The Power of Community: What We Can Learn from Corner to Corner

When I sat down with Will Acuff, co-founder of Corner to Corner, I was struck by the depth of his passion for people. Corner to Corner isn’t just about teaching entrepreneurship—it’s about rewriting the stories we tell ourselves, transforming communities, and redefining what’s possible.

Will’s journey into this work started with a simple but profound belief: that every person has untapped potential and a story worth investing in. Over the past decade, that belief has grown into a movement that has empowered over 1,200 entrepreneurs in Nashville, many of whom have gone on to change not just their own lives, but their neighborhoods.

One of those stories belongs to Marcus, a graduate of Corner to Corner’s Academy program. Marcus dreamed of opening a restaurant but didn’t have the resources to make it happen right away. Instead of shelving the idea, he started small—catering from his home, testing his recipes, and learning from the feedback of friends and family. By starting where he was, with what he had, Marcus built something extraordinary. Today, he owns three thriving brick-and-mortar restaurants, and his story is a testament to the power of persistence and adaptation.

Will describes the Academy’s approach as intensely practical, focusing on “start small, start now.” The program emphasizes rapid learning through real-world experience, helping participants avoid the common trap of waiting for perfect conditions to take action. This mindset shift—from hesitation to action—is transformative.

Another graduate, Melanie, a schoolteacher and mother, wanted to create additional income for her family through catering. Her goal was $10,000 in revenue her first year. She ended up earning $36,000. One strategic move—offering her grandmother’s caramel crumble cake to the director of the Tennessee State University marching band—secured her a major catering contract. Now, Melanie dreams even bigger, exploring ways to expand into regional grocery stores.

What struck me most in my conversation with Will was his focus on mindset. Many participants come into the Academy carrying a scarcity mentality—a belief that resources and opportunities are inherently limited. Will knows this mindset well. He shared how, growing up in a lower-middle-class household, he unconsciously absorbed the idea that there was never enough to go around. Over time, and through moments of deep personal challenge, Will learned to shift his perspective from scarcity to abundance.

That shift, he explained, often starts with community. Corner to Corner intentionally holds its classes in spaces that feel familiar—local rec centers, churches, and resource hubs—so participants don’t have to overcome barriers of transportation or cultural discomfort. Graduates of the program return as instructors, creating a ripple effect that extends beyond the classroom. “People do brave things together,” Will said, and it’s this sense of togetherness that creates the foundation for change.

Corner to Corner also takes a unique approach to ensuring long-term success, offering a lifetime guarantee. Graduates can return for support, mentorship, or resources whenever they face new challenges in their businesses. Whether it’s helping a graduate navigate commercial real estate for the first time or providing pro bono legal assistance through partnerships with firms like Bass, Berry & Sims, the program ensures that no one has to face their challenges alone.

This commitment to ongoing support is rooted in a deep understanding of what it takes to build something sustainable. Will shared that the entrepreneurs Corner to Corner serves often face systemic barriers, but they also bring creativity, passion, and drive. The organization’s role is to bridge the gap between those qualities and the opportunities they need to thrive.

At its core, Corner to Corner is about transformation—not just economic transformation but personal and communal. It’s about helping people see themselves differently, as owners, leaders, and change-makers. Will believes that entrepreneurship has the power to change lives because it requires people to confront their limits, adapt, and grow.

“What does thriving look like?” Will asked during our conversation. It’s a question he and his team at Corner to Corner ask often. And it’s not just about dollars earned or businesses launched. It’s about seeing neighbors step into their potential, transform their families’ futures, and create ripple effects that uplift entire communities.

Listening to Will, I was reminded of the profound role community plays in shaping our lives. It’s not enough to provide resources or opportunities in isolation. True change happens when people are seen, supported, and surrounded by others who believe in them. That’s what Corner to Corner offers: not just a path forward, but a hand to walk it with.

As Will put it, “The joy of seeing a neighbor’s life start to blossom—it’s contagious.” And that joy, that ripple effect of possibility and abundance, is something we can all be part of.

So here’s the challenge: How can we better invest in our neighbors? How can we help build the kind of communities where everyone has the opportunity not just to survive, but to thrive? Because when one person’s dream takes flight, it has the power to lift us all.