Building a Legacy of Ownership & Community: A WEOP Initiative for Women Business Owners
We are excited to introduce Building a Legacy of Ownership & Community (BLOC), a powerful, hands-on educational experience designed for business owners who are exploring the connection between real estate, community impact, economic development, and business growth.
This six-month learning experience is intentionally up close and personal. Participants engage in monthly classes, special field experiences, group-based simulated assignments, and meaningful discussions with industry professionals. The goal of BLOC is to help business owners think more strategically about ownership, wealth-building, and the role they can play in shaping stronger communities.
At the heart of the program is a powerful message: building wealth is not only about business growth. It is also about ownership, legacy, investment, and understanding how economic development creates opportunities for individuals, businesses, and communities.
Our most recent session featured a dynamic presentation by Joy Andrews, a distinguished real estate advisor with more than two decades of experience. Licensed in Georgia for 24 years and affiliated with Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty since 2013, Joy has been involved in more than $800 million in real estate sales throughout her career as an individual contributor, team leader, and executive.
Bringing her extensive real estate experience to the classroom, Joy led an in-depth discussion on Tax Allocation Districts, Opportunity Zones, real wealth creation strategies, and real-world business case examples. Her presentation helped participants better understand how public tools, private investment, and strategic business thinking can intersect to create long-term economic opportunity.
Adding to the discussion was our BLOC facilitator, Kinita “KC” Copeland, founder of KC Horizons LLC. KC is an experienced leader in business strategy, financial services, digital transformation, and community impact. She brings more than 15 years of experience helping businesses and professionals think strategically, build sustainable systems, and prepare for growth.
This is what makes the BLOC program unique. WEOP’s circle of industry professionals brings real experience, practical insight, business case examples, and valuable networking opportunities into the learning environment. Participants are not only learning concepts; they are engaging in conversations that help them think differently about ownership, capital, partnerships, and community-centered business growth.
The next BLOC session promises to be another exciting learning experience, featuring industry professionals who will continue to expose participants to new ideas, real-world strategies, and practical pathways for building wealth and community impact.
BLOC is a pilot project conducted in partnership with Pinnacle Financial Partners and TruFund, with the shared goal of helping entrepreneurs expand their vision, strengthen their business knowledge, and explore new pathways to ownership and economic opportunity.
Anyone interested in learning more about BLOC, applying for the program, or requesting to sit in on one of the classes may visit weop.org for additional information.
Article Footnote by Mary B