Today we’d like to introduce you to Donnell Green.
Hi Donnell, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. Growing up in a city full of both rich culture and visible struggle shaped how I viewed community, opportunity, and purpose. My journey into finance began in 2014 when I started working as a personal banker at Wells Fargo Bank. By 2017, I had advanced to become a licensed personal banker, holding Maryland life insurance and Series 6, 63, and 65 licenses. Those credentials opened my eyes to the world of financial services and the wealth gap that exists within our communities, especially among Black families.
That same year, following the loss of my grandmother and uncle, I made the decision to move to Temecula, California, to support my grandfather. I didn’t want to lose him too, so I uprooted my life to be by his side. It was a major life shift, and while I expected to continue with Wells Fargo, finding a position in California proved challenging. That challenge opened the door to something new: a career in the mortgage industry.
In January 2018, I started working as a mortgage loan originator with lenders in Irvine, California. At first, I worked in call centers helping homeowners refinance their mortgages, assisting them in saving money, lowering payments, and consolidating debt using the equity in their homes. I built a successful refinance career that allowed me to deeply understand the financial pressures families face. In August 2020, I made the decision to move back to Baltimore to be closer to my son and family, leaving California behind for good.
By mid-2021, I transitioned from refinance to purchase loans, a move that pushed me out of my comfort zone. I was no longer taking inbound calls, I had to build a book of business through networking, referrals, and relationships. This was a tough transition, especially as the market began to shift with rising interest rates and fewer applications.
In January 2023 I joined Fairway Independent Mortgage in Towson, Maryland under the leadership of Malcolm Crane. There, I truly learned how to thrive in the purchase market. More importantly, I learned just how many people were being left behind, not because they didn’t want to own a home, but because they lacked the knowledge, credit, or savings to qualify.
Over the years, I educated hundreds of clients on the mortgage process, created step-by-step credit improvement plans, and provided guidance to help them get approved. Yet I noticed many people still weren’t following through. That’s when it hit me: financial literacy isn’t just about guidance; it’s about education and access.
I began thinking more broadly. What if we could bring the community together and empower them with the tools to build wealth? Not just credit repair, but knowledge about homeownership, life insurance, retirement, and estate planning. That’s when the vision for the Building Up the Block Party was born.
I spoke to a co-worker who encouraged me to present the idea to Malcolm. He loved it. He connected me with Kelly Lawson, a home stager and event planner with The Upstager, and with her help, we brought the vision to life. In September 2023, we hosted the first Building Up the Block Party, a community event that felt like a festival but delivered real financial empowerment.
Now in its third year, the Block Party is scheduled for September 6, 2025, at Transformation Church of Jesus Christ in Baltimore. We’ll have free hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, cotton candy, snowballs, music, a bounce house, face painting, vendors, and small businesses—all offering their services and support. More importantly, attendees will be able to speak to mortgage lenders, real estate agents, credit repair specialists, and insurance professionals. It’s a space for education, fun, and community-driven progress.
The event is presented by my nonprofit organization, Yashar’el Empowerment Foundation, which I founded in July 2024. It started when I purchased food and hygiene items from Walmart to create care packages for unsheltered individuals in Baltimore, helping 7 people in my first month. I posted about it online, and people responded. More volunteers joined. We grew from helping 7 people to serving 30 the following month in August, and now 80–110 individuals receive care packages every month. With donations from the community and help from volunteers, we’ve made this consistent outreach a reality.
In November 2024, we began partnering with Shannon Craig, a woman who has led outreach for over 12 years. Together, we now serve the community every second Saturday under the JFX at the Baltimore Farmers Market location. The consistency and love we bring has created something much greater than just a handout—it’s hope, visibility, and community.
After 7.5 years in the mortgage industry, I decided to bet on myself and take things further. I launched Yashar’el Financial Empowerment (a separate for profit business) and introduced our flagship online course, “Closing the Gap: Financial Literacy Guide.” It’s self-paced and teaches the essentials—credit, savings, homeownership, life insurance, retirement planning, and more. Students can start with a free lesson and unlock the full course for just $150, with installment options through Klarna, Afterpay, and Affirm.
This year, the course will also be featured at the Block Party to reach even more people who need it. My wife Melissa has been my biggest supporter—her encouragement, her belief in this vision, and her love have helped me stay focused when the work gets heavy. I also want to acknowledge my mom, who has been a constant support from the very beginning. She’s been there for every outreach and every Block Party. She promotes everything I’ve done throughout my life — from my business to anything I’ve created — and her unwavering support has meant everything to me.
Everything we’re doing now is built on faith, family, and a deep belief that change is possible. I want people to know that they’re not alone, that education is power, and that it’s never too late to build a better future. I’m proud of where we are, but I know we’ve only just begun.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not a smooth road, but I think that’s what’s made the journey so meaningful. There have been personal and professional challenges at almost every stage. Moving to California in 2017 to support my grandfather after losing both my grandmother and uncle was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made. It pulled me away from everything familiar, and I struggled to restart my career out there. I couldn’t find a position with Wells Fargo like I’d hoped, and I had to pivot into a completely new field, mortgage lending , with no roadmap, no connections, and no guarantees.
Working in mortgage call centers was demanding, and while I eventually found success in refinances, transitioning to purchase loans was like starting all over again. I had to learn how to network, build relationships, and grow business from the ground up — all while the market was changing and rates were rising. That pressure brought moments of doubt and burnout. There were times I felt lost or questioned whether I was on the right path.
Even when I began serving the community through the nonprofit, there were growing pains. At first, I didn’t have a team or funding — just a desire to help. I had to use my own resources to get things started and constantly ask myself, “How can I sustain this?” But I trusted the vision, stayed consistent, and let my heart lead the work.
Launching my financial literacy business was another leap of faith. Leaving behind a mortgage career after 7.5 years to bet on myself took courage. There were no guarantees that people would enroll or support the program. But I knew that the community needed these tools, and I had to be the one to build it.
Every setback — from career pivots to financial strain to personal loss — has shaped the mission and made the victories that much more meaningful. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s always been worth it. The struggles refined my purpose, and now I use those lessons to uplift others walking their own difficult roads.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I’m the founder of two mission-driven organizations working hand-in-hand to close the wealth gap in underserved communities — Yashar’el Empowerment Foundation (nonprofit) and Yashar’el Financial Empowerment (a for-profit education platform). While they each serve different roles, both share one purpose: to empower people with the tools, resources, and education they need to build a better life.
Yashar’el Empowerment Foundation is a grassroots nonprofit based in Baltimore that focuses on monthly outreach to the unsheltered, financial literacy awareness, and hosting large-scale community events like the Building Up the Block Party. Every month, we distribute care packages filled with food, hygiene products, and clothing to 80–110 unsheltered individuals in Baltimore City. What started in July 2024 with just seven care packages has grown into a movement supported by volunteers, donors, and community partnerships.
We’re proud to say this work is consistent and deeply personal. Our foundation is known not only for our service but for our presence — we’re out there, face-to-face, building trust and restoring dignity. We also host the Building Up the Block Party, now entering its third year. It’s a free, family-friendly community festival that brings together financial experts, mortgage lenders, real estate agents, insurance professionals, small businesses, and nonprofits — all focused on providing access, education, and celebration. It’s a block party with purpose, and it’s unlike anything else in Baltimore.
Yashar’el Financial Empowerment, on the other hand, is a self-paced online financial literacy platform. Our flagship course — Closing the Gap: Financial Literacy Guide — was built to make financial education accessible, affordable, and digestible. We cover topics like understanding and repairing credit, saving strategies, the home buying process, life insurance, retirement accounts, and estate planning. What sets this apart is that it’s taught from real-world experience and designed with the underserved in mind. The first lesson is free, and students can unlock the entire course for just $150 with flexible payment options through Affirm, Afterpay, or Klarna.
What sets both brands apart is our authenticity and intentionality. We’re not just offering services — we’re offering a strategy for life change, rooted in faith, love, and a genuine commitment to seeing people win. We understand the gaps because we’ve lived through them — and we built both organizations to stand in those gaps for others.
What I’m most proud of brand-wise is that people know we show up. Whether it’s with a care package, educational content, or a citywide event — we’re consistent, transparent, and mission-focused.
If there’s one thing I want your readers to know, it’s this: change starts with awareness and access. Yashar’el is here to deliver both — with heart, purpose, and community at the center of everything we do.
How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happy is knowing I’m making a difference — especially in my community. I feel fulfilled when I can help someone , whether that’s improving their credit, learning how to buy a home, or just receiving the basics they need to get through the day. Being able to show up and be a resource for people who are often overlooked is what keeps me going.
It also means a lot to know that the work I’m doing — whether through the nonprofit or the financial literacy business — is actually helping people change their situation. I’ve been through struggles myself, so being in a position now to give back, educate, and empower others brings me a real sense of purpose. That’s the kind of happiness that motivates me every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yasharelwealth.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasharelempowerment/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yasharelwealth
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/yasharelwealth/
