CLTRE

02/12/2026

Behind every success story is a system that helped make it possible.

We’re proud to share Bridging the Gap, a short film that highlights the real-world impact of CLTRE through the voices of people we’ve had the privilege to serve.

You’ll meet entrepreneurs building sustainable businesses, residents stepping into homeownership, and community members finding new pathways forward. Their stories are personal, practical, and powerful.

The film was created by CLTRE program alum Erica Jacobs-Ware of Girl Wonder Films, a powerful example of the ecosystem at work. A graduate became the storyteller, helping capture the next generation of impact.

Beyond the individual journeys, the film quietly reflects something deeper: the unseen infrastructure CLTRE provides. The coaching, partnerships, and resources that work in the background so opportunity can show up in the foreground.

This is what community development looks like in real time.

Watch the full film and see the impact for yourself.

Bridging the Gap takes viewers inside the real stories of people whose lives have been changed through CLTRE’s work.The film follows entrepreneurs, creatives...

08/20/2025

Sacramento is a city where creativity and entrepreneurship intersect. Recognizing the need to support this growing sector, CLTRE, Creative Startups, and the City of Sacramento Office of Arts and Culture have partnered to launch the EveryDay Creative Program.

The program consists of three specialized tracks, each designed to support creative entrepreneurs at different stages of their journey. Track 1, the 6-Week Pitch Program, is currently open with applications closing September 15.

This track provides early-stage entrepreneurs with the tools and guidance needed to refine their ideas, strengthen their pitches, and prepare for growth.

Read The Full Story:

CLTRE’s EveryDay Creative Program, in partnership with Creative Startups and the City of Sacramento, equips local entrepreneurs with mentorship, training, and resources to grow their businesses. Applications for the 6-Week Pitch Program close September 15.

08/20/2025

In the early hours of August 27, 2023, flames tore through Casa Bella Furniture Store, a family-owned business that had anchored Del Paso Boulevard for two decades.

By morning, nothing remained but charred debris and smoke hanging heavy in the air. Owners Shane and Rhody Curry suspected arson—a suspicion echoed by neighbors who had seen too many fires burn too close for comfort. Sacramento Fire officials could not confirm the cause, as the building had to be knocked down before accelerant tests could be done. Still, for a boulevard already burdened by theft, vandalism, and shootings, the loss felt like the latest blow in a long fight.

“We have often mulled the idea: ‘Are we dumb for being here?’” Shane Curry told reporters that day. “But then look around you and you see all these people here.”

That gathering of neighbors and advocates, including members of the Del Paso Boulevard Partnership, was more than a show of solidarity—it was a sign that the Boulevard’s story was not over.

For Roshaun Davis, Founder and Executive Director of CLTRE, the fire was not just a tragedy. It was a call to reimagine what could rise from the ashes.

Read The Full Story: https://cltre.org/ground-zero-for-change-cltre-house-and-the-future-of-district-2/

08/15/2025

When Doug Cupid and Gordon Lim joined our EveryDay Creative program, they each brought distinct businesses, talents, and goals. Over the course of the program, they saw an opportunity to combine their strengths and create something bigger together.

Through CLTRE’s network of mentors and partners they met Sharp, Esq., ABFP™, and she helped establish the infrastructure to merge their ventures and position themselves for scale.

This is what happens when creative entrepreneurs are supported with culturally relevant programming, strategic mentorship, and a community invested in their success.

08/12/2025

When Jamara Hicks faced the risk of losing her home, she turned to CLTRE’s Keeper First-Time Homebuyer Program, and eventually, our EveryDay Creative Program.

With support from U.S. Bank, the Office of Arts & Culture - City of Sacramento, and other partners, she gained the tools to strengthen her personal finances, restructure her business, and attract new capital. That investment has not only positioned her to be ready to purchase her first home, but also to expand her business Blacker the Berry Health + Wellness with innovative offerings like the Cancer Warriors High SocieTEA Party.

This upcoming event blends entrepreneurship, culture, and wellness — an example of how investing in the creative economy creates both economic resilience and generational wealth.

Read her full story here: https://cltre.org/buying-a-home-building-a-business-a-first-time-home-buyers-journey-through-cltre/

08/12/2025

In the early hours of August 27, 2023, flames tore through Casa Bella Furniture, a family-owned business that had anchored Del Paso Boulevard for two decades. By morning, nothing remained but charred debris and smoke hanging heavy in the air.

Owners Shane and Rhody Curry suspected arson—a suspicion echoed by neighbors who had seen too many fires burn too close for comfort. Sacramento Fire officials could not confirm the cause, as the building had to be knocked down before accelerant tests could be done. Still, for a boulevard already burdened by theft, vandalism, and shootings, the loss felt like the latest blow in a long fight.

CLTRE House is transforming a fire-damaged site in Sacramento’s District 2 into 32,000 square feet of workforce housing and creator space, driven by vision, community, and the right partners.

08/07/2025

Chef Eríc Martínez of Crispín Supper Club and designer Dennis Delgado met through CLTRE’s network. That connection has grown into a collaboration that will represent Sacramento at Terra Madre, one of the most significant culinary gatherings in the world.

Terra Madre honors heritage, sustainability, and the connection between people and place. Eríc’s menu celebrates the agricultural richness of the Sacramento Valley, while Dennis is creating a dining space that reflects the land and the culture that sustains it.

This project shows what can happen when creative entrepreneurs are resourced and connected through strong local networks. With support from CLTRE and the City of Sacramento, this collaboration is putting Sacramento’s creative economy on an international stage.

🔗 Read the full story: https://cltre.org/cltre-creative-economy-eric-martinez-dennis-delgado-terra-madre/

08/07/2025

Seventeen years ago, Tanya Scott sat in a doctor’s office and heard the words “Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.” Six months to live.

A single mother of two, her focus shifted to survival.

On May 7, 2025, Tanya opened the door to her first home through the CLTRE Keeper Program, supported by the City of Sacramento and the U.S. Bank Foundation. She received $17,500 in down payment assistance from the City and $20,000 from U.S. Bank Foundation, unlocking a $425,000 home and a legacy for her family.

“Owning a home gives me a sense of pride and security I didn’t know I was missing. Buying my first home wasn’t promised, just like life wasn’t. But I’m still here. And now, I own a piece of that survival.”

Thank you to our partners, supporters, and lenders who make stories like Tanya’s possible. Together, we are creating pathways to generational wealth and stability for families in Sacramento.

🔗 Read Tanya’s full story: https://cltre.org/from-stage-4-to-a-front-door-tanya-scotts-journey-to-hope-and-first-time-homeownership/

07/30/2025

Payday loans drain millions from Sacramento’s economy every year, creating cycles of debt that are hard to escape.

CLTRE’s EveryDay Creative alum Arthur Griffith II built Boomerang REFI to change that. With support from CLTRE and key partners, this platform helps residents refinance payday loans and access financial tools that lead to long-term stability.

This work is an example of what happens when creative entrepreneurs, community development organizations, and capital partners align to address systemic gaps.

🔗 Read the full story:

Arthur Griffith II, a graduate of CLTRE’s EveryDay Creative Accelerator, is tackling payday loan debt in Sacramento with Boomerang REFI. Learn how this pilot program is creating financial freedom and strengthening the Creative Economy.

07/04/2025

A few weeks ago, we kicked off Cohort 3 of our CLTRE Keeper First-Time Homebuyer Program.

In partnership with U.S. Bank, Sacramento Region Community Foundation, City of Sacramento, Government, River City Bank, All City Homes, and KB Home, we took participants to tour homes that they could own once they complete the program.

This is what it looks like when culture, community, and capital align.

Partner with us to make homeownership possible for more families.