ABOUT OUR FEB SPEAKER:
Our kickoff speaker is Richard Townsell, a Chicago (North Lawndale) native and nationally recognized thought leader in community development. Over his 20+ year career, Richard has developed nearly 600 units of residential and commercial properties, representing more than $120 million in total development costs, and has helped design comprehensive community plans focused on affordable housing, education, and economic growth.
Richard currently serves as Executive Director of the Lawndale Christian Development Corporation and has taught community development at Northwestern University’s Asset-Based Community Development Institute and the Chicago Rehab Network’s Urban Developer’s Institute. He holds degrees from Northwestern University and Spertus College, and earned his Doctorate in Ministry from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Christian Community Development in 2024.
His leadership has been honored with awards from the Ford Foundation, Leadership Greater Chicago, and recognition as a Notable Leader in Community Development by Crain’s Chicago Business.
We’re excited to launch the Mox.E Speaker Series — a curated experience designed for Black and Brown entrepreneurs in the Entrenuity Accelerator Cohort and Mox.E community. This series connects founders with world-class action leaders who share real strategies, decisions, and lessons behind measurable business growth. It's for founders who want more than inspiration — they want practical insight from leaders who’ve built real results.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT EACH EVENT:
-
Practical strategies from leaders who have built and scaled
-
Honest conversation about what drives sustainable success
-
Tools and takeaways you can apply immediately to your own business
-
A space to connect with other entrepreneurs, founders, and changemakers
SESSION 1: WHAT FAILURE TAUGHT US:
Our kickoff workshop, “What Failure Taught Us,” features Richard Townsell sharing hard-earned lessons from navigating organizational crisis and rebuilding after an organization was nearly bankrupt. Entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders are sometimes forced to step into messy transitions — taking over failed ventures, entering partnerships, or discovering challenges they weren’t prepared for.
This session is designed for leaders facing significant obstacles and looking for more than survival strategies.
Key takeaways include:
-
How to reframe problems into clear, manageable issues
-
How to communicate with investors during financial trouble
-
Where to begin when everything feels like a crisis