Jersey City, NJ — In a time of global economic uncertainty, trade disruptions, and widening inequality, one New Jersey changemaker is helping reframe the national dialogue — by listening. Alfa Demmellash, co-founder and CEO of Rising Tide Capital and a celebrated CNN Hero, has launched a powerful new platform: a series of honest, eye-opening conversations with community builders working on the front lines of economic transformation across the United States.
These candid interviews aren’t your typical soundbites — they’re deeply personal, often emotional stories that amplify the voices of local leaders and innovators who are shaping the future of their neighborhoods, cities, and industries in bold, grassroots ways.
A New Jersey Leader with a National Vision
Demmellash, a longtime resident of Jersey City and a champion for inclusive entrepreneurship, is no stranger to building change from the ground up. As the co-founder of Rising Tide Capital, a nationally recognized nonprofit based in New Jersey, she’s spent over two decades helping underserved entrepreneurs launch and grow businesses in communities too often left out of mainstream economic opportunities.
Her new conversation series expands on that mission — taking a deep dive into the lives and experiences of community-based problem solvers, social innovators, and economic justice advocates from all across the country.
“We’re living in a time when local leadership matters more than ever,” Demmellash said. “These conversations are about bringing to the surface the wisdom, resilience, and creative solutions that are already taking root in our communities — especially in places that are rarely spotlighted in national discourse.”
Tackling the Real Economic Conversation
At a moment when the headlines are dominated by global trade tensions, shifting labor markets, and rising costs of living, Demmellash’s work zeroes in on those who are doing the quiet, essential work of rebuilding local economies — one idea, one entrepreneur, and one conversation at a time.
From corner stores in Camden to startup cooperatives in Detroit, these community builders represent the real economy — the one that millions of Americans experience daily, far from Wall Street or Silicon Valley.
The conversations explore:
- How to build economic resilience in marginalized communities
- The human cost of trade wars, inflation, and policy shifts
- Innovative approaches to small business growth and workforce development
- Why entrepreneurship is a powerful tool for equity
By spotlighting real-world stories instead of theory, Demmellash is building a narrative ecosystem that celebrates solutions born of lived experience.
The Power of Candid Storytelling
What sets this series apart is its tone — raw, transparent, and grounded. Each conversation is built around mutual respect, honest reflection, and shared vision. It’s not about spotlighting celebrity voices or corporate talking points; it’s about learning from people who know what it takes to solve complex problems at the street level.
Whether it’s a farmer-turned-activist in the Midwest or a tech-savvy community organizer in Newark, these conversations remind us that leadership doesn’t always wear a suit — and that impact doesn’t always come from the top down.
From Jersey City to the Nation
While the series features changemakers from across the U.S., it stays deeply rooted in New Jersey values — resilience, grit, and a fierce belief in community. Demmellash herself embodies the best of the Garden State spirit: a daughter of Ethiopian immigrants who arrived with a global perspective and a local passion for building opportunities where they’re needed most.
Rising Tide Capital, her organization, continues to serve thousands of entrepreneurs annually through its Community Business Academy and other training programs in Jersey City, Newark, and cities nationwide. It’s more than a nonprofit — it’s a movement.
Explore New Jersey: Home of Bold Ideas and Brave Voices
Here at Explore New Jersey, we believe the Garden State is home to some of the nation’s most influential thinkers and doers — people like Alfa Demmellash, who are redefining what leadership looks like in the 21st century.
Her candid conversation series isn’t just content — it’s a call to action. A reminder that the solutions to America’s biggest economic challenges might not come from Washington or Wall Street, but from the small business owners, nonprofit leaders, teachers, and visionaries who are putting in the work every day in our communities.
Want to Watch or Listen?
Episodes of the conversation series are being released through Rising Tide Capital’s digital platforms and are accessible via podcast and video. Stay tuned for new guests, powerful insights, and the kind of storytelling that will leave you inspired, challenged, and ready to support your own local changemakers.
Learn more at risingtidecapital.org