The Fort Worth program of the Community Developers Roundtable is officially underway. Learn how the cohort will empower local real estate leaders with capital and training to build stronger, more equitable neighborhoods.

FORT WORTH, Texas — The Community Developers Roundtable (CDR), a proven program of Innovan Neighborhoods, officially and successfully launched its Fort Worth chapter on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, marking a major step toward championing locally rooted developers as small business leaders.


The launch event was made possible through the generous support of host sponsor Texas Wesleyan University, where it was held at the Baker Building. The event successfully gathered a diverse group of emerging and established nonprofit and for-profit real estate developers, community leaders, stakeholders, funders and partners dedicated to equitable and sustainable neighborhood growth.

The CDR program’s mission is to unlock homegrown opportunities by equipping local developers with access to critical capital, peer learning, strategic support and strong networks. The developers operate as small businesses deeply invested in their neighborhoods.


Maggie Parker, founder of Innovan Neighborhoods and the Community Developers Roundtable, addressed the attendees, highlighting the organization's history of success and the strategic importance of the Fort Worth expansion.


“Our two-year pilot program showed that equipping locally rooted developers with resources, networks and capital, they can drive lasting impact,” Parker notes. She emphasized the program’s vision, stating, “The Fort Worth expansion is about championing and empowering developers who understand the context of their neighborhoods, making them best positioned to build, revitalize and reinvigorate the places they call home which contributes to the economic vitality of Fort Worth.”

Event Highlights


The program officially launched with a dynamic event that included:



  • Key Stakeholder Addresses: Attendees heard about the CDR’s established model and the vision for its application and impact across Fort Worth.
  • Testimonials: Past cohort participants provided firsthand accounts, sharing the real-world impact they achieved after completing the program.
  • Program Overview: A detailed, step-by-step overview of the application process for the inaugural Fort Worth Cohort was provided, officially opening the application window.
  • Networking: Developers, funders and community partners connected, fostering the strategic relationships necessary for future community development projects.


With the successful launch of the Fort Worth chapter, the Community Developers Roundtable is now poised to move into its first cohort selection phase, building on its momentum to ensure that local real estate leaders have the capacity to create more affordable housing and vital community assets.

About the Community Developers Roundtable


The Community Developers Roundtable (CDR), a program of Innovan Neighborhoods, is a collective network and capacity-building initiative designed for non-profit and for-profit developers who operate as small businesses deeply invested in their neighborhoods. By offering a developer-led structure with ongoing support, accountability, and access to critical capital, CDR equips developers to create more affordable housing and vital community assets. Together, we foster thriving neighborhoods across North Texas and expand economic opportunity.


Download the Related Press Release here:, CDR Launches in Fort Worth

From Intimidation to Insight: Financial Fundamentals for Community Developers

November 28, 2025
Session 2 marked the first curriculum-focused gathering of the Community Developers Roundtable (CDR) cohort, hosted at the Fort Worth offices of Westwood .  This session brought participants together with experienced professionals from across the development and finance space. The focus was on connection, perspective, and creating room for honest dialogue, reinforcing CDR’s role as a place where emerging developers can engage directly with people who understand the realities of the work. The conversation continued throughout the day and wrapped up with informal discussion and networking, giving participants time to connect ideas back to their own goals and build relationships with one another and the speakers. Session 2 presenters included: • Will Northern, Crescendo Development • Porchia Barrett, HM&M • Diana Cetares, HM&M • Banking and financial institution representatives

Building Momentum: CDR Fort Worth Kicks Off Its First Session at Bennett Partners

November 4, 2025
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.

Affordable housing networking program connects Fort Worth’s developers

By Asheya Warren • October 22, 2025
A new networking program aims to connect Fort Worth’s nonprofit and for-profit real estate developers with financial capital to build more affordable housing units. The Community Developers Roundtable, launched in Dallas in 2022, provides developers with access to capital, peer learning and strategic support. Organizers of Fort Worth’s roundtable hope to replicate the success it had in Dallas, which resulted in nearly $125 million in development activities. That included 39 housing units built and more than $1.7 million in predevelopment and construction loans provided by financial partner BCL of Texas. Organizers said they want to increase affordable housing and community-based amenities to revitalize neighborhoods through real estate projects. The nine-month program launched with a public presentation at Texas Wesleyan University on Aug. 28, Maggie Parker, founder of Innovan Neighborhoods and the Community Developers Roundtable program, said the two-year Dallas pilot program equipped about two dozen local developers with resources, networks and capital to drive lasting impact. “The Fort Worth expansion is about championing and empowering developers who understand the context of their neighborhoods, making them best positioned to build, revitalize and reinvigorate the places they call home, which contributes to the economic vitality of Fort Worth,” Parker said. 
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