Programs

Colleen Brown was born and raised in Michigan. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in Computer Networking. She started her career in technical support and field repairs of both telephony and data networks. She also stepped up to be involved in the local government of the small town she lived in. She took a break from the corporate world to stay home with her daughter. When she was ready to go back to the corporate world, her knowledge of networking was outdated. By then, she was serving as the mayor of their small town. She and her husband took an opportunity to be partners in a catering and event services company, which Colleen has been managing since 2018 alongside her duties as Mayor of their small town. As mayor, Colleen learned of the housing crisis in Michigan. She participated in multiple training courses to learn about the development process in hopes of learning how to attract developers to her small town. In 2023, she partnered with Martha Brown to create AJ Brown Development. The goal of AJ Brown Development is to provide affordable and attainable workforce housing in the Saginaw area with a focus on redevelopment and adaptive reuse of existing structures that are not currently being used. That same year, they worked together to put in a proposal for the redevelopment of a long-empty apartment building in Saginaw. Even though they were not ultimately chosen for the project, it confirmed that they wanted to pursue this work in the future. In 2024, Colleen was not reelected and has turned her focus to the development company. Together with Martha, they are now working on rehabilitating the long-unused residential portion of a building in Saginaw.

Daisha Martin is an emerging real estate developer with over a decade of experience in acquisition, development, and asset management, focused on delivering high-quality, affordable housing in Detroit. Prior to founding Black Elite Capital Investments, she worked in development and asset management at global private equity firm Tishman Speyer, where she managed a $750 million commercial real estate portfolio in the Bay

Area. In this role, she led more than 25 tenant improvement projects across institutional office assets, overseeing multidisciplinary teams of architects, engineers, contractors, and brokers from budgeting and design through construction, lease-up, and stabilization. Her work supported over $5 million in capital improvement projects that expanded amenity offerings, strengthened tenant retention, and enhanced long-term asset value. After returning to Michigan, Daisha managed and repositioned her family’s real estate portfolio across Southeast Michigan, growing its value by more than 30% to over $1million within three years. In 2023, Black Elite Capital Investments successfully completed the gut renovation and lease-up of a vacant Detroit duplex using a $150,000 development budget financed through private capital and developer equity. Both units were leased to households earning approximately 60% AMI and the stabilized property was sold in 2024. Building on this success, the firm acquired and rehabilitated a second Detroit duplex in 2024 with a $168,000 development budget, achieving full lease-up in spring 2025 to Detroit residents seeking affordable, high-quality housing. In addition to her development work, Daisha serves as Manager of Technical Assistance at Building Community Value (BCV), where she teaches real estate development alongside Chase Cantrell. She leads trainings in financial modeling, underwriting, cash

flow analysis, and development fundamentals, helping Detroit residents, small-scale developers, and nonprofits learn how to structure deals and access capital. Over the past five years, she has supported more than 300 Detroiters in building the technical skills and confidence needed to participate meaningfully in the city’s real estate market. Daisha holds a master’s degree in urban planning and real estate development from

Harvard University, where she studied urban transformation across Southeast Asia. Her work there examined how intentional development strategies and public-private partnerships transformed underutilized land into modern, people-centered cities. That lens informs her work today at Black Elite Capital Investments, where she is committed to reimagining Detroit’s neighborhoods as modern, energy-efficient, and inclusive living

environments—positioning the city’s vacant land and aging structures as anchors for its next chapter of growth.

Deba Harper is a Detroit-based social impact real estate developer, systems strategist, and Founder & CEO of CHAMP Nation Organization. She is leading CHAMP Life Bridge, a resilient, community-centered development designed to catalyze neighborhood revitalization through housing stability and workforce development in emerging technologies. Anchored in Detroit’s Hope Village, CHAMP Life Bridge integrates affordable and supportive housing with workforce pathways that prepare residents for careers in high-growth sectors, strengthening household income while contributing to long-term neighborhood and market stability. The project operates as a community benefit economic sustainability model, intentionally aligning real estate development with resident economic mobility, environmental responsibility, and durable neighborhood value creation. Deba is a “Systems Shifter,” bringing a systems-driven approach to development that centers people as much as property. By aligning practical resources, technology, and cross-sector collaboration, she transforms underutilized assets into sustainable, future-ready neighborhoods where residents can thrive alongside growing markets.She currently serves under Mayor-Elect Mary Sheffield’s historic leadership on the Rise Higher Detroit Transition Policy and 100-Day Planning Team as a member of the Economic Development, Workforce Development & Small Business Committee. Deba is a founding member of the Real Estate Association of Developers (READ), serving on its Developers Leadership Council, and an Inaugural 2018 Alum of the Capital Impact Partners Equitable Developers Initiative. She is also a 2025 Alum of the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women in Business. Previously, Deba worked four years as a Senior Salesforce Administrator at the Detroit Land Bank Authority, supporting neighborhood stabilization and property reuse through data governance and systems modernization. She currently works as a Salesforce Business Systems Analyst at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, strengthening philanthropic operations and community investment infrastructure. Deba has been a member of the Women’s Sustainable Development Initiative (WSDI) since the clubhouse meetings in 2021. It is an honor to be selected for the 2026 WE Develop cohort, where she can advance her capacity to bring CHAMP Life Bridge to groundbreaking impact. Guided by her intentional principles: “When community works together, property value and people value become two wings, carrying Detroit neighborhoods into sustained market growth and shared prosperity.”

Garnette Archer is a Detroit-based entrepreneur, real estate owner, and second-generation business leader. She is the owner of Jo’s Gallery, a nearly 30-year cultural institution on the historic Livernois Avenue of Fashion, founded by her late mother, JoAnn “Jo” Griffin. In addition to leading a multi-channel creative business, Garnette owns and manages multiple residential and commercial properties in Detroit and is actively expanding her real estate portfolio through redevelopment and community-focused projects.

After nearly 28 years in the automotive industry, Garnette transitioned full-time into entrepreneurship in 2024, combining her experience in operations, finance, and property management to pursue real estate development that supports small businesses, creative spaces, and neighborhood revitalization. Her work centers on building sustainable, people-centered spaces that strengthen Detroit communities.

Jerry Ann Hebron's journey into addressing food insecurity began after an illustrious dual career in real estate and court administration. Her extensive travels unveiled to her the power of food as a universal unifier, transcending cultural and linguistic barriers. However, it was within her own childhood neighborhood in Detroit's North End that she encountered food deserts, areas with limited access to fresh produce. This realization propelled her into a new mission: to combat food insecurity in her hometown.  In 2008, Jerry Ann Hebron took the helm of a nonprofit organization that would become the Oakland Avenue Urban Farm. Under her leadership, the farm has grown into a crucial access point for fresh fruits and vegetables in the North End community. Beyond providing fresh produce, Oakland Avenue Urban Farm offers youth education programs and supplies local chefs and restaurants with farm-fresh ingredients. Hebron's vision of generosity and collective action is driving transformative change in Detroit's North End. 

The Oakland Avenue Urban Farm is now expanding its initiatives to include workforce development, real estate projects, and the Detroit Cultivator Community Land Trust, all aimed at revitalizing this historic neighborhood. Jerry Ann Hebron and her team collaborate with numerous community partners, including the Detroit Food Policy Council, Detroit Community Markets, Keep Growing Detroit, and Michigan State Fair, where she serves as a youth ambassador. She also engages with the 4H Club, the University of Michigan, and co-founded the Detroit Black Farmer Land Fund. Her leadership extends to being a State Director for the Farm Service Agency and a member of the USDA Innovation Agriculture Producers Committee. 

In addition to her role at Oakland Avenue Urban Farm, Jerry Ann Hebron has been the Executive Director of North End Christian Community Development Corporation (North End CDC) since 2008. Her leadership has been instrumental in expanding North End CDC's capacity to meet community needs through education, skilled training, and support aimed at empowering residents. The North End CDC campus now spans six acres, featuring food production, community event spaces, a farmers' market, native plants, fruit trees, perennial flowers, chickens, and local businesses. 

Jerry Ann Hebron's 25 years of experience in Michigan real estate have significantly contributed to the growth and development of these community-based assets. Her commitment to the North End community remains unwavering, making her a permanent fixture and a beacon of hope and progress. Through her various roles and initiatives, Jerry Ann Hebron continues to inspire and drive meaningful change, fostering resilience and sustainability in Detroit's North End. Her work not only addresses immediate food insecurity but also lays the groundwork for long-term community empowerment and revitalization.  

Kathleen “Kat” LaTosch is an emerging real estate developer, transitioning from a three-decade career in nonprofit administration and leadership development to developing an 80-acre property in Northern Michigan that will become the go-to place for individuals and groups looking to reconnect to their purpose so they can be their best selves out in the world. The transition is a natural one.  LaTosch has worked in Southeast Michigan’s nonprofit sector since 1992, serving in a variety of roles from Program Director and Marketing & Communications Director to Chief Administrative Officer.  Her last fifteen years was spent serving as the director of her own diversity, equity and inclusion consulting firm – helping nonprofit organizations across the country create inclusive and equitable workplaces.  

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the move to hybrid work environments, and the increasing reliance on artificial intelligence and virtual workspaces, she saw a need for people to unplug from the noise of the office and reconnect with themselves and each other in a more natural environment. In the fall of 2024, she found the perfect place to do that – outside of a small rural village in Northern Michigan.  There, she and her wife are developing a property to offer small group retreats, solo retreats, leadership and artist sabbaticals, and family and friend events.  LaTosch has a long history of community service, with a focus on serving older adults and the LGBTQ community.  She served two terms on the State of Michigan’s Commission on Services to the Aging and co-founded both SAGE Metro Detroit (Now MiGen) and the Ferndale Inclusion Network which focuses on fostering racial equity.  LaTosch holds a master’s degree in social work from Eastern Michigan University and a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and English from Albion College.  She is a graduate of both Leadership Detroit and New Detroit’s Multicultural Leadership series.  She came to the Detroit area in 1992 and still resides there today with her wife, two children, and two dogs.  In her spare time, she enjoys seeking out the road less traveled, off-roading on trails throughout the state in her trusty Jeep.

Kenyetta M. Campbell is a Philanthropist, Speaker, Developer, Entrepreneur, Owner of The Detroit Smoothie Spot, and CEO of the Cody Rouge Community Action Alliance CDC in District 7 of Detroit, Michigan. With a leadership practice deeply rooted in community organizing, planning, and transformation, Campbell has trained the next vanguard of leadership, built strategic networks, and improved collaborative systems that strengthen families and neighborhoods. For over 30 years, Campbell’s servant leadership has driven initiatives that uplift youth, seniors, and families. She co-shepherded the Cody Rouge College Access Network, Grow Cody Rouge Project, Cody Rouge Youth Council, ProsperUS Entrepreneurship Academy, Keep Cody Rouge Clean and Safe, and Grow Detroit’s Young Talent (GDYT), among others. Her leadership of the Skillman Foundation’s Good Neighborhood Initiative catalyzed a decade of transformative work, including brokering a $400,000 deal to open Don Bosco Hall, a multi-service youth and family development center. Campbell’s impact is measurable: she has helped attract over $200 million in investments to Cody Rouge, advanced digital equity for seniors by raising $750,000, and recently secured a major project to build a 53-unit senior housing development. She has also funded health equity initiatives by supporting grassroots organizations to address hypertension, ensuring health justice is advanced alongside community development. Currently, Campbell is spearheading the development of a permanent Community Impact Hub on West Warren Avenue — a cross-sector facility designed to centralize health and wellness services, digital literacy training, entrepreneurship incubation, workforce development, and resource navigation for residents of all ages. With a capital target of $2.3 million, this project exemplifies her forward-thinking vision to anchor CRCAA’s mission in both physical presence and long-term sustainability. Her work has been recognized through numerous awards, including the Michigan Chronicle’s 2024 StandOut Nonprofit Black Leader, the Ford African Ancestry Network Community Service Award, LISC CDC of the Year, and induction into the Cody High School Hall of Fame. A graduate of Eastern Michigan University (B.S., Criminal Justice) and the University of Phoenix (M.A., Organizational Management), Campbell also pursued nonprofit leadership certification at Harvard and is a proud alum of Leadership Detroit Class XXXII. She has served on numerous boards and advisory councils, from Operation Hope to GreenLight Fund, Trinity Health and reviewed grants for local and national foundations. Her unwavering commitment is fueled by her own lived experience growing up in Cody Rouge. This authenticity grounds her leadership and strengthens her role as a trusted intermediary between residents, partners, and institutions. Widely regarded as a “Trailblazer for Transformation,” Campbell’s legacy as a Philanthropist, Speaker, Developer, Entrepreneur, and Community Champion continues to inspire collaboration and change that will echo across Detroit for generations to come.

Lori Singleton is a dynamic educational leader and experienced real estate investor with more than 30 years of experience in leadership, business, and property development. Her career reflects a strong foundation in organizational leadership, financial management, and community-focused development. Lori currently serves as Principal of Henry Ford II High School in Utica Community Schools, Michigan’s second-largest school district. Since 2019, she has led a comprehensive high school serving approximately 1,600 students, overseeing academic programming, staff leadership, student services, and school culture initiatives. In this role, she manages budgets, supports effective resource allocation, and implements innovative academic and wellness programs that promote student engagement and achievement.

In addition to her work in education, Lori has an extensive background in real estate investment and development. Beginning in 1990, she has purchased, rehabilitated, and managed multi-family properties ranging from two-family flats to four-unit buildings. She has successfully completed six full-scale rehabs of four-family flats and is currently overseeing the rehabilitation of a 29-unit apartment complex with a project manager and contractor team in place. Her work emphasizes market analysis, project financing, long-term asset management, and community revitalization. Earlier in her career, Lori worked at Ford Motor Company as a Buyer for Aftermarket Parts, where she managed budgets, negotiated million-dollar supplier contracts, and earned three promotions in three years due to strong performance and leadership.

Lori holds a Bachelor of Science in Business/Accounting, a Master of Arts in Teaching, and an Education Specialist degree in Leadership Administration from Wayne State University. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership at Walden University, with an anticipated completion in December 2026. Her professional goal is to leverage her combined expertise in leadership, business, and real estate to transition into ground-up development projects that provide sustainable housing and lasting community impact.

Meet Marcia Spivey, Esq., lawyer, innovator, and community visionary. Raised and rooted in Detroit, Marcia brings her legal expertise and lived experience to the frontlines of social change. She is a Detroit-based attorney, entrepreneur, and community real estate development leader.  With a deep commitment to equity and local empowerment, she designs and implements innovative solutions that address systemic barriers in underserved neighborhoods.  As founder of The HUB Laundromat-Café, Marcia reimagines everyday spaces as hubs for connection, wellness, and economic activity. Her work spans legal advocacy, civic engagement, and grassroots organizing — all grounded in a mission to reclaim time and restore power to communities.  Her work is a bold declaration: Detroit communities deserve beauty, safety, and ownership.

Martha Brown was born and raised in Mississippi. She moved to Michigan with her husband when she married and raised her family in the Saginaw area. She attended Saginaw Valley State University, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in business administration.  She got her start in real estate by purchasing, repairing, and renting houses in the Saginaw area, which she still does to this day. She then obtained a state of Michigan builder's license and started a construction company.  For the last 35 years, she has been the owner and manager of Martha Brown Custom Builders, a family-owned and operated construction company that has completed jobs in residential and commercial work, small and large projects. She has cultivated a reputation for good work at fair prices, which has allowed her business to operate almost solely based on referrals. Recently, she has partnered with Colleen Brown to create AJ Brown Development. The goal of AJ Brown Development is to provide affordable and attainable workforce housing in the Saginaw area with a focus on redevelopment and adaptive reuse of existing structures that are not currently being used.  She is currently working on a project in Saginaw that needs the residential portion of the building completely rehabilitated.

Re’Shane L. Lonzo is a real estate developer, educator, and community advocate committed to building equitable, community-centered spaces that expand access to housing, childcare, workforce training, and economic opportunity. She is the Founder & CEO of Lonzo Development Group, a mission-driven real estate firm based in Lansing, Michigan, focused on transforming historic and underutilized properties into vibrant mixed-use developments. Re’Shane leads catalytic redevelopment projects such as The Iris and 1001 W. Saginaw, both located along Lansing’s west corridor. These adaptive reuse developments integrate affordable and missing-middle housing, early childhood education, vocational training, and small business incubation, creating sustainable ecosystems that support families and strengthen neighborhoods. With more than 25 years of entrepreneurial experience, Re’Shane is also the founder of DRM International Learning Center, a state-licensed healthcare and skilled trades training institution serving Michigan for over two decades. Her background in workforce development gives her a unique perspective on connecting real estate with economic mobility and community well-being. Re’Shane specializes in navigating complex capital stacks and securing local, state, and federal funding including Historic Tax Credits, Brownfield incentives, and other public-sector partnerships...to bring high-impact projects to life. She is also experienced in structuring projects that align with New Markets Tax Credit criteria and preparing developments for potential NMTC investment. Entering the real estate space without generational wealth or institutional backing, she has built her work through persistence, collaboration, faith, and authentic community relationships. Passionate about expanding opportunities for emerging and underrepresented developers, Re’Shane champions equitable development models that ensure communities are not only served, but empowered.

Dr. Apostle Sabrina McKenzie is a Visionary, Advocate, and Transformational Leader whose life's work is the dynamic intersection of faith, policy, and equitable community development. Affectionately known

as "The Dancing Preacher," Dr. McKenzie's journey—from globally renowned Liturgical Dance pioneer to legislative trailblazer—culminates in her current mission as a developer fighting for housing equity. This momentum has earned her a place as a distinguished Trailblazer accepted to the Women

Sustainable Development Institute (WSDI), underscoring her commitment to holistic global change that is both sustainable and just. Dr. McKenzie’s selection for the Women Sustainable Development Institute (WSDI) validates her commitment to creating lasting, equitable solutions. She is translating her decades of advocacy into tangible, sustainable change through her work as an emerging developer: As the founder of the 501(c)(3) Reimagine Detroit CDC, she is spearheading a critical, multi-million-dollar initiative to build 20 new affordable apartments at the 2900 Tyler Lofts and Miracle Cafe in Detroit, Michigan, directly addressing systemic inequality in housing. This project and her background as a Licensed Loan Officer and Credit Repair Expert demonstrate a dedication to economic empowerment that transcends charity, focusing on structural financial freedom.

A dedicated legislative activist, Dr. McKenzie has been instrumental in shaping policy in Georgia, showcasing her power to influence the Statehouse: She was key in co-authoring the Equal Rights Amendment House Resolution Bill 969 (2018). She successfully advocated to pass the Marcy’s Law victim's rights bill. She established critical advocacy bodies, including the National Taskforce Against Domestic Violence and the Legislative Clergy Council. Dr. McKenzie’s influence spans the globe through her faith-based enterprises and media presence: She is the Founder of The International Dance Commission (IDC), a globally renowned ministry network with over 2,780 members and 40 chapters worldwide. She created Liturgical Dance Day (LDD) in 2005, a celebrated annual event recognized by governors and congressmen across the USA. Bestselling Author of 12 books and a star on Bravo’s television show In A Man’s World, executive produced by Viola Davis. Dr. McKenzie holds a Doctor of Ministry from Alliance University and a Master of Divinity degree from the Interdenominational Theological Center. She continues to build a robust legacy where faith and fire meet structural change, proving that movement, ministry, and municipal development are all powerful platforms for justice.

Sarah McCullough, is a Detroit-based Real Estate Developer, creative visionary, and trusted problem-solver known for her contagious energy and heart for service.  Backed by more than 15 years of experience leading senior living communities and scaling healthcare operations. In 2022, she took a bold leap of faith into the contracting industry as she pursued her calling in Real Estate Development.  Today, Sarah works across both residential and commercial real estate, helping individuals become homeowners, investors, and business owners while expanding financial literacy for those who, like her, had to learn without a roadmap.  When she isn’t immersed in real estate, she serves as President of the Detroit Got Talent Artistry Social Club, a nonprofit organization on the city’s west side, creating space and opportunity for artists and entrepreneurs to thrive, emphasizing community outreach. A natural leader who believes, “If you win, I win—because I get to witness it,” she blends creativity, operational expertise, and purpose-driven leadership to create spaces that uplift people and communities. With many community-based developments ahead, this cohort marks only the beginning of her broader vision.  

Sharletta Hall is a Detroit based entrepreneur, financial expert, and community builder whose work spans tax resolution, real estate development, and hospitality. As the founder and CEO of ADH Financial Services LLC, Sharletta combines deep technical tax knowledge

with real world financial strategy to help individuals and business owners solve complex IRS issues, build stronger financial foundations, and create long term wealth. A former IRS Revenue Officer and an Enrolled Agent, she brings more than a decade of federal tax experience to her clients, offering a level of insight and precision rarely found outside of

government service. Beyond her tax practice, Sharletta is an accomplished single family real estate developer and landlord with multiple Detroit properties under the ADH Property Group umbrella. She

has built her real estate portfolio by identifying undervalued homes, managing full scale renovations, and stabilizing neighborhoods through safe, affordable, and well-maintained housing. Her development work includes everything from project budgeting to contractor coordination to long term asset management, giving her a unique 360-degree perspective

on Detroit housing, community revitalization, and wealth building through real estate. Sharletta is also the visionary behind Cash Only Bistro, an innovative full service, build your own pasta restaurant concept located on the East Side of Detroit. Blending food and financial empowerment, Cash Only Bistro is designed to offer more than great meals; it

provides guests with access to financial education workshops, business networking, and wealth building tools in a welcoming, upscale environment. As a ServSafe certified owner with a passion for hospitality, Sharletta is creating a space where cuisine, community, and financial literacy come together. Her goal is to scale the model nationally, bringing financial

education into the places people already enjoy spending time. Across all her ventures, Sharletta is driven by a mission to help families and communities

break generational cycles and build lasting prosperity. Whether guiding clients through tax challenges, revitalizing Detroit housing block by block, or teaching financial literacy lessons between plates of pasta, she is committed to making wealth accessible and achievable for everyone.