The Wealth We Build

Center for Community Wealth
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Society & Culture

The old economy is broken, and a new one isn't going to build itself. If we want an economy that actually works for all, we have to BUILD it. Welcome to your weekly blueprint for economic liberation. Produced by the Center for Community Wealth (CCW), this podcast spotlights the fearless people, high-stakes projects, and bold ideas reshaping what’s possible for Metro Denver and beyond. We’re dismantling the old system and building a resilient, self-determined future from the ground up. Each week, we dive into one of four pillars fostering real community wealth: cooperatives, small businesses, anchor institutions, and community real estate. No gatekeepers, no trickle-down myths, just raw, inspiring conversations with the entrepreneurs, worker-owners, and thought leaders who are actively creating economic justice with solidarity, sovereignty and joy. Stop waiting for the system to change. Tune in and learn how we're building it. Join us!

Episodes

  1. 2d ago

    The Price of Fairness: A Candid Conversation about Local Purchasing

    Send us Fan Mail A catering quote is never just a number. It is labor, culture, logistics, licensing, insurance, gas, packaging, and the thin margin that keeps a small business alive long enough to hire, train, and grow.  We sit down with Denver food entrepreneurs Johnitta Medina of Momma Jahs Catering, Silvia Hernandez of La Catrina Grill and Silvia’s Kitchen, and Adrian Anderson and Veronica Sare of Meets and Sweets, alongside Jervis DeCicco from Center for Community Wealth, to talk plainly about what local purchasing really takes and why it matters for closing the racial wealth gap. We start with the local multiplier effect and the bigger promise behind local procurement: dollars spent with locally owned businesses tend to circulate locally through wages, vendors, and reinvestment. Then we zoom out to anchor institutions like city and state agencies, universities, hospitals, and infrastructure providers, and why their purchasing power can either reinforce the status quo or actively build community wealth. If an organization benefits from local taxpayers and local talent, what should it owe the local economy in return? From there, we get specific about the friction points institutional buyers often miss: being asked to cut prices after doing the work of building a proposal, being compared to chain pricing, being expected to deliver the same scope for far less, and dealing with slow payment that small businesses simply cannot float. We share practical ways buyers can do better right now: communicate your budget upfront, ask what fits it, right-size the order, respect professional costs, and pay on time. If you care about ethical purchasing, supplier diversity, local economic development, and community wealth building, hit play. Subscribe, share this conversation with a decision-maker, and leave a review with the biggest procurement change you want to see.

    The Price of Fairness: A Candid Conversation about Local Purchasing

  2. Sep 22

    The Racial Wealth Gap: A Conversation with Professor Richard Mansfield

    Send us Fan Mail A single statistic can change how you see the economy: the median racial wealth gap sits around 10 to 1. We sit down with Professor Richard Mansfield, a labor economist at the University of Colorado Boulder and an affiliated scholar with the National Bureau of Economic Research, to unpack what the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances says about wealth inequality and why the gap can widen even during periods when net worth rises. We walk through the difference between average wealth and median net worth, and why the “typical” household tells a harsher story than the headline averages. From there, we dig into what sits inside those balance sheets: Black families who have wealth are more likely to hold it in home equity, while many wealthy white families hold more in stocks and other financial assets. When stock returns beat housing appreciation, inequality grows. And when wealth is locked up in a home, it does not act like cash, which helps explain why so many households lack liquid savings to cover even a short emergency. The conversation then moves upstream to the labor market and the systems that shape opportunity. We talk about barriers to early skill building, hiring discrimination shown in audit studies, and why big shocks like trade competition can hit workers at the bottom of the job ladder hardest. Finally, we explore what it could take to move from divergence to convergence again: government jobs where markets fail to provide essential services, stronger social supports, and tax policy that keeps up with an economy where more income flows to owners and capital gains. We close by looking ahead at AI and automation, including both displacement risks and the possibility that new tools lower startup costs for entrepreneurs. If you care about closing the racial wealth gap, building community wealth, and understanding the real mechanics behind inequality, listen now, share this with a friend, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.

    The Racial Wealth Gap: A Conversation with Professor Richard Mansfield

  3. Sep 1

    Community-Owned Real Estate 101

    Send us Fan Mail Your favorite neighborhood spots can disappear quietly: the corner cafe priced out, the cultural hub replaced, the long-time storefront turned into someone else’s investment. In this episode, Yessica Holguin sits down with Paul Bindel from Center for Community Wealth to talk about a different path: community-owned and benefiting real estate that keeps land and buildings in local hands so the value stays where it’s created. We get practical about what community ownership actually means and why it’s more than a slogan. Paul breaks down the real toolkit behind democratic real estate ownership, including commercial co-ops, community land trusts, mobile home park ownership, and purpose trust models that can take properties off the speculative market. We also dig into Center for Community Wealth’s strategy across four levels: small-dollar community investing, building-by-building preservation and rehab, corridor-based partnerships across Metro Denver, and national networks focused on policy, narrative, and financing that can scale what works. Then we face the hard truths: commercial real estate costs a lot to buy and maintain, and most small businesses can’t put 25% down. We talk about values-aligned capital and “social return on investment” partners like donor-advised fund holders and anchor institutions, plus accessible paths for everyday, unaccredited investors through regulation crowdfunding, 506(b) structures, and real estate investment co-ops. If you care about preserving places like Five Points, Little Saigon, or East Colfax and keeping Denver’s culture and small businesses alive, this conversation lays out the stakes and the options. Subscribe for more stories and strategies to close the racial wealth gap, share this episode with someone who loves their neighborhood, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

    Community-Owned Real Estate 101

  4. Aug 18

    Microloans and Microfinancing in Action

    Send us Fan Mail Character-based lending buildings community wealth in Colorado! A $500 loan can be the difference between “someday” and “I made my first sale.” That’s not hype, it’s how real businesses start when you don’t have savings, a wealthy network, or a bank willing to take you seriously.  On this episode, we’re joined by Jessica Sveen, CEO of Rocky Mountain Microfinance Institute (RMMFI), to unpack how micro-entrepreneurship builds community wealth across Colorado and why character-based lending works when traditional small business financing shuts people out. We talk about what micro-entrepreneurs actually look like (often working 1 to 3 jobs), the barriers that hit entrepreneurs of color, women entrepreneurs, rural founders, and formerly incarcerated business owners, and why pairing technical assistance with capital is the point, not an add-on.  Jessica breaks down RMMFI’s approach as a CDFI (community development financial institution): small dollar microloans from $500 to $75,000 at a 5% interest rate, mentorship and practical business coaching, flexible terms when life happens, and a focus on slow growth that funds what helps you earn revenue tomorrow. We also dig into what trust changes, including a 94% repayment rate, plus how long-term tracking and “ownership” become a real theory of change for economic mobility and closing the racial wealth gap.  We wrap with ways to plug into the Colorado entrepreneurship ecosystem, including how to find support, volunteer as a mentor, and spend dollars locally through tools like Shop BIPOC. If this conversation reshaped how you think about capital and opportunity, subscribe, share this with someone building a business, and leave a review so more people can find it.  Connect with Us:  https://www.communitywealth.org/ https://www.facebook.com/ccwdenver https://www.instagram.com/ccwdenver/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/73512203/admin/dashboard/

    Microloans and Microfinancing in Action

  5. Aug 4

    Anchored in Community: How Local Institutions Can Close the Wealth Gap

    Send us Fan Mail In an economy where many feel they’re trading their well-being just to get by, how do we build systems that actually generate lasting, collective prosperity? In this episode of The Wealth We Build, host Yessica Holguin is joined by Jervis DiCiccio to explore the untapped potential of anchor institutions: the hospitals, universities, and government entities rooted permanently in Metro Denver. Jervis breaks down why shifting the massive economic engines of these "eds and meds" through local procurement and impact investing isn’t just altruism, it’s a win-win strategy for building resilient supply chains, strengthening local businesses, and shifting ownership back into the community. From the hurdles of complex RFP processes to visionary models like converting security firms into worker-owned cooperatives, this conversation provides a practical roadmap for closing the racial wealth gap from the ground up. Key Topics Covered: Defining community wealth: common interest, abundance, and fair distributionWhat makes an institution an "anchor" (and why sports teams and airports count)Overcoming procurement barriers for historically underutilized local businessesLessons from Washington DC’s Anchor Partnership on local supply chain resilienceTurning institutional capital into local cooperative ownershipConnect with Us:  https://www.communitywealth.org/ https://www.instagram.com/ccwdenver/ https://www.facebook.com/ccwdenver https://www.linkedin.com/company/ccwb Produced by the Center for Community Wealth. Recorded at Denver Community Media.

    Anchored in Community: How Local Institutions Can Close the Wealth Gap

  6. Jul 23

    Coop 101: Redefining Business Ownership

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Wealth We Build, host Yessica Holguin is joined by Michaela Holmes and Joel Newton from the Center for Community Wealth to explore how worker-owned cooperatives are transforming economies, fostering dignity, and closing the wealth gap. Discover what worker cooperatives are, how they empower employees through shared decision-making and profit-sharing, and why Colorado is quickly becoming a national hub for cooperative enterprise. From incubators and back-office technical assistance to transitioning traditional businesses into worker-owned models, learn how shared ownership is building long-term community wealth. TOPICS DISCUSSED *What is Community Wealth? *What is a Worker Cooperative? (Shared Power & Profits) *What Types of Businesses Make Ideal Cooperatives? *How Employee Agency & Ownership Drives Innovation *The Worker-Owned Cooperative Academy: How CCW Helps Startups *Technical Assistance & Back-Office Boost for Existing Co-ops *Colorado's Co-op Peer Network: Stronger Together *Business Conversions: Retiring Owners & Employee Ownership *Overcoming Barriers & Mindsets Around Co-op Ownership *Why Colorado is the "Delaware of Cooperative Law" *4 Ways You Can Support the Cooperative Ecosystem Today KEY TAKEAWAYS & WAYS TO GET INVOLVED Educate & Spread the Word: Share the power of shared ownership with neighbors and fellow business owners. Convert a Business: Explore worker ownership as an exit strategy to keep local business legacies alive. Shop Co-ops: Support immigrant-led and local worker cooperatives directly in your community (ranging from home cleaning to maternal wellness). https://www.communitywealth.org/get-involved/buy-local/shop-co-op CONNECT WITH CENTER FOR COMMUNITY WEALTH Website: https://www.communitywealth.org/ Shop Co-op Directory: https://www.communitywealth.org/get-involved/buy-local/shop-co-op Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ccwdenver/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ccwdenver LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ccwb EPISODE CREDITS Produced by: Center for Community Wealth Host: Yessica Holguin Featured Guests: Michaela Holmes & Joel Newton Director, Producer & Editor: Julie Jackson Crew Support: Jameson Johnson & Tara DeCluette Music & Graphics: Motion Array , Theme Song: "Playa Trip" by Diego Martinez Special Thanks: Patrick Jackson, Elena Vasconez & CCW Board of Directors Recorded at: Denver Community Media

    Coop 101: Redefining Business Ownership

  7. Jul 7

    The "Local First' Blueprint" Scaling Your Small Business with Kimberly Bonner

    Send us Fan Mail According to 2024 census data, minority-owned businesses represent approximately 22.6% of US employers, totaling around 1.3 million businesses. Yet, traditional economic development often prioritizes attracting massive multinational corporations over supporting the homegrown entrepreneurs who keep our communities alive. In this episode of The Wealth We Build, host Yessica Holguin is joined by Kimberly Bonner from the Center for Community Wealth (CCW) to discuss why a "local-first" approach is the real key to closing the racial wealth gap. Kimberly pulls back the curtain on how CCW is serving as a bridge to help micro-businesses overcome the "moat" of institutional procurement. We dive deep into the incredibly successful "Feeding Anchors" catering program, a brand-new "BEST" cohort for skilled trades, and the raw, unglamorized realities of entrepreneurship today, including inflation, skyrocketing rents, and the often-overlooked mental health struggles of small business owners. In this episode, you’ll learn: The "Local-First" Approach: Why hyper-local investing beats corporate attraction every time.Cracking the Institutional Code: How small catering and skilled trade businesses can land lucrative contracts with universities, hospitals, and government agencies.The Entrepreneurial Reality Check: Kimberly’s top two pieces of advice for anyone looking to start a business (and why passion isn't enough).The Power of Interconnectedness: Moving away from the myth of hyper-individualism to survive economic volatility.A 20-Year Vision for Denver: What true democratization and systems change look like for local economies.Are you a local caterer or a skilled trade business with fewer than 10 employees in the Denver metro area? CCW is launching its next BEST cohort in Fall 2026!  https://www.communitywealth.org/programs/small-business/apply-to-best  Connect with the Center for Community Wealth: Website: https://www.communitywealth.org/Instagram & Facebook: @CCWDenverLinkedIn: Center for Community WealthDon't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode! Help us uplift the voices building the wealth our communities deserve.

    The "Local First' Blueprint" Scaling Your Small Business with Kimberly Bonner

  8. Jun 23

    Center For Community Wealth's Origin Story

    Send us Fan Mail The Roots of Collective Action: A History of Community Wealth Building Description: What does it mean to build an economy rooted in dignity, community ownership, and respect? In the inaugural episode of The Wealth We Build, host Yessica Holguin is joined by community champions Michelle Sturm, Patrick Horvath, and Michael Miera to track the grassroots history of the community wealth building movement in metro Denver. From a fateful 2013 delegation trip to study the Evergreen Cooperatives in Cleveland, to an early Denver symposium that almost got the organizers arrested, the guests pull back the curtain on how a passionate, all-volunteer network rejected top-down consultant models to build a self-determined economic ecosystem from the ground up. Tune in to discover how changing the way anchor institutions, cities, and local entrepreneurs collaborate can successfully rewrite an unfair system, dismantle the myth of the "self-made" individual, and pave a path of "most resistance" to achieve true economic justice. In this episode, you’ll hear about: The core differences between traditional economic development and collective economics.The 12-year history tracking from the early volunteer days of the Community Wealth Building Network to the founding of the Center for Community Wealth.How major healthcare and higher education institutions realized they couldn't "clinic their way out" of local poverty.Yessica’s personal journey from community organizing in Nicaragua back to a rapidly gentrifying Denver.The intentionality required to design wealth-building structures that include, rather than exclude, communities of color and micro-businesses.The core pillars of CCW's work

    Center For Community Wealth's Origin Story
  • 8 Episodes

About

The old economy is broken, and a new one isn't going to build itself. If we want an economy that actually works for all, we have to BUILD it. Welcome to your weekly blueprint for economic liberation. Produced by the Center for Community Wealth (CCW), this podcast spotlights the fearless people, high-stakes projects, and bold ideas reshaping what’s possible for Metro Denver and beyond. We’re dismantling the old system and building a resilient, self-determined future from the ground up. Each week, we dive into one of four pillars fostering real community wealth: cooperatives, small businesses, anchor institutions, and community real estate. No gatekeepers, no trickle-down myths, just raw, inspiring conversations with the entrepreneurs, worker-owners, and thought leaders who are actively creating economic justice with solidarity, sovereignty and joy. Stop waiting for the system to change. Tune in and learn how we're building it. Join us!

Information

  • Creator
    Center for Community Wealth
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Wealth We Build
  • Show Website
    The Wealth We Build