Dr. Elayne Brunson of Central Business District on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Dr. Elayne Brunson and have shared our conversation below.

Dr. Elayne , we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Have you stood up for someone when it cost you something?
Working in the Economic Development field of low to moderate income communities you risk alot and it costs something to honestly stand up for the residents of the community. As the President of the local Black Chamber of Commerce I have the social responsibility of advocating for small and black owned businesses. Many times that includes asking for policy change in the local, State, and or national level. Simultaneously as a developer I need local support from individuals and policy makers that want to see their communities thrive and grow. It’s a real balancing act to say the least.

After recently speaking out on behalf of those re entering society from corrections, I’ve clearly rubbed some folks the wrong way. In Sumter SC the downtown communities as well as the central Business District has faced gentrification and some of the negative impacts are already surfacing. Local citizens are beginning to face dramatic property tax increases, water and public works consumption rates increase, and lose of access to many cultural sites that are being demolished in a strategic sweep of properties forced into dilapidation. All of which community issues that I have spoken out on publicly.

The local and state media we invite to the community to cover some of the stories for us as well as all the media attention involved with the advocating of rights for the small business man caused me a lot of back lash. After fighting for others I now find myself needing a bit of advocacy for my development work. Being the only woman in America to be redeveloping a power plant comes with a lot of misunderstanding and overlooking. The city that I am from has shown their resentment by placing roadblocks and restrictions in my way while I attempt to work on the massive redevelopment project. While many business owners are allowed time periods to get certain aspects of their projects up to par, my business has been given short deadlines with threats that include no due process from my local city government.

Sumter Power Village is light years ahead of the current economic development trends currently happening downtown Sumter SC. While we focus on the future, current industries focus on military, manufacturing, and local government employees. Sumter Power Village is focusing on the entrepreneur, the young family, gen z and the milennials . Sumter Power VIllage aims to offer tech living, learning, and a workforce development path all geared at bringing Sumter to the next level of technology.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Dr. Elayne Brunson, the real estate investor who started buying houses cash and has now turned into a developer that’s been featured on TV and the News globally. I’ve been awarded many entrepreneur, young professional, and other skills awards. I’ve modeled on the main stages of the Bureau in NYFW. Featured in over 8 fashion magazines, I’ve served on several government boards and commissions as well as held a public elected seat to the local charter school board for two terms.

Currently I am rebuilding my foundation in my personal and professional life. I have several real estate ventures going on and I’m working to strategically roll out a plan that helps me knock them out one by one faster. This is year one post divorce and I’m hitting the ground running. I’ve split my real estate into three main portfolios; Main st commercial, residential short term rentals, and Farming. I learned to begin to delegate task and have found a passionate farm operator who happens to be in the Environmental Studies Field.

The most exciting project though is the creation of Sumter Power Village in the Middle of the Main St District of Sumter SC. Sumter Power Village, where tech meets art! This development is so cool, a tenant to the village will find all the basic necessities in life on the block all technology based operations, while also having the opportunity to connect with arts enthusiasts. Imagine small tech businesses catering to entrepreneurs, single individuals, or small families of 2-3. The development will be very artsy from visual arts, performing arts, to digital art, art and tech will be fully explored and hopefully a catalyst in the future of Sumter SC development.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of feeling powerful was when I was an 11 yr old violinist. My very first solo performance In front of a 500 (t) crowd was my very first time having all eyes on me and I felt grand. Women I looked up to like Dr. Brenda Williams and Sumter County Council Woman Vivian McGhanney were present and active parts of this special NAACP moment. I felt powerful because I was surrounded by other powerful women and because I was surrounded by other powerful folks from the local civil rights movement of Sumter S.C.

I remember looking on to the crowd eagerly hoping to be as big and powerful as the women in leadership around me.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering is a character defining time for me. Suffering forced me to accept the truth about who I am as a person. Suffering forced me to stand up and own it. Through suffering I learned to not only develop and implement a plan for my recovery and success, I learned how to dedicate time efficiently. I learned time is my biggest asset.
Suffering was monumental in character development. Recently, I had gone through a personal struggle, my finances were slim so I decided to live as minimal as possible. I was forced to look in the mirror get through the rawest form of myself and evolve. When life humbles you suffering can help you realize and appreciate the smallest things.
Suffering helped me to accept the truth about who I am as a person. Suffering pushes your boundaries in a way that you can potentially grow if you allow yourself to learn the lesson. Suffering magnifies your weakness. Suffering will show up your strengths.
Suffering for too long can make you weak, it can make you give up. For me I use suffering as an opportunity to stand up and own the situation. To grow you must understand and accept your weakness. Success comes from suffering, Or at least that has been my experience.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
As a growing entrepreneur and real estate investor many of the beliefs I used to hold tightly have now fluctuated. Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to work with so many key players and community stakeholders. Many of the issues that I felt were because of one situation would turn out to be the complete opposite.
As a learning developer I would wonder often if some of the issues I’ve faced were purely racially motivated. As a new developer I’ve often wondered if things would be different if I weren’t black or a female. I would often find myself looking to compare current obstacles to past systemic racist roadblocks set in place. I wouldn’t call these thoughts wrong but I will say the issues are far more complex and in some areas of real estate development I may have been naive.
After speaking to others I’ve learned that many operate business as a blood sport. I believe its more appropriate to understand that business is complex, and that business is business. People may not like your new grand ideas and push back is a part of the game. In the grand scheme of things Sumter Power Village will be to Sumter what the Trump Towers are to Manhattan.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What false labels are you still carrying?
As a land developer people have said they admire what I am doing just not how I am doing things. As the granddaughter of a change maker and civil rights activist, Carl Holmes Sr., I grew up watching my grandfather fight for the basic quality of life rights for lower income communities of Sumter SC and surrounding areas. I am passionate about the development project Sumter Power Village and what it will do to drive economic development into the South and West Sides of Sumter.

Historically I understand the challenges of the residents in the West End and South Side Communities. I have knowledge on the goals of the local government and incoming new residents into the lower income communities, not always in favor of the current residents.

In a community where my grandfather implemented change in the Sumter County Judicial Center, the Sumter City Council, and other branches of government to include the creation of single member voting districts that allowed the election of blacks, I am tasked with breaking barriers through policies and ordinances that affect small black owned businesses. Real Estate development has always been controlled by white men in America and throughout Sumter SC.

The false labels I’m overcoming include;

Contact Info:

Image Credits
camera Angel Productions Promotions and Publishing Company

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?

Coffee? Workouts? Hitting the snooze button 14 times? Everyone has their morning ritual and we

Highlighter Series
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?

Our deepest wounds often shape us as much as our greatest joys. The pain we

Highlighter Series
Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?

Culture, economic circumstances, family traditions, local customs and more can often influence us more than