I didn’t invent the term inclusive capitalism. But I’ve lived it—loan by loan, business by business, family by family.

For more than 40 years, I’ve worked in the world of commercial real estate lending. Not the glamorous, high-rise Manhattan kind. The kind where a family pulls together to buy a small strip mall so their son can open a taco shop, or a carpenter secures a loan to expand his custom furniture workshop. Maybe it’s a cousin who spent every spare minute under the hood growing up—finally able to open his own auto repair shop after years of working in someone else’s garage. I’ve walked with entrepreneurs who built something from nothing—sometimes with barely a business plan, but always with a vision.

This work has taught me something simple but profound: when we invest in people, especially those traditionally left out of the system, everyone wins.

That’s the essence of inclusive capitalism. It’s the belief that a thriving free-market economy shouldn’t leave people behind. It’s about using capital to generate not just profits, but possibilities. It’s where good business and doing good aren’t in conflict—they’re aligned.

“To me, winning is when I can lift someone up and help them dream.”

I’ve spent my career helping underserved borrowers find financing when the banks said no. I’ve seen firsthand how one opportunity—just one—can ripple across a family and into the next generation. A mother who gets funding for her storefront suddenly has more stability. That stability lets her children dream a little bigger. Maybe she saves for college. Maybe her kids grow up and build something of their own.

“I constantly witness the success that the current generation enjoys from the labors and decisions that their parents made for them.”

That’s the kind of success that matters. That’s legacy. That’s generational wealth—not measured in millions, but in mindset, freedom, and possibility.

To me, la familia always comes first. When families are supported, communities grow stronger. And when we ease the burdens—just a little—on today’s entrepreneurs, we create the space for something greater than just a loan getting paid back.

“Imagine if your parents or relatives were less stressed, more relaxed, and able to save just a little bit more for you, so you could dream of success for the next generation.”

This isn’t charity. It’s sound economics. Small business owners are the backbone of this country. But too often, they’re forced to navigate a lending system that wasn’t built with them in mind. I believe we can change that—with smarter processes, better relationships, and a commitment to inclusion as a business strategy.

Inclusive capitalism isn’t just a concept. It’s a movement—and one I’m proud to be part of. Because when we create the conditions for others to rise, everyone rises.

The post Why I Believe in Inclusive Capitalism—and What It Means for the Next Generation appeared first on Viva Verde Commercial Capital.

Note: The thoughts below are inspired by something I read recently in Relevant Magazine, an article titled, “Seven Ways Jesus’ Life Teaches Us How to Make an Impact.” It’s not an article about religion. But it does share some timeless wisdom. The article touches on these seven ideas: Love people. Keep a servant heart. Build a solid team. Empower others to use their gifts. Meet the needs of others. Be intentional. Practice forgiveness.

I believe these principles can be practiced by just about anyone. It also got me thinking about Viva Verde Commercial Capital’s faith-based lending programs. So, I wrote down seven principles that guide our work funding commercial real estate loans.

Seven principles for creating commercial property loans for houses of worship:

1-Be part of the solution, not part of the problem

I don’t have a problem with problems. I welcome them. Why? Because when a problem comes up,  I get a chance to solve it!

There is so much negativity in life and business these days. The word “no” is on the lips of many people, including lenders.  One of my success secrets is to tackle problems head on — and then keep going until we find answers.

2-Treat each day and every encounter as an opportunity to serve others

I love the term ”servant leader.” This quote from the great book, “The World’s Most Powerful Leadership Principle” sums it up nicely: “…people do not care what you know until they know you care.”

I don’t put myself above anyone else. Approaching each day with an attitude of service helps create positive energy. And, in my opinion, it makes for better business, too.

3-Believe in the value of collaboration

Viva Verde values team wisdom and empowers others to use their gifts.  We take a collaborative approach — inviting conversation and dialogue.  We favor building relationships over making transactions. We like to get to know our customers in the faith community because we believe it will help us serve them better. Our goal is to develop a spirit of camaraderie.

4-Say what you mean and mean what you say

I like to begin each day by taking a few minutes to think about what Viva Verde Commercial Capital plans to accomplish, and what the preferred outcomes are. My goal is to make sure actions match stated intentions.

5-Forgiveness is a powerful healing virtue

We believe in second chances. After all, people make mistakes. I do. You do. We all do. That’s why forgiveness is a powerful idea. As I like to say, “Okay, so you goofed up, you made a mess. We are happy to help imperfect people find opportunities to get the commercial mortgage they need for their businesses. “

6-When Plan A fails, try plan B

We live and work outside the box. We love puzzles, taking them apart and putting them back together in a new way.  Some lenders only have a Plan A, and if Plan A doesn’t work, that’s it. Not Viva Verde. We’re ready to explore Plan B, and, when necessary, Plan C. Our goal is to see things through until success is reached, and we have a satisfied client.

7-Be real, honest, and authentic

Clients in the faith communities appreciate Viva Verde’s down to earth approach to the business of commercial lending. I don’t work (or hide!) in an ivory tower. What you see is what you get. I care deeply about arranging commercial capital loan packages for houses of worship. And just to be clear: At Viva Verde Commercial Capital, all faiths are welcome.

Viva Verde Commercial Capital works with business of all kinds in our underserved communities. Our niche? Small-balance commercial real estate loans in California. Please contact me, Henry Villaseñor, to learn how we might be able to help.

The post Lending for Houses of Worship: Principles we live by at Viva Verde Commercial Capital appeared first on Viva Verde Commercial Capital.

Interestingly, Black small business owners are more optimistic about the U.S. business climate than small business owners as a whole. More than 3/4 of Black small business owners are feeling positive. In fact, eight of every ten Black small business owners anticipate healthy revenue increases in 2024.

Among the survey’s key findings about Black small business owners:

• 51% feel positive about the overall U.S. economy
• 57% believe capital expenditures will rise
• 44% point to inflation as their top concern
• 52% think they will need more credit this year

Viva Verde Commercial Capital: A resource for the Black business community

Rising credit needs mean many Black small business owners will be seeking affordable commercial capital. We know a successful economic climate depends on the availability of capital — and that our minority communities often lack this access.

As long-time members of the communities we serve, Viva Verde Commercial Capital helps small businesses grow and prosper with commercial real estate loans, offered at competitive rates.

The post Black small business owners upbeat about 2024 appeared first on Viva Verde Commercial Capital.

1. Increase homeownership
2. Diversify investments
3. Grow small businesses

Latino business owner interests and opportunities

The Hispanic Wealth Project promotes the wealth-building potential of business ownership. Self-employed Latino households have, on average, double the wealth of those who aren’t self-employed. The good news? The rate of entrepreneurship among Latinos outpaces other demographic groups. Latino-owned business ownership increased rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when millions of Americans experienced changes in employment. However, raising money remains a roadblock for Hispanic entrepreneurs. This limits opportunities to grow a business and increase wealth.

That’s where lenders like Viva Verde Commercial Capital come in. “Viva Verde Commercial Capital’s big mission is to serve business owners needing small balance lending,” says CEO/Broker Henry Villasenor. “We know what the community is going through because we are part of that community.”

Mr. Villasenor whole-heartedly supports the Hispanic Wealth Project. In fact, he helps support the community as an HWP Angel investor.  As Henry puts it, “It’s important to support new ideas and technologies that can help us improve business for all. HWP is a reliable source of fact-based education aimed at helping our communities.”

To learn more about the Hispanic Wealth Project’s mission “to educate and financially empower the Hispanic community nationwide,” visit the HWP website and download the State of Hispanic Wealth Report.

The post The Hispanic Wealth Project promotes Latino small business ownership appeared first on Viva Verde Commercial Capital.