The first session of the Community Developers Roundtable (CDR) Fort Worth launched with great energy and excitement. Hosted at Bennett Partners, one of Fort Worth’s leading architecture firms, the event brought together an incredible group of emerging developers, local partners, and community advocates who are passionate about shaping stronger and more inclusive neighborhoods.

Participants began the morning with breakfast and networking before diving into a full agenda that blended learning, discussion, and inspiration.

Setting the Vision

The morning opened with introductions and a conversation about the purpose and vision of the CDR program. CDR Fort Worth is a nine-month professional development program designed to equip emerging community developers with practical knowledge, mentorship, and resources to move their real estate projects forward.

Led by Innovan Neighborhoods, the program focuses on building long-term capacity within Fort Worth’s development ecosystem. Participants also learned what to expect from upcoming monthly sessions, each designed to combine expert insights with peer exchange and hands-on learning.

CDR Fort Worth is a nine-month professional development program designed to equip emerging community developers with practical knowledge, mentorship, and resources to move their real estate projects forward.

Exploring Resources and Relationships

The day included a robust overview of available resources and support. Participants heard from several key partners who introduced the range of tools and expertise available through the program:

• Aloni Harris, C3 Fund: shared financing pathways and capital support for developers
• Asheya Warren, PRAXIS Strategic Consulting: discussed marketing and public relations related benefits
• HM&M CPAs: provided offerings on accounting and tax considerations
• Karen Vermaire Fox, Greater Fort Worth Real Estate Council: introduced local networking and advocacy opportunities
• Jaymar Joseph, Fort Worth Community Land Trust: shared insights on land trust models
• Raquel Valdez Sanchez, BCL of Texas: highlighted lending and technical assistance programs

Learning from Experience

A highlight of the session was the CDR Alumni Panel, featuring

Sam Ruben (Ruben Legacy Homes), Brandon Ward (Bid Gigz, LLC), and Jay Taylor (Juxta Designs).

Each shared their personal journey, including the lessons, challenges, and wins that shaped their development path. Their honesty and perspective offered valuable encouragement to the new cohort and underscored the supportive network that CDR fosters.

Putting Ideas into Action

The session continued with a real estate project feedback exercise, giving participants a chance to think critically about development scenarios and hear how peers and mentors would approach real-world challenges. The day wrapped up with lunch and open conversation, allowing participants to connect more deeply and reflect on what they had learned.

Participant Feedback and Reflections

Based on the post-session Pulse Check survey, the first session received glowing feedback from participants. Every respondent rated the session as extremely valuable and described the overall experience as excellent. All participants also said they felt very comfortable engaging, asking questions, and sharing their experiences.

When asked what stood out most, their answers reflected both enthusiasm and a sense of possibility.

• "The amount of resources we will have access to."
  
• "I loved the information from the tax company and learning more about the development process."
  
• "I’m excited and look forward to all the sessions to come!"

It’s clear that the first gathering helped participants feel both supported and inspired. Many shared that they left with a better understanding of how to leverage new tools, relationships, and insights to bring their own projects to life.

Looking Ahead

As the first of nine sessions, this kickoff laid a strong foundation for collaboration and growth. The CDR Fort Worth cohort will continue exploring topics such as financing, design, construction management, and marketing in the coming months, with each session building toward real, on-the-ground impact across Fort Worth communities.

To learn more about the CDR Cohort 3 (Fort Worth) participants, click here.