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  • What Running Every Street in Chicago Reveals About Black Businesses with Joabe Barbosa

    What Running Every Street in Chicago Reveals About Black Businesses with Joabe Barbosa
    2026/10/12
    What can a neighborhood’s businesses tell us about its culture, its people, and the community it sustains?On this episode of Black Businesses Matter, host Larvetta L. Loftin-Arnold talks with Joabe Barbosa about exploring Chicago’s neighborhoods, challenging outside perceptions, and understanding the people and businesses that make each community distinct.Joabe’s project of running every public street in Chicago has taken him through neighborhoods across the city, where conversations with residents and encounters with local businesses have shaped how he sees the places he visits. One particularly memorable experience happened in West Garfield Park, where three Black vendors gave him water for free when he had no cash to pay. That simple act of generosity stayed with him and illustrates how business, livelihood, and human connection can intersect in everyday life.The conversation also explores how Black businesses help preserve culture. Reflecting on growing up in London, Joabe describes the significance of Jamaican jerk chicken shops and the way food businesses can keep African and Caribbean cultural traditions visible. These businesses contribute to community life in ways that go beyond the products they sell.Joabe and Larvetta also discuss technology, AI, and the importance of human connection. AI can help generate ideas, but understanding a neighborhood requires more than online information. Listening to residents, visiting local businesses, and learning directly from the people who know a place best can reveal context that technology alone may miss.In this episode:How Black businesses contribute to a community’s cultural and economic lifeWhy informal vendors deserve recognition as entrepreneursThe role of Black-owned businesses in preserving cultural heritageHow personal encounters can challenge assumptions about Chicago neighborhoodsWhy supporting local businesses means taking practical actionHow entrepreneurs and marketers can use AI without losing human connectionWhy listening to residents matters when telling a community’s storyThe episode offers a broader way to think about Black entrepreneurship: not only through sales and services, but also through the livelihoods, traditions, relationships, and local knowledge that businesses help sustain.ABOUT JOABE BARBOSAJoabe Barbosa made history by becoming the first person known to run every block and street across all neighborhoods of Chicago. He covered every dead end, cul-de-sac, and avenue across the city's 77 community areas, culminating in a massive celebratory final run alongside hundreds of supporters.Linktree | linktr.ee/heyjoabeTikTok | @heyjoabeInstagram | @heyjoabeABOUT THE L3 AGENCYThe L3 Agency is a full-service integrated marketing, communications, and media agency focused on creating authentic engagements and meaningful cultural connections. With expertise across digital, social, public relations, strategy, advertising, events, influencer marketing, and sponsorship development, the agency connects brands with people, programs, and products to drive relevance and results. Its philosophy is simple: authentic individuals, authentic stories, real connections.ABOUT LARVETTA L. LOFTIN-ARNOLDLarvetta L. Loftin-Arnold is a marketing strategist, communications leader, and entrepreneur with 30+ years of experience. After developing multicultural campaigns for brands including McDonald’s, Toyota, General Motors, and Verizon, she founded The L3 Agency in 2000.Under her leadership, The L3 Agency evolved from an experiential marketing firm into a strategy and thought leadership agency. The firm secured Verizon as its first Midwest agency of record, managing the partnership for five years. Since 2019, the agency has become a recognized leader in the utility and energy sector, providing strategic community outreach and public relations services throughout Chicago and the North Shore.Larvetta combines strategic insight, authentic storytelling, and community engagement to help organizations build meaningful connections with diverse audiences and create lasting business and social impact.We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300.Support the showJOIN THE BBM FAMStay connected for exclusive announcements and special offers by texting: "BBM FAM" to 312-300-1300CONNECT WITH BLACK BUSINESSES MATTERWebsite: TheL3Agency.comInstagram: @blackbusinessesmatterpodcastLinkedIn: The L3 AgencyTikTok: @blackbusinessesmatterpod Follow Black Businesses Matter on Instagram and join the conversation around Black entrepreneurship, business growth, community, leadership, and economic opportunity.Share this episode with a founder, business owner, colleague, or community leader who could find value in it.
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    43 分
  • SPECIAL EPISODE: Protecting Community Wealth: Real Estate, Local Ordinances, & Small Landlord Realities with Ebony Lucas, The Closing Firm LLC

    SPECIAL EPISODE: Protecting Community Wealth: Real Estate, Local Ordinances, & Small Landlord Realities with Ebony Lucas, The Closing Firm LLC
    2026/10/07
    What happens when local policies and housing ordinances are created without a single seat at the table for community-based real estate owners?In this special episode of the Black Businesses Matter Podcast, Larvetta L. Loftin-Arnold addresses the critical shift in Chicago's housing landscape alongside guest Ebony Lucas, an Illinois-licensed real estate and estate planning attorney, investor, author of Rooted and Rich: 9 Mantras and Moves to Financial Freedom, and co-owner of Nitro Nostalgia.Ebony has been licensed to practice law since 2005 and has represented over 2,000 clients in real estate, short sale, eviction, and estate planning matters. Having rehabbed over 100 properties and built a multimillion-dollar real estate portfolio, she grounds her work in the principle behind her firm, Ebony LucasIn this conversation, Ebony shares her entrepreneurial journey from door-to-door selling in Detroit to a pivotal 1999 trip to post-apartheid South Africa that redirected her life toward property law and asset protection. She breaks down the sweeping impact of Chicago's Protecting Renters Ordinance (PRO), explaining why small-to-mid-sized property owners—who account for 67% of Chicago's housing—are unfairly impacted when policies focus on corporate conglomerates. Together, they explore why small business owners can no longer afford to ignore local politics, how restrictive ordinances affect bank lending and housing availability, and the critical professional network needed to safeguard real estate assets across generations.Whether you are an active real estate investor, a small housing provider, or a business owner looking to protect what you build, this special episode offers actionable legal, financial, and strategic clarity on navigating local regulations while building sustainable community wealth.In this episode:Why business owners and property owners can no longer afford to remain passive in local politicsThe real landscape of Chicago housing and why 67% of properties are owned by community-based providersKey provisions of the Protecting Renters Ordinance (PRO) and its impact on small landlordsHow restrictive landlord-tenant legal frameworks influence bank financing and operating costsThe three essential professionals every housing provider must have on speed dialWhy holding real estate in personal names instead of proper corporate entities exposes personal assets to severe liabilityHow to shift from a defensive posture to active advocacy through organizations like the Neighborhood Building Owners AssociationThe story behind Nitro Nostalgia, an ice cream shop and board game café serving as a multi-generational community hub in Bronzeville.ABOUT EBONY LUCASEbony Lucas is an Illinois licensed real estate and estate planning attorney, investor, and author of Rooted and Rich: 9 Mantras and Moves to Financial Freedom. She has rehabbed over 100 properties and built a multimillion-dollar real estate portfolio while helping clients close complex transactions and protect their assets. Attorney Lucas has been licensed to practice law since 2005 and has represented over 2,000 clients in real estate, short sale, eviction, and estate planning matters.The Closing Firm LLC is built on the principle that wealth begins with ownership, and ownership must be protected.Website | www.theclosingfirmllc.com LinkedIn | linkedin.com/in/lucasthecloser Instagram | @lucasthecloser ABOUT LARVETTA L. LOFTIN-ARNOLDLarvetta L. Loftin-Arnold is a marketing strategist, communications leader, and entrepreneur with 30+ years of experience. After developing multicultural campaigns for brands including McDonald’s, Toyota, General Motors, and Verizon, she founded The L3 Agency in 2000.Under her leadership, The L3 Agency evolved from an experiential marketing firm into a strategy and thought leadership agency. The firm secured Verizon as its first Midwest agency of record, managing the partnership for five years. Since 2019, the agency has become a recognized leader in the utility and energy sector, providing strategic community outreach and public relations services throughout Chicago and the North Shore.Larvetta combines strategic insight, authentic storytelling, and community engagement to help organizations build meaningful connections with diverse audiences and create lasting business and social impact.We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300.Support the showJOIN THE BBM FAMStay connected for exclusive announcements and special offers by texting: "BBM FAM" to 312-300-1300CONNECT WITH BLACK BUSINESSES MATTERWebsite: TheL3Agency.comInstagram: @blackbusinessesmatterpodcastLinkedIn: The L3 AgencyTikTok: @blackbusinessesmatterpod Follow Black Businesses Matter on Instagram and join the conversation around Black entrepreneurship, business growth, community, leadership, and economic opportunity.Share this episode with a founder, business owner, colleague, or community leader who could find value in it.
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    53 分
  • Building Beyond the Brand: Culture, Community & the Future of Black Businesses Matter with Larvetta L. Loftin-Arnold, CEO of The L3 Agency

    Building Beyond the Brand: Culture, Community & the Future of Black Businesses Matter with Larvetta L. Loftin-Arnold, CEO of The L3 Agency
    2026/10/05

    Black Businesses Matter is entering a new chapter.

    In Season 12, Larvetta L. Loftin-Arnold talks about taking BBM beyond a podcast by building the team, strengthening systems and creating new ways for businesses and audiences to connect.

    At the center of the season is Culture Is Currency, a look at the intersection of sports, culture, business and community. Larvetta also discusses the Storytellers Lounge, the role of local businesses in their communities and new opportunities for small businesses through Connected TV advertising.

    In this episode:

    • Building BBM beyond a podcast

    • Culture Is Currency

    • Sports, business and community

    • Storytelling and the Storytellers Lounge

    • Building stronger teams and systems

    • Connected TV and opportunities for small businesses

    We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300.

    Support the show

    JOIN THE BBM FAM

    Stay connected for exclusive announcements and special offers by texting: "BBM FAM" to 312-300-1300

    CONNECT WITH BLACK BUSINESSES MATTER

    Website: TheL3Agency.com
    Instagram: @blackbusinessesmatterpodcast
    LinkedIn: The L3 Agency
    TikTok: @blackbusinessesmatterpod

    Follow Black Businesses Matter on Instagram and join the conversation around Black entrepreneurship, business growth, community, leadership, and economic opportunity.

    Share this episode with a founder, business owner, colleague, or community leader who could find value in it.
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    21 分
  • Pivoting With Purpose: Building a Sustainable Business That Creates Impact with Larvetta L. Loftin-Arnold, CEO of The L3 Agency

    Pivoting With Purpose: Building a Sustainable Business That Creates Impact with Larvetta L. Loftin-Arnold, CEO of The L3 Agency
    2026/09/28

    Businesses do not stay relevant by doing the same thing forever.

    In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, Larvetta L. Loftin-Arnold, CEO of The L3 Agency, explores what it means to pivot with purpose and build a business that can adapt to changing technology, customers, markets, teams, and communities.

    In this episode, you'll learn:

    [01:44] Why pivoting can be a strategic part of sustainable business growth
    [05:57] How systems, CRM, AI, and technology can improve efficiency and effectiveness
    [07:52] Why continuous learning and team development matter as businesses evolve
    [09:38] How changes in your workspace, operations, and organizational culture can support growth
    [15:05] How to choose social media and content platforms based on business goals instead of trends
    [16:51] Why storytelling, multimedia, and culturally relevant content can strengthen visibility
    [20:18] Why diverse and underrepresented business stories deserve greater visibility
    [24:28] Why Black businesses matter as employers, mentors, economic contributors, and community assets
    [28:05] Why cultural relevance, equity, and perception matter to business impact
    [31:22] Why social capital can matter more than follower count
    [33:03] How customer and community feedback can help businesses make better decisions

    This season also marks an evolution for Black Businesses Matter, with expanded storytelling, video content, and conversations focused on Black business growth, entrepreneurship, leadership, technology, economic opportunity, culture, and community development.

    If you're a Black business owner, entrepreneur, founder, executive, professional, or community leader navigating growth and change, thispodcast offers a practical perspective on staying relevant, making intentional pivots, and building a business that continues to create value.

    Black Businesses Matter is about more than celebrating businesses. It's about understanding Black entrepreneurship, business growth, economic opportunity, community, culture, and the people shaping what comes next.

    ABOUT LARVETTA L. LOFTIN-ARNOLD

    Larvetta L. Loftin-Arnold is a marketing strategist, communications leader, and entrepreneur with 30+ years of experience.

    After developing multicultural campaigns for brands including McDonald’s, Toyota, General Motors, and Verizon, she founded The L3 Agency in 2000.

    Under her leadership, The L3 Agency evolved from an experiential marketing firm into a strategy and thought leadership agency. The firm secured Verizon as its first Midwest agency of record, managing the partnership for five years. Since 2019, the agency has become a recognized leader in the utility and energy sector, providing strategic community outreach and public relations services throughout Chicago and the North Shore.

    Larvetta combines strategic insight, authentic storytelling, and community engagement to help organizations build meaningful connections with diverse audiences and create lasting business and social impact.

    We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300.

    Support the show

    JOIN THE BBM FAM

    Stay connected for exclusive announcements and special offers by texting: "BBM FAM" to 312-300-1300

    CONNECT WITH BLACK BUSINESSES MATTER

    Website: TheL3Agency.com
    Instagram: @blackbusinessesmatterpodcast
    LinkedIn: The L3 Agency
    TikTok: @blackbusinessesmatterpod

    Follow Black Businesses Matter on Instagram and join the conversation around Black entrepreneurship, business growth, community, leadership, and economic opportunity.

    Share this episode with a founder, business owner, colleague, or community leader who could find value in it.
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    35 分
  • The Business of Community Building: Creating Jobs, Ownership, & Opportunities with James Parker, 1921 Coworking, Inc.

    The Business of Community Building: Creating Jobs, Ownership, & Opportunities with James Parker, 1921 Coworking, Inc.
    2026/09/21

    What happens when Black entrepreneurs stop thinking only about building individual businesses and start thinking about building an entire business ecosystem?

    In this episode of the Black Businesses Matter Podcast, Larvetta L. Loftin-Arnold sits down with James Parker, CEO and Founder of 1921 Coworking, Inc. and 1921 Incubator, NFP, to talk about his vision for creating a stronger business community on Chicago's South Side.

    Named in honor of the historic Black Wall Street of Tulsa, 1921 is being developed as a tech and manufacturing incubator designed to give entrepreneurs a place to build, connect, create jobs, and grow their businesses within the community.

    James shares his story as a serial tech entrepreneur, what inspired him to create 1921, and why he believes entrepreneurship should be connected to job creation, ownership, and opportunity.

    We also hear from special guest Cynda Williams, who shares her Chicago roots, creative journey, and why initiatives like 1921 are important to the community.

    Together, we talk about entrepreneurship, technology, creativity, community, ownership, and what it means to build opportunities where you live.

    Whether you’re a Chicago-based entrepreneur or building your business somewhere else, this conversation offers inspiration and insight on entrepreneurship, community, ownership, and creating opportunities that can make a difference.

    In this episode:

    • How to build a business ecosystem instead of building your business in isolation
    • Why creating jobs can become part of your business strategy and community impact
    • How entrepreneurs can use technology to create new businesses and opportunities
    • What it takes to build a business community where entrepreneurs can connect, collaborate, and grow
    • Why ownership matters when the goal is to create long-term wealth and opportunity
    • How to think beyond “making it out” and start building where you live
    • Why local businesses can play a bigger role in creating stronger, more vibrant communities
    • How creativity and technology can work together to create new opportunities
    • What entrepreneurs can learn from the legacy of Black Wall Street
    • Why the future of Black business requires more than individual success. It requires building something that creates opportunities for others.


    ABOUT JAMES PARKER

    James Parker is the CEO and Founder of 1921 Coworking, Inc. and 1921 Incubator, NFP.

    His vision for 1921 brings together entrepreneurship, technology, coworking, manufacturing, and community development.

    The 1921 vision includes multiple phases, from an entrepreneurship hub and training room to coworking, offices, outdoor workspaces, and a manufacturing hub.

    Connect with our Guest

    • Website | https://www.1921coworking.com
    • Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/1921CoWorking/
    • Instagram| https://www.instagram.com/1921coworking/

    We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300.

    Support the show

    JOIN THE BBM FAM

    Stay connected for exclusive announcements and special offers by texting: "BBM FAM" to 312-300-1300

    CONNECT WITH BLACK BUSINESSES MATTER

    Website: TheL3Agency.com
    Instagram: @blackbusinessesmatterpodcast
    LinkedIn: The L3 Agency
    TikTok: @blackbusinessesmatterpod

    Follow Black Businesses Matter on Instagram and join the conversation around Black entrepreneurship, business growth, community, leadership, and economic opportunity.

    Share this episode with a founder, business owner, colleague, or community leader who could find value in it.
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    1 時間 11 分
  • The Evolution of Entrepreneurship: How to Build, Scale, & Create Impact with Marc Brooks

    The Evolution of Entrepreneurship: How to Build, Scale, & Create Impact with Marc Brooks
    2026/09/14

    Most entrepreneurs know how to start a business. Far fewer know how to build one that can grow beyond them, create opportunities for others, and stand the test of time.

    In this episode Larvetta L. Loftin-Arnold sits down with Marc Brooks, Founder and CEO of Hyde Park Hospitality, to explore the evolution of entrepreneurship and what it really takes to build, scale, and sustain a successful business.

    Drawing from decades of entrepreneurial experience, Marc shares lessons from building businesses across industries, scaling a wireless company to 27 locations, successfully selling multiple ventures, and growing High Park Hospitality into an organization with more than 1,000 employees.

    Marc explains why a strong business plan remains valuable long after launch, when founders need to invest in infrastructure and talent, and why entrepreneurs must eventually stop trying to do everything themselves.

    The conversation also explores exit strategies, major corporate partnerships, navigating setbacks, adapting to AI and automation, and the power of collaboration among Black business owners.

    Beyond growth and revenue, Marc shares a bigger vision for entrepreneurship. Building businesses that create jobs, develop people, strengthen communities, and open doors for the next generation.

    In this episode:

    • Why business planning still matters as your company evolves

    • How to think about your exit strategy before you need one

    • Preparing your business for larger corporate opportunities

    • When to invest in infrastructure and additional talent

    • Building a team instead of carrying everything yourself

    • Lessons from scaling into airport hospitality

    • Why relationships can become a competitive advantage

    • The role of partnerships and collaboration in business growth

    • Navigating setbacks without burning valuable bridges

    • How AI and automation may reshape hospitality

    • Why Black-owned businesses are vital to their communities

    • Building a business that creates opportunity beyond the founder


    CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST

    • LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/marc-b-brooks
    • Website | https://hph-us.com/


    Be sure to follow our podcast on Instagram. I can't wait to see you join us and take the pledge of #blackbusinessesmatter


    We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300.

    Support the show

    JOIN THE BBM FAM

    Stay connected for exclusive announcements and special offers by texting: "BBM FAM" to 312-300-1300

    CONNECT WITH BLACK BUSINESSES MATTER

    Website: TheL3Agency.com
    Instagram: @blackbusinessesmatterpodcast
    LinkedIn: The L3 Agency
    TikTok: @blackbusinessesmatterpod

    Follow Black Businesses Matter on Instagram and join the conversation around Black entrepreneurship, business growth, community, leadership, and economic opportunity.

    Share this episode with a founder, business owner, colleague, or community leader who could find value in it.
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    1 時間 6 分
  • CEO Nicole Jordan-Reed Shares How Corporate Skills Can Build A Food Empire

    CEO Nicole Jordan-Reed Shares How Corporate Skills Can Build A Food Empire
    2026/06/22

    A catering company can serve amazing food and still lose the room if the operations fall apart. We sit down with Nicole Jordan-Reed, founder of Nicole Jordan Catering in Chicago, to talk about what actually makes events feel seamless: leadership, systems, and the kind of customer service that guests remember long after the last plate is cleared. Nicole brings nearly a decade of catering growth plus a deep corporate background in consulting, HR tech, and product work, and she shows how those skills translate directly into her business.

    We get into the real mechanics of corporate event catering and high-touch service: proposals, timelines, staffing, logistics, and why Nicole treats every event like a project with a start, middle, and finish. She then shares a teachable moment from a 7 AM breakfast delivery. If you’ve ever wondered what operational excellence looks like behind the scenes, that moment tells it all.

    We also go deep into practical ways to use AI in a food business to improve speed, clarity, and scalability, from SOPs and workflow documentation to recipe scaling and menu development. Finally, we zoom out to the bigger mission: why Black-owned businesses matter, how Black businesses function as local economic engines, and what it takes to build companies that create good jobs, stronger benefits, and more freedom for our communities.

    We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300.

    Support the show

    JOIN THE BBM FAM

    Stay connected for exclusive announcements and special offers by texting: "BBM FAM" to 312-300-1300

    CONNECT WITH BLACK BUSINESSES MATTER

    Website: TheL3Agency.com
    Instagram: @blackbusinessesmatterpodcast
    LinkedIn: The L3 Agency
    TikTok: @blackbusinessesmatterpod

    Follow Black Businesses Matter on Instagram and join the conversation around Black entrepreneurship, business growth, community, leadership, and economic opportunity.

    Share this episode with a founder, business owner, colleague, or community leader who could find value in it.
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    1 時間 8 分
  • Honor Your Flow with CEO Cecelia Towns-Scott

    Honor Your Flow with CEO Cecelia Towns-Scott
    2026/06/15

    A lot of products claim to be “game changers," but this one is literally patented. We’re sitting down with Cecilia Towns-Scott, a south side Chicago attorney, founder, wife, and mom who spent ten years building Honor, a sustainable period and bladder leak brief designed for how life actually moves. Her innovation is simple to understand and hard to pull off: a reusable product with a removable liner, so you can swap a fresh one fast instead of feeling stuck all day.

    We talk about the real mechanics behind product development: trial and error, fabric testing, feedback from friends, funding wins and funding droughts, and the quiet moments when quitting feels logical. Cecilia also breaks down why “Honor Your Flow” is bigger than underwear. Menstrual health is tied to stress, food, movement, and the other 21 days around the actual menstruation, and the brand’s mission is to replace embarrassment with education and confidence.

    Then, we zoom out into entrepreneurship strategy. Big box retail sounds like the dream, but retail readiness is a money and logistics game with pallets, shelf space fees, and inventory risks most people never hear about. We unpack why community partnerships, direct-to-consumer sales, and owning your IP first can protect both your margins and your mission. If you’ve been pushed out, laid off, or underestimated, Cecilia’s advice is clear: "get mad, then build."

    We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300.

    Support the show

    JOIN THE BBM FAM

    Stay connected for exclusive announcements and special offers by texting: "BBM FAM" to 312-300-1300

    CONNECT WITH BLACK BUSINESSES MATTER

    Website: TheL3Agency.com
    Instagram: @blackbusinessesmatterpodcast
    LinkedIn: The L3 Agency
    TikTok: @blackbusinessesmatterpod

    Follow Black Businesses Matter on Instagram and join the conversation around Black entrepreneurship, business growth, community, leadership, and economic opportunity.

    Share this episode with a founder, business owner, colleague, or community leader who could find value in it.
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    1 時間 8 分