Ordinarily Achieving the Extraordinary.

A Study in The Art of Being a Living Legend!

[extraordinarylegend]

Me and my partner in these streets, Augie Gastelum, will be telling our story with RAIL CDC and shining light on the commercial corridors and neighborhoods we work in at the good business summit on April 3rd and 4th. Come check us out and interact with us! It’ll be fun and you will learn all about our nationally recognized community inclusion model of small business and neighborhood empowerment. The summit is always a good time and full of good folks and good conversations. Let’s go! #DoItForTheNeighborhood Www.railcdc.org Tickets: Www.localfirstaz.com/good-business (at Mesa, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqNy8mcLvt2/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[extraordinarylegend]

Do you get excited about comprehensive and inclusive community & economic development? I sure do because I’m an effin nerdo. These aren’t exciting photos by any means but it was sure exciting to be there with a fully bilingual, small business technical assistance team that @railcdc and @trellis.az are collaborating on for the benefit of small biz and neighbs in the miracle mile / mcdowell commercial corridor area! This is done through the LISC phoenix SBA navigator hub and spokes team. These bilingual, small biz consultants are 🔥🔥🔥. If you know a small@biz on mcdowell road or@in the area that needs assistance with bookkeeping, loan readiness, branding, social media, P&L’s, pricing, POS systems etc, let us know. (at Trellis) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpfn2D5rVeZ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[extraordinarylegend]

Venga a aprender sobre sus derechos de vivienda justa. Únase a nosotros para los conceptos básicos de Ley de Equidad de Vivienda. ¿Qué es? ¿Cuáles son tus derechos? Presentado por: El Juez Enrique Medina Ochoa Y El The Arizona Fair Housing Center Marzo 1, 6, y 9 @ 7pm-7:45pm https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82145838014 Gracias a East Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Prestamos CDFI Womens Business Center, @Councilmember Garcia Phoenix City Council District 8, Vice Mayor Yassamin Ansari, Vice Mayor Francisco Heredia, Councilmember Jenn Duff, Councilmember Berdetta Hodge, Promise Arizona- PAZ, Arizona Asian Chamber of Commerce, RAIL CDC: Retail, Arts, Innovation & Livability CDC, Cultural Coalition, Inc por su apoyo. https://www.instagram.com/p/CpQpBcLySXO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[extraordinarylegend]

Today was the first day of the RAILCDC: BIPOC makers academy. Thanks to these small Tempe manufacturers for your hard work and ingenuity. @skateforty8 @purejuicenjoy @satieteofficial @oxdxclothing @consciousgear1 & @midgechocolate have embarked on a journey with us. Thank you @gregstantonaz @tempegov @tempemayorwoods for making this happen. Thanks our partners for your comradery @tempechamber pacific sw minority supplier, @hustle_phx @fabrictempe. (at MAC6 Conscious Workspace) https://www.instagram.com/p/Co042POrP_f/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[extraordinarylegend]

The Asian Chamber of Commerce is excited about our upcoming 30th Awards and Scholarships Gala, an exciting annual tradition that celebrates new beginnings and helps us highlight our community! We want to highlight the several years of continued success within the Asian Chamber of Commerce, and that would not be possible without your support in everything we do. Join us on Saturday, February 11th, 2023 for an in-person dinner at Great Wall Cuisine (3446 W Camelback Rd #155, Phoenix, AZ 85017). Table and individual tix available at AzAsianChamber.com (at Great Wall Cuisine) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoOCPfSvYzf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[extraordinarylegend]

On Saturday we celebrated the lunar new year with lion dancing and firecrackers. Az International Market, Az Asian Chamber and Cong Dong Vietnam worked together to bring a free event for families to enjoy each other, food and Asian culture. It was smaller and more personal then the events we generally participate in and it was special. Hearing the news of Monterey Ca and the mass shooting there made my stomach sink. For a moment yesterday, I had an anxious thought of a mass shooting at our event but I brushed it off thinking, “who would want to destroy all this hood community feeling”. I realize how naive that was. I’m grateful for the safety and success of our event and I’m so saddened at the news of Monterey. I don’t have a suggestions or thoughts and prayers to send. We’re in weird times where some people dehumanize people enough to not think of them as someone facing the same troubles and living in the same world. Scary weird times require extra love and understanding of each other. Be good to each other out there. (at AZ International Marketplace) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnuVUbBpS6S/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[extraordinarylegend]

Glade? No. Paint? No. AI. Yes. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl2aoxKraOe/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[extraordinarylegend]

Between 2012-2015, I was exposed to a lot of projects and folks in the community development space. As a community organizer, I found comprehensive community development was the next natural progression for getting things done for people in the neighborhood. Political organizing and activist work are good but the most real results I’ve seen that affect real people is community work that has solid outcomes that’s lead by empowering the community one is working in. I figure that it’s time more folks preach the gospel of neighborhood work and mutual aid. Last night RAILCDC hosted CommDev101: Community Development 101 - comprehensive community work that takes into consideration multiple approaches to better people lives. Elevating the idea that People have a right and a responsibility to control what happens to them and their neighborhood. Joel Bookman, a veteran CommDev professional and mentor came in from Chicago for this and I was reinvigorated. I took a few moments to look around the room and everyone was just quiet in thought, just listening and feeling the electricity in the truth of these concepts. Thanks to everyone that came out. Thanks to Joel Bookman for flying out. Thanks to LISC phoenix for your support. Thanks to K’é Community Labs for letting us use space. Thanks to Terry Benelli for bringing me into this work. #doitfortheneighborhood #railcdc #commdev #communitydevelopment #joelbookman #liscphoenix (at K'é Community Lab) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClBYKnAr9os/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[extraordinarylegend]

Hello Hello to my West Mesa friends, fellow Local Business Owners, Community Organizers, Southside Neighborhood homies and more! You are formally invited to: The 1st annual Distrito Latino: ThanksFest! Saturday November 12th from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. @ Gift & Thrift 551 S Mesa Dr. Mesa, Az 85210 This is a wonderful thing. Community Organizers, RAIL CDC, Gift & Thrift, Az Asian Chamber of Commerce, and Az Fair Housing Center has been presented with a great opportunity. The objective of this opportunity is to bring the Distrito Latino community together and just thank each other for being who we are and for what we all do in the community. ThanksFest 2022 Eva Burch, Lorena Austin & Seth Blattman have graciously put together funding to throw this 1st annual Distrito Latino "ThanksFest" along with the partnership of a number of local organizations and small businesses. Food, beverages, and entertainment will be provided. Flyers are attached in English and Spanish. Please tell your neighbors and friends. Featured musical act: Rosies Pawn Shop (One of my favorite) #DoItForTheNeighborhood #railcdc #communitydevelopment #commUNITY Thank You, Gracias, Obrigado, Ryan David Winkle [phone] (at Mesa Drive Az) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck3pYMBpqr0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[extraordinarylegend]

AJ has a fashion show? Yup. And it benefits folks experiencing the hardship of cancer and the associated treatment. Courage Under Cancer does this fashion show and event every year and it’s fun! One of the best silent auctions, great food, fun people and a star@studded lineup of models and local celebs. I am proud of the work they are doing. I am happy that they are bringing this event to the Far East Valley. (at Robert Horne Ford Apache Junction. Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CktGVNUL9iw/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[extraordinarylegend]

How are we working within the small business world and the nonprofit industrial complex to make measurable changes for artists as small business owners and community projects? We had a great time talking about small business and project grant writing on the RAILCDC creative academy with Thomas Stanton (PHONETIC SPIT and Evelyn Flores (RAILCDC FOC). Thank you to The Kresge Foundation and LISC Phoenix for investing In this program. It’s making a direct impact in this group of creatives personal and professional goals. (at Mesa, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CklycwPv-gI/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[extraordinarylegend]

Today is the beginning of our second Consultants of Color Collective. We bring together talented BIPOC folks who are already helping their fellow small Busienss owners with services and also folks who already have clients that want to level up. This is built and taught by our consultants and changed with each cohort. It is combined with small business technical assistance from RAIL CDC as well as personal ASC EAS to our Financial Opportunity Cehter. We need more good small Busienss and community consultants in our communities that look like the communities we serve who understand the culture and generational trauma associated with these neighborhoods. At CCC, We create our own content. We build this with equity and wealth building in mind for our communities. This is based in sound Busienss practices that are equitable and benefit communities and people of color. Thank you Deanna Murphy and JPMorgan Chase & Co. for your investment in this program. Thank you LISC Phoenix for your support. Thank you Pamela Slim for sharing your space and IP witH the community. Thank you Emily Malavé Searles, PMP®, Aisha Harris, Ita Udo-Ema and W. Aaron Montano Searles for your work with Retail, Arts, Innovation, & Livability Community Development Corporation (RAIL CDC). (at K'é Community Lab) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cklr-xovdih/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[extraordinarylegend]

Look who’s gunna have a straight toof! This guy! Thanks Dr. Rogel! (at AZ Dental Wellness) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkZaVMBv1g4/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[extraordinarylegend]

Happy Halloween weekend y’all! Be safe and take care of each other. #thesddamsfamily #loswinkles #halloween2022 https://www.instagram.com/p/CkUViiqve9a/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[extraordinarylegend]

We would like to give a big thanks to our sponsors, volunteers and community partners who supported the Asian District Night Market: Kamayan Festival! 🌟 it was amazing as always! Stay tuned for more! #azasianchamber #adnm #asiandistrict #commUNITY #iheartmesa #kamayanfestival #doitfortheneighborhood (at AZ International Marketplace) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkCKsHDPQGa/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[extraordinarylegend]

Thank you to Christina Laguna for the invite last night! My babe and I had so much fun and enjoyed our first night out in a long long time. The Prom was killer! Good people, good music, good vibes. #loswinkles #christinalaguna #laericka #the90s #AZPIA (at Chandler, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkB9axCyhef/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[extraordinarylegend]

You Know whats gunner then fun? Getting an award! And getting award isn’t that fun unless it’s from someone you look up to. Today RAIL CDC got the 30th anniversary community award for our exemplary program development. I’ve always had a difficult time accepting praise but gosh dang it I accepting this one whole heartedly and thankfully. LISC phoenix gave us this based on our unique and effective place based, economic inclusion, antidisplacement and community wealth building work. I love LISC. I love the people at LISC and love the work they do. Being recognized by them is Like being a young Latino rapper and being recognized by conejomalo! 😎 Thank you to the neighborhoods for pro Ledgent me with your trust. Thank you to my team! Thank you to LISC. (at Mesa, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjtjnBqvPR9/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=