Real Estate Investing & Mentorship That Changes Lives: Dr. Craig Smith
By Lana Reid | August 17, 2022
As part of the Black Men Matter Series, Lana Reid sits down with Dr. Craig Smith, author, entrepreneur, and educator, to discuss real estate investing, mentorship, and building pathways to opportunity through financial education. Dr. Smith shares how access to real estate knowledge, private lending, and intentional mentorship can create long-term stability and economic mobility, particularly for individuals and families facing systemic barriers. He reflects on the responsibility of using business and education as tools for lasting community impact.
In this episode of The Male Perspective, Dr. Craig Smith explores how real estate investing can serve as both a financial strategy and a vehicle for community transformation.
Dr. Smith explains how real estate education empowers individuals to understand ownership, leverage capital responsibly, and build generational wealth. He discusses how lack of access to financial literacy often prevents people from seeing real estate as an attainable pathway, rather than an exclusive industry reserved for a few.
Throughout the conversation, Lana Reid and Dr. Smith examine the role of mentorship in expanding opportunity. Dr. Smith emphasizes that mentorship provides more than technical knowledge — it offers guidance, accountability, and confidence for individuals navigating unfamiliar financial systems. He shares how structured mentorship and education can help at-risk youth and underserved communities access new possibilities.
The discussion also highlights community-focused investing. Dr. Smith reflects on why real estate development must be rooted in ethical leadership, long-term vision, and social responsibility. He explains how investing with intention can strengthen neighborhoods while creating sustainable economic outcomes.
This episode offers insight into how education, mentorship, and strategic investing intersect to create access, stability, and meaningful change.
About the Guest
Dr. Craig Smith is an author, entrepreneur, and educator whose work focuses on real estate investing, financial education, and mentorship. Through coaching and community initiatives, he helps individuals and organizations build sustainable pathways toward economic empowerment.
For more information on Dr. Craig Smith:
https://www.csmithfunding.com/
https://www.fosteringsuccessb2m.org/
https://www.instagram.com/fosteringsuccessb2m/
https://www.streamstosuccess.com/optin1610911820635
About the Series
This episode is part of the Black Men Matter Series, highlighting Black men whose leadership in business, education, and mentorship creates access, opportunity, and community impact.
About the Host & Organization
The Male Perspective is hosted by Lana Reid, founder of Conversations in Color, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) grassroots organization dedicated to providing uplifting and community-building spaces of dialogue for Black voices.
Conversations in Color’s Current Initiatives
THE MALE PERSPECTIVE
The purpose of The Male Perspective is to dispel stereotypes and increase awareness of the experiences of Black men through open discussions, thought-provoking interviews, and the sharing of personal experiences that highlight the diversity and depth of the Black male experience.
SISTAS REBUILDING SISTERHOOD
Sistas Rebuilding Sisterhood is an intergenerational community of Black women who come together for relaxed, non-judgmental gatherings to exchange ideas, share experiences, and collaborate in a collective effort to improve the quality of sisterhood interactions in everyday life.
TAPESTRY OF BLACK VOICES AWARDS
The Tapestry of Black Voices Awards honors local communities and showcases the creativity, brilliance, and lived experiences of Black voices across the United States.