Meet Preston Sain | Founder of Black Wallstreet USA Ambassadors

We had the good fortune of connecting with Preston Sain and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Preston, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The year 2020 was a pivotal moment in national History between the pandemic, quarantine shutdowns combined with the George Floyd & Breonna Taylor tragedies that sparked national protests for justice.

The pandemic also sparked a resurge and resurface of a little known historical legacy & catastrophic Massacre which was remembered as Black Wallstreet Greenwood Tulsa Oklahoma of the early 1900’s.

Greenwoods Black Wallstreet of Tulsa was known as the Wealthiest Black Community in American History in addition to several thriving Black communities throughout the country.

The pandemic gave space, time and opportunity for African Americans to learn more of their Black History in which the Black Wallstreet story became the forefront of national awareness leading to inevitable pursuit of economic justice and prosperity for Black America.

Preston Sain originally learned of the Black Wallstreet story in 2004 from California HipHop Recording artist “The Game” who was signed to Dr.Dre’s AfterMath Records. The Game gave a captivating account of the History of Black Wallstreet as he walked through his Compton neighborhood on his documentary that was accompanied with his debut album.

Preston recalls never thoroughly hearing about Black Wallstreet again until 2020.

For Preston Sain of Grand Rapids Michigan, a quest to rectify his hometown city of Grand Rapids Michigan being ranked 2nd worst City Economically for Blacks in the USA in Forbes 2015 was met with the perfect solution with the vision to reincarnate Black Wallstreet in the modern day era.

One of BWSGR’s Co Founders TAHJ Gillespie was a Advid histororian and had been advocating the history and value of Black Wallstreet & Idlewild in the early 2010 decade.

Now Preston Along with his Team of Co Founders, the vision of building Black Wallstreet Districts in Grand Rapids Michigan begin in Summer of 2020. The project is a long term project development of 16 years mirroring the development timeframe of Greenwood’s Black Wallstreet of Tulsa Oklahoma.

Preston however anticipates the districts in Grand Rapids will be built in half the time but gives a humble grace period of 16 years. The geographic area includes 7 Districts on Grand Rapids Southeast side Third Ward 49507 & 1 district in its city 1st Ward.

The Summer of 2022 Preston became a Co Founder & Partner of Black Lake Companies/Black Lake Construction. Preston Sain also has a deep background in manufacturing and is invested in influencing the future of the workforce pipeline for manufacturing.

This business was also another opportunity to occupy a significant void in a industry that has been historically dominated by Wealthy White Americans with the exclusion of African American ownership in the Construction sector.

In addition to Entrepreneurship & job creation in future
Black Wallstreet Districts, Preston was intentional about positioning himself in a way were he will be able to uplift Black communities and create opportunities for Black Americans in the Construction industry, a industry that is deemed to be unsustainable without diversity.

In 2022 also Preston Sain became the Founder of Black Wallstreet USA Ambassadors ( A National Diverse Coalition to build Black Wallstreet Districts in Urban impoverished neighborhoods across America).

Black Wallstreet Grand Rapids Business Districts will also consist of Affordable Housing mixed use developments that will assist in the Housing crisis in West Michigan

What should our readers know about your business?
My Leadership and consistency behind the rebuilding of Black Wallstreet stands out on a national level.

Often times leaders are motivated when things are ” hot” or “trendy”. Me personally I’m driven by my WHY and the mere fact that my work is my purpose and God Given assignment.

My work is not a moment it’s a Movement. I pride myself on standing the test of time and out working /outlasting nonbelievers and naysayers.

A few things I’m very proud of is being recognized for my leadership and work in West Michigan.

Being awarded top 40 under 40 Business Leaders in 2020, Top 200 Most Powerful & Influential Leaders in West Michigan 2022, GIANTS Awards recipient 2022, Economic Development Newsmaker of the Year recipient in February 2023 are some of those cherished accomplishments.

It’s humbling to be honored and I am forever grateful.

As Co Founder of Multi Award Winning community Nonprofit Grand City Sports founded in 2008, Preston is Big on Sports.

I’m also very big on Sports and using Sports as a perspective and strategy for Business, economic development and life itself.

With that I’m very intentional about building teams, partnerships and collaboration. I spend substantial time behind the scenes building & cultivating relationships.

I believe in building diverse Allstar teams to begin to embark on missions to make historic transformations in our city that will spread nationally and influence and impact our country in a positive way.

Im very big on being a connector, I’m big on diversity and unity amongst all races as well.

It’s important to me that America can one day move from being divided & become the UNITED States with the unity it actually takes to remain a thriving and powerful country on a Global Scale.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Grand Rapids is known for its Art scene with our national Artprize Annual Extravaganza that attracts thousands of tourists & artists from all over the country.

There is plenty of beautiful Art and architecture to see Downtown while experiencing the Blue Bridge that sits mid sky above the Grand River that’s makes Grand Rapids River City.

Grand Rapids has an amazing Hotel District lead by our city staples the Amway Grand Plaza & JW Marriott.

In 2019 Grand Rapids was ranked the #1 Minor League Sports Market in the USA by the National Business Journal.

Some of my Favorite activities are attending West Michigan Whitecaps baseball Games, Grand Rapids Griffins Hockey Games Downtown at Van Andel Arena, or sitting Courtside at our NBA G- League team now called the Grand Rapids Gold which are the official affiliate team of 2022/2023 NBA Champions the Denver Nuggets.

I actually proposed to my wife courtside in front of a sold out crowd in 2015 season opener of our cities NBA G-League team.

Some of my favorite Downtown restaurants are Ruth Chris, ChopHouse, LEOS, Tupelo Honey, and the tavern inside of our dynamic Celebration Cinema Studio Park a must see attraction.

I’m a big fan of family owned Mr. Burger too of West Michigan which should be a tourist stop indefinitely.

I also like Bowdies Steakhouse in our cities prominent Gaslight Village of East Grand Rapids.

Some of my favorite Black-owned food businesses in my City are The Candied Yam, Forty Acres Soul Kitchen, Wishes Burgers in Boston Square, Load A Spud Potato Bar, Robinsons Popcorn, Last Mile Cafe.

2 Black owned beverages birthed in Grand Rapids I highly recommend are Black Calder Brewing & 24K Gold Coffee, Motu Viget Spirits & Stock DABAR VODKA

We also are proud to have the 1st Black own custom jewelry store in Michigan called Designers Diamonds which has made custom diamond charms for Hip Hop Icons Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa & Detroits Trick Trick.

Designers Diamonds jewelry store is accompanied by its partner company the renowned Designers Dugout Barbershop under the same Black ownership.

In addition (God willing) in the near future we will be able to guide locals and visitors to beautiful vibrant business districts on the Southeast side known as Black Wallstreet Grand Rapids Districts.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are many influences that I credit my vision,ambition & resilience too. 1st would be my Father Chris Sain SR & mother Glorie Sain. Both of my parents had big hearts and always cared for others throughout the community & worked hard.

I also have 2 older brothers that are successful as well Chris Jr & Jahaun.

I owe enormous credit to my wife Tiarra & our 3 kids Cameron 20, Kennedy 11 & Carter 3.

My wife & kids are my home team, my support system, my drive & my motivation.

In addition I have several national/historic influences that have shaped me and that I credit.

OW Gurley, Booker T Washington, MLK, Malcom X, Huey P Newton, Reginald Lewis, Bob Johnson, Robert F Smith, 2pac Shakur, Nasir Jones, Shawn JayZ Carter, Master P, Deion Sanders, Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson, Floyd Mayweather Jr, and The Devos & Van Andel Families of West Michigan all have been the biggest influences that have shaped me.

I’m also very inspired to transform my community and build a city that is prosperous and beneficial to Blacks but all races as well. I call Grand Rapids ” The City of Champions “

Website: www.blacklakecompanies.com

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Image Credits
Photography Credit Cannon Visuals Bryan Esler Rich P Photography