Episodes

  • Alleys and Waves of Innovation? Get in the Game. (Part 2)

    Alleys and Waves of Innovation? Get in the Game. (Part 2)
    Oct 1 2025
    Welcome back to Future Tide Conversations for Part 2 of our enlightening discussion with James Johnson-Piett, Principal and CEO of Urbane Development and Board Chair of Mangrove Community Wealth, Inc. If Part 1 was about how James planted the seeds of a new idea, Part 2 is about how those ideas blossomed and spread. This episode picks up the thread, so if you haven't listened to Part 1 yet, we recommend starting there to fully appreciate the journey. In Part 2, James dives into how he expanded his mission's reach and the innovative strategies he's using to change economic systems. We discuss the evolution from working one neighborhood at a time to influencing investment practices on a wider scale. James details how he created vehicles like community investment funds and a neighborhood REIT, designed to give ordinary people a chance to invest in and profit from local development, effectively rewriting who gets to build wealth. He shares the impact of these efforts, from new community-owned commercial spaces to multi-city partnerships that are taking root. Listeners will also hear James's insights on sustaining and scaling an initiative. He talks about building a team and a network that share his values, including joining forces with other leaders through national cohorts focused on racial and economic justice in finance. Importantly, we explore the human aspect behind scaling. James opens up about balancing ambition with well-being, and why he believes caring for yourself and your community is integral to long-term success. This concluding conversation highlights themes of collaboration, systemic change, and hope. James's expanded work shows that the principles we discussed in Part 1 — trust, inclusion, ownership — can indeed operate at larger scales, challenging the status quo of who has access to capital and opportunity. His vision resonates with what Rising Tide Capital has championed for 21 years, an economy where everyone can participate and prosper, not just a few. Tune in to Part 2 for the inspiring culmination of James Johnson-Piett's story. It is a powerful reminder that when innovative thinkers like James get the support they need, they not only succeed in their own ventures, they pave the way for whole communities to rise. Whether you are passionate about impact investing, community leadership, or just love seeing visionary ideas come to life, this episode will leave you motivated and optimistic about the future. Listen now to hear how it all comes together. 🔔 Subscribe to Future Tide Conversations for more visionary stories and insights. Don't miss our upcoming episodes. Turn on notifications to stay updated.
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    53 mins
  • Alleys and Waves of Innovation? Get in the Game.

    Alleys and Waves of Innovation? Get in the Game.
    Sep 10 2025
    In Part 1 of this Future Tide Conversations episode, we meet James Johnson-Piett, the dynamic Principal and CEO of Urbane Development and Board Chair of Mangrove Community Wealth, Inc, and uncover the beginnings of a journey that is transforming communities. James's story starts with a question: What if the key to reviving neighborhoods lies with the people who already live there? With that question in mind, he set out to reinvent community development from the inside out. He takes us through how he launched Urbane Development during the 2008 economic downturn, a bold move that exemplified courage and faith in his mission. James recounts those early days, from convincing the first partners and funders to trust a community-led approach, to tangible early successes like helping open new businesses that addressed urgent local needs, including bringing a grocery store to an area that hadn't seen one in years. In this episode, listeners will hear how James built the foundation of his work. He discusses learning the ropes of finance and urban planning but also unlearning traditional top-down methods. We talk about how he focused on trust and relationships, spending countless hours in conversation with small business owners and residents to co-create solutions. James also reflects on the personal side, the doubts he had to overcome, and the resilience he cultivated to keep pushing forward. He shares how community support, mentors, peers, and early believers played a crucial role in turning a solitary idea into a collaborative movement. This Part 1 conversation sets the stage, highlighting themes of innovation, empathy, and grit. James's early journey shows that representation matters not just in who gets opportunities, but in who leads the charge. His work aligns strongly with Rising Tide Capital's vision over the past 21 years, that big change grows from humble roots when entrepreneurs in every community get a chance to shine. Tune in to Part 1 to be inspired by how James started building a new paradigm of community wealth. It is a testament to the power of a single vision and the early steps that turn that vision into reality. Don't forget to catch Part 2, where we'll dive into how James scaled up that impact and what it means for the future of inclusive economies. 🔔 Subscribe to Future Tide Conversations for Part 2 of this talk and more inspiring episodes. New conversations drop regularly on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.
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    54 mins
  • Purpose & Proximity: Investing with a Broader Sense of Community

    Purpose & Proximity: Investing with a Broader Sense of Community
    Jul 23 2025

    In this Special Edition of our podcast, Alfa Demmellash speaks with Preston D. Pinkett III—President of P3 Collective and Chair of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation—about the role of purpose and proximity in ethical investing.

    Together, they explore the power of relationship in funding, the role of trust, and why it matters who's closest to the solution.

    🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and more.

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    22 mins
  • The Art of Repair: Strength, Self-Healing, and Leadership in the Auto Industry

    The Art of Repair: Strength, Self-Healing, and Leadership in the Auto Industry
    May 29 2025

    "Hilda Mera on Driving Change in the Auto Industry" – In this episode of Future Tide Conversations, we meet Hilda Mera, the dynamic co-founder and CEO of S&A Auto Center. Hilda's story is a journey of courage and resilience: arriving in the U.S. as a young immigrant and ultimately thriving as an entrepreneur in the male-dominated world of auto repair. She recounts how she overcame the skeptics (only about 5% of auto repair business leaders are women) and built not just a successful company, but a community hub that empowers others.

    Listeners will hear how Hilda expanded her business to two locations in New Jersey, all while staying true to her mission of lifting up those around her. She discusses the practical lessons learned – from learning English and accounting to gaining trust as a female auto-shop owner – and the deeper insights gained along the way. We talk about her commitment to women's empowerment, including the free workshops and hands-on learning experiences she provides to make auto care less intimidating for women. Hilda also opens up about the importance of mental health and self-belief in an entrepreneur's journey, emphasizing how community support and perseverance helped her push through stressful times.

    This conversation highlights broader themes of representation and inclusion: Hilda's success sends a message that with the right support, anyone can innovate and lead, regardless of background or industry norms. As a graduate (and now instructor) of Rising Tide Capital's entrepreneurial training program, Hilda exemplifies the transformative impact of access and opportunity. Her story aligns with Rising Tide Capital's 21-year mission to democratize entrepreneurship and build an economy that works for everyone.

    Tune in to be inspired by Hilda Mera's journey. It's a testament to the power of grit, community, and vision in creating a business – and a life – that uplifts others. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a champion of women's leadership, or just someone who loves a great success story, this episode will leave you motivated and hopeful. Listen now on Future Tide Conversations!
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    53 mins
  • Still You in There: Healing, Resilience & the Systems We Carry

    Still You in There: Healing, Resilience & the Systems We Carry
    Apr 30 2025

    In this episode, Alfa Demmellash sits down with Towanda McEachern, founder of The Empowerment Studio in Newark, NJ, to explore how personal healing can lead to community transformation.

    Towanda shares her journey from trauma to empowerment and how creating spaces of care—like A Life Recycled—can support others in reconnecting with their purpose. Together, they reflect on how the systems we carry internally shape the ones we build around us, and why mental well-being must be central to how we lead.

    Learn more and explore additional resources at:
    future.risingtidecapital.org/podcast

    Follow Towanda's work: empowermentstudionj.com

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    53 mins
  • Educating our children, instilling resilience

    Educating our children, instilling resilience
    Apr 8 2025

    In this inaugural episode of Future Tide Conversations with Alfa Demmellash, CEO and Co-Founder of Rising Tide Capital sits down with Myani Lawson, an education entrepreneur, to explore her journey into entrepreneurship, education in today's world and instilling resilience in a rapidly changing world. The candid conversation is intended to share dreams in progress as they unfold to change the world around us, pointing the way to how we can journey together to mutual flourishing.

    Future Tide Conversations is a special initiative of Future Tide Partners powered by Rising Tide Capital. We are a 501-c-3 non-profit organization with a mission to provide holistic and long-term support to the entrepreneurs and leaders building businesses and initiatives that advance human connection and well-being at a community level. We believe these enterprises are the corner stone of a thriving future economy for every community. 


    
To learn more about our work, visit us at RisingTideCapital.org and follow us on our social channels for entrepreneurial resources, inspiration and to support our mission!

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    38 mins