LEO Impact Capital and Partners Host Resident Celebration at Sharon Crossing, Featuring Cuisine by Top Chef Winner Tristen Epps

Charlotte, NC — November 7, 2026 — LEO Impact Capital, alongside partners at the Lotus Campaign, Bank of America, and Esusu, hosted a community celebration for residents of its Sharon Crossing community in Charlotte. The afternoon brought neighbors together outdoors for food, music, and activities for all ages — from a bounce house and shaved ice for the kids to a menu prepared on-site by Tristen Epps, the Bravo Top Chef Season 22 winner who got his start in North Carolina.

The day was built around fun, but its purpose runs deeper. Bringing residents together to build relationships with one another is a deliberate part of how LEO approaches its work — and a core piece of its theory of change.

“Our philosophy really has two key pieces: where you are, and who you’re connected with,” said Brian Allan (AJ) Jackson, President of LEO Impact Capital. “Sharon Crossing is a great neighborhood, with access to grocery stores, the light rail, and transportation. But it’s the social network residents build, combined with the resources of that neighborhood, that drives people toward brighter economic futures — and makes for happy residents who want to stay for a long time. That’s exactly what we want.”

That focus on connection is what the celebration was designed to spark. Epps prepared a meal for residents on-site and left behind recipe cards for families to recreate it at home. “Food is something that should be shared,” Epps said. “One of my favorite things to do to bring community together is to cook for people. Everybody comes to the table to eat — it’s been a beautiful thing to have an impact on the community this way.”

The event also reflected the Lotus Campaign partnership at Sharon Crossing, where residents at risk of or emerging from homelessness live alongside everyday working renters as part of a vibrant, mixed-income community. Also on hand were partners whose work supports residents year-round: Esusu, which helps residents build credit simply by paying rent, and Bank of America, a LEO investor partner, offering financial literacy resources.

“Getting to know your neighbors is a great way to celebrate what is a really wonderful residential community,” said Beth Silverman, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Lotus Campaign. “And honestly, just to have fun and let residents know that they’re cared for.”