealistic, and I can show you why it's good to keep them in cages.”

In that moment, I just didn't stand for it. I was very much like, “Well, the science is this. I disagree strongly on this. I've got systems. I've seen systems that work that are not in cages. It is doable. This is very much a profit-driven mentality.”

He was pretty upset and left. 

Then, the next day, he came up to me and was like, “I was thinking about what you said. I do think we should potentially–this does sound like this might be the future for rabbit farming. I want to understand more. Here's my card. Can we have a conversation?”

So, in those moments,…