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Devin: What is your superpower?
Dr. Canaan: Faith and empathy
Affordable housing is more than a real estate challenge; it’s a mission to create stability and hope. In today’s episode, I had the pleasure of exploring this mission with Dr. Canaan Van Williams, the Fund Manager of ProActive Real Estate Group. His work focuses on Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAA), helping underserved communities secure quality, affordable homes while delivering returns for investors.
In observance of Juneteenth, I invite you to invest today in a Black Founder’s business.
Dr. Canaan shared his passion for affordable housing through his latest project, Rancho Affordable Living, in Las Vegas. This 23-unit development provides low-income housing at 20–30 percent below market rates. It prioritizes second-chance housing for people previously evicted, unhoused, or escaping domestic violence. He explained, “Second chance housing is such a huge part of the low-income affordable housing sector. We tend to serve people who are anywhere from 50 to 30 percent AMI or below.”
What makes this effort even more compelling is its focus on impact and speed. By revitalizing existing properties, ProActive Real Estate Group avoids the delays associated with subsidies, enabling quicker housing solutions. According to Canaan, “We’re able to achieve above market-rate returns because we pass on the cost savings benefits of revitalizing what’s existing.”
For those who want to get involved, there’s exciting news: ProActive Real Estate Group has a live Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) campaign now. This democratizes investment opportunities, allowing non-accredited investors to support affordable housing while earning current income.
Canaan brings a unique perspective to this work, drawing from his upbringing in Oakland, California, where his family benefited from affordable housing programs. This personal connection fuels his commitment to creating sustainable communities. “We do everything we can to help our residents,” he shared.
Affordable housing projects like Rancho Affordable Living exemplify how mission-driven investments can combine social impact with financial returns. By investing in efforts like this, we can celebrate milestones like Juneteenth not just in words, but in action.
tl;dr:
Dr. Canaan Van Williams pioneers affordable housing projects like Rancho Affordable Living, offering below-market rents.
His work prioritizes second-chance housing, helping underserved people rebuild their lives with dignity.
ProActive Real Estate Group’s Reg CF campaign allows everyone to invest in impactful housing solutions.
Dr. Canaan’s faith in God and humanity drives his compassionate approach to building sustainable communities.
His advocacy for housing stability showcases the power of love, empathy, and mission-driven leadership.
How to Develop Faith and Empathy As a Superpower
Dr. Canaan’s superpower is rooted in his faith in God and humanity, coupled with a deep empathy for others. He said, “Our superpower is love. We really practice and demonstrate empathy as much as we possibly can.” This perspective drives his work, enabling him to create housing solutions that prioritize dignity and community for underserved populations. Dr. Canaan’s faith inspires him to focus on impact first, trusting that everything else will follow.
A compelling example of Dr. Canaan’s superpower in action comes from a story about two single mothers in Las Vegas. Both women, homeless and struggling with expired Section 8 vouchers, reached out to him for help. Despite bureaucratic resistance, Canaan advocated on their behalf, convincing the housing office to reinstate their vouchers. His determination and empathy changed their lives, providing them with stable homes for their families.
Tips for Developing Faith and Empathy as Strengths:
Practice Compassion Daily: Look for opportunities to help others, even in small ways.
Advocate Relentlessly: Stand firm for those in need, even when facing resistance.
Stay Mission-Focused: Let your values guide your actions, especially in challenging situations.
Draw Strength from Faith: Lean into your beliefs to sustain your commitment to doing good.
By following Dr. Canaan’s example and advice, you can make faith and empathy a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.
Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!
Guest Profile
Dr. Canaan Van Williams (he/him):
Fund Manager, ProActive Real Estate Group
About ProActive Real Estate Group: ProActive Real Estate Group is a mission-driven investment firm specializing in affordable housing that delivers both market-rate returns and measurable social impact. Through the ProActive Impact Fund and “Flight to Safety” strategy, the firm acquires, revitalizes, and manages Class C multifamily, NOAH, and manufactured housing in underserved communities. ProActive’s work aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and emphasizes community uplift without displacement. By combining financial expertise with transparent ESG reporting, ProActive offers investors—ranging from individuals to institutions—ethical, de-risked real estate opportunities that strengthen neighborhoods and generate long-term value.
Website: proactiveimpactfund.com
Other URL: proactivefunds.sppx.io/otp/RA-CF-2025
Biographical Information: Dr. Canaan Van Williams is a seasoned impact investor, fund manager, and social innovator dedicated to transforming underserved communities through sustainable housing solutions. As Fund Manager at ProActive Real Estate Group, he leads investment strategies that generate consistent market-rate returns while delivering measurable social impact. His work focuses on revitalizing Class C and distressed Class B multifamily properties, Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH), and manufactured housing to create vibrant, affordable communities—without displacement or gentrification.
Guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Dr. Williams tackles poverty, inequality, and urban sustainability through strategic real estate investments. His projects are backed by transparent reporting, including Morningstar Sustainalytics’ ESG ratings, giving investors confidence in both performance and purpose.
With a Ph.D. in Psychology and certifications in property and private equity management, Dr. Williams combines human insight with financial acumen. He partners with high-net-worth individuals, family offices, funds, and institutions seeking ethical, de-risked, and socially responsible investment opportunities.
Dr. Williams is a trusted leader at the intersection of finance and social change—proving that real estate can be a force for good. Learn more at www.Flight2Safety.com or connect with him at LinkedIn.
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-canaan-williams-aa3924b
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Upcoming SuperCrowd Event Calendar
If a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.
Join us on June 25, 2025, at 8:00 PM Eastern for the Superpowers for Good Live Pitch—streaming on e360tv, where purpose-driven founders take the virtual stage to present their active Regulation Crowdfunding campaigns to a national audience of investors and changemakers. Selected startups are chosen for their commitment to community, alignment with NC3’s Community Capital Principles, and their drive to create real-world impact. Thanks to sponsors DNA and DealMaker, this event is free to watch and amplifies the voices of underrepresented and mission-aligned entrepreneurs. Don’t miss this inspiring evening where capital meets purpose—tune in to discover and support the next wave of impact-driven innovation.
Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on July 15, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.
SuperCrowd25, August 21st and 22nd: This two-day virtual event is an annual tradition but with big upgrades for 2025! We’ll be streaming live across the web and on TV via e360tv. Soon, we’ll open a process for nominating speakers. Check back!
Community Event Calendar
Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events.
Devin Thorpe is featured in a free virtual masterclass series hosted by Irina Portnova titled Break Free, Elevate Your Money Mindset & Call In Overflow, focused on transforming your relationship with money through personal stories and practical insights. June 8-21, 2025.
Join Dorian Dickinson, founder & CEO of FundingHope, for Startup.com’s monthly crowdfunding workshop, where he'll dive into strategies for successfully raising capital through investment crowdfunding. June 24 at noon Eastern.
Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025.
Call for community action:
Please show your support for a tax credit for investments made via Regulation Crowdfunding, benefiting both the investors and the small businesses that receive the investments. Learn more here.
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