Two former colleagues with desires to invest in real estate and aspirations to become operators reflect on their start, obstacles they overcame, and their view on the future of real estate and technology.

For more than four decades, the non-profit organization The Neighborhood Developers (TND) has been helping strengthen communities north of Boston. Serving the cities of Chelsea, Revere and Everett, Massachusetts, TND has helped residents secure stable homes, achieve economic mobility and determine their own future in the community. We spoke with TND Executive Director Rafael Mares to learn about their plans to create innovative housing and wellness services for seniors in Everett, Massachusetts.

The empowerment of Los Angeles residents with developmental disabilities has been The Adult Skills Center (TASC) mission for over three decades. During the past 15 months, the COVID-19 pandemic put that mission to the test. We chatted with TASC Development & Communications Director Christie Hight to hear about the organization’s recent successes and challenges. With innovative new programs and the help of TASC supporters and employees, the organization is now poised to offer more personalized services than ever.

This former CPA with an obsession for entrepreneurship has navigated launching businesses, breaking out on her own, and enjoys sharing the lessons she has learned along the way.

With COVID-19 impacting the health and financial wellbeing of many Boston residents, organizations like Urban Edge have developed innovative approaches to support the community. We spoke with Urban Edge CEO Emilio Dorcely to hear about the progression of Boston-area projects, the relationship with Boston Private and the unique obstacles addressed during the last year.

Sunnyvale Community Services prevents homelessness and hunger in Silicon Valley’s second-largest city by providing financial aid, food, and other assistance. We sat down with Marie Bernard, Executive Director, to discuss what drives her work to innovate and measure what works to help low-income persons stabilize and move to health and prosperity.

Raising capital can be chaotic, emotional and inefficient to most, especially those with less contact with private markets. We sat down with Jason Frishman, Founder and CEO of Netcapital, to learn how he’s helping startup companies.

The Covid-19 pandemic has been challenging for many small businesses, including restaurants. We spoke with Cliff & Toni Dever, owners of Warehouse Bar & Grille in Boston, to learn how they are continuing to operate while keeping employees and diners safe.

Record unemployment and other economic challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have made it even more difficult for many Americans to make ends meet. We spoke with Marcia Contreras, Deputy Executive Director of Mission Housing, to learn how her team is helping to support their residents through unprecedented times.

Building stronger neighborhoods is a challenge in the best of times; even more so during a pandemic. We reached Perry Newman of Dorchester Bay EDC to learn how the organization is serving the immediate needs of its residents and continuing its work to build more vibrant and resilient neighborhoods.