Akindele Akerejah, a 23-year-old Nigerian immigrant, was working as senior line cook at the Mayorga Coffee Factory in Silver Spring. He had received his Food Safety Manager certification, but his dream was to start and grow his own, street vending business, where he could sell something other than just hot dogs. 

When Akindele arrived at LEDC’s offices, he had not seen his credit report.  LEDC provided credit counseling and helped Akindele understand and correct errors on the report.  With LEDC he developed a plan to improve his credit score over time.  Akindele attended LEDC business training workshops, and received one-on-one technical assistance on cash flow management, budgeting, and refinement of his business model. Most importantly, LEDC was able to provide a loan to Akindele in order for him to purchase his vending cart.  LEDC also helped him apply for another loan, which he received, from Innovative Bank.  Weeks later, Akindele opened his business on the corner of 14th and G Streets in a highly trafficked downtown business corridor of Washington, DC. 

The following month, a story about Akindele and his chicken shwarma business appeared on the front page of the Food section in the Washington Post.  The following day, the line at Akindele’s vending cart ran for a block and a half, and Akindele ran out of chicken shwarma and began passing out coupons for the following day.  While lines continue to form every day, Akindele vows to LEDC that he will never run out of shwarma again.  LEDC continues to work with Akindele to compare actual financials with projections and to fine tune his business plan as his business grows.

Tenants United for Liberty and Justice for All 

When the residents of 1111 Columbia Road, NW first contacted LEDC, they were living in a deteriorating building with serious housing code violations, including a crumbling infrastructure and pest and rodent infestations. Wanting change but not knowing the proper steps to take, the tenants contacted LEDC

With LEDC trainings and assistance, the tenants were able to get informed and take an active role in creating change within their building. Now organized as the Tenants United for Dignity and Justice for All, the residents of 1111 Columbia Road have been able to establish new management within the building and receive DCRA inspections, which led to exterminations and repairs to the building’s common areas and all individual units with children.

 The success of these tenants is credited to their ability to take advantage of LEDC resources while independently remaining informed and creating a motivated and structured tenant organization. The organization now monitors and safeguards against tenant rights violations in the building.

Delmy Diaz
Homeowner

Delmy Diaz first came to LEDC with hopes of becoming a homeowner through the HPAP program. Although Delmy rented in Northwest DC she came into LEDC with an open mind and an optimistic outlook about moving neighborhoods in order to become a homeowner. In less than three months, she was able to achieve her goal by purchasing a two-bedroom condominium unit in Southeast DC. Always prepared with her documents and willing to follow LEDC advice, she was able to obtain a no-interest HPAP loan to pay almost half of the purchase price down with minimal personal financial contribution.

It is people just like Delmy that LEDC seeks to help each day: someone with a vision and a willingness to take the necessary steps to make their vision a reality.

Derek Lowery
Owner, Delectable Cakery

From a very early age, Derek Lowery’s hobby was baking cakes. Derek received rave reviews from friends and family for his “Washington Sweet Potato Cake” – a recipe from his late mother.  Shortly, Derek’s hobby became his profession, and he opened “Delectable Cakery”, a dessert wholesale business.  Eight years later, Derek’s business had grown to the point where he would need an additional freezer to meet growing demand.  Unfortunately, Derek’s credit score was damaged from shuffling credit cards to finance the growth of his business. He was referred to LEDC by a commercial bank after he was turned down for a loan.

Derek took full advantage of LEDC’s services, learning QuickBooks to track his cash flow, and receiving consulting to secure a retail space in the DCUSA shopping mall being built in Columbia Heights.

Since receiving the LEDC loan, Derek has hired a new full-time assistant, a part-time cake froster and decorator, two deliverymen, and two part-time kitchen helpers. Derek’s cake is now sold in Nordstrom’s espresso bars in Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  In October 2007, Derek also secured a pilot contract with a Marriott Hotel.

For more information about Derek Lowery’s Delectable Desserts, you can contact his business directly at: (301) 577-7115.

Reyna Velasquez
Co-owner, Moroni &Bros Pizzeria

Fidelina Flores
Tenant, Oak Street Apartments

Having lived on Oak Street for many years, Fidelina Flores became concerned when she began noticing frequent drug use and prostitution within her building.  The apartments were also in very poor condition and many did not have functioning heat. She worried that she would not be able to continue living in her building and requested help from LEDC’s Affordable Housing Preservation Program. LEDC helped Fidelina along with other concerned tenants form a tenant association to fight to preserve their homes and quality of life

 “Thanks to the Tenant Association- and the support of LEDC- things have changed little by little” says Fidelina. Her building is currently undergoing a total renovation and is expected to be completed in the near future. This will include an improved security for the Section 8 residents. Members of the tenant association hope that once the renovations are complete, their building will be granted a 20 year Section 8 contract by HUD, a goal they hope to meet with the support of LEDC. 

Paul Sneed
Homeowner

When Paul Sneed first entered LEDC’s offices a year and a half ago, he had hopes of becoming a homeowner for the first time. Paul’s credit history and outstanding payments however were standing in the way of his dream of finally owning his own home.

His determination to become a homeowner was so strong that he was ready to accept and willing to implement the advice given to him. LEDC worked with Paul to create a strict budget and payment plan to re-establish his credit. Paul not only followed LEDC’s guidelines, but he took the initiative to negotiate with the loan companies himself. Building on LEDC’s commitment to helping each client meet their specific goals, Paul came to us for continued support and advice throughout the process.

Now, just a year after walking into LEDC, Paul has re-established his good credit having raised his credit score well over a hundred points. Taking advantage of a project of Manna, one of DC’s non-profit housing developers, Paul has purchased a completely renovated, two-bedroom condo for himself. Having organized many aspects of his life throughout the process of purchasing a home, Paul is determined to continue the trend. He’s now methodically and systematically considering the prospect of opening a limousine company.

The Peabody Cooperative Owners' Association

One cold winter day, the residents of 1333 Peabody Street, mainly immigrant families from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala, received notice that their owner had contracted with an investment company to sell their building. Some of these residents have lived in the building for over 30 years, while others had only been in the United States for a few years, yet none of them could bear the thought of being displaced from their homes. After receiving an offer of sale from the owner stating that if the tenants could match the purchase price they could buy the building, the tenant association began exploring about ways to accomplish this complex and expensive goal. As low to moderate income tenants with fulltime jobs, families and no previous real estate experience, it seemed to be an insurmountable task.

But having seen other family members use LEDC’s services in the past, one resident suggested contacting us for advice and support.  

Since that time, LEDC has helped the residents of 1333 Peabody Street form and maintain a tenant association as well as find a non-profit developer and a pro-bono legal team to assist in purchasing the building. Thanks to LEDC’s Affordable Housing Preservation Program, the tenants of 1333 Peabody Street were not displaced from their homes, and on March 24, 2007, the Peabody Tenant Association changed its name to the Peabody Cooperative Owners Association. The Owners Association represents LEDC’s values and vision – that under-represented communities are empowered to build their wealth, financial stability, and self-sufficiency.

Wheaton Business Alliance

In an effort to stave off a rise in taxes, Montgomery County’s Council did what many like it have done before—they sought an alternative source of revenue, and found it in the parking meters across the county.  Their plan would have lengthened the hours during which visitors have to pay to park and would have dramatically damaged the small businesses that give the Wheaton Urban District its distinct spirit.  Foreseeing this effect, LEDC and numerous Wheaton small business owners collaborated to organize the community.  LEDC and the business owners secured over 350 signatures in a petition to support the repeal of the new law—and they were successful!

LEDC hosted a victory party to celebrate this successful advocacy effort. The celebration’s special guest was Councilmember Valerie Ervin who represents the Fifth District (which includes Wheaton).  Councilmember Ervin sponsored the repeal of the legislation and secured a unanimous vote from all nine members of the Council on Tuesday, July 31. This grassroots effort was one of the first steps toward the creation of the Wheaton Merchant’s Alliance—an effort that will ensure the long-term viability of small, independently-owned businesses in Wheaton.