You can do anything with the right community behind you, and this week’s guest can testify to that. Lourdes was going through an extremely tough time - she was put through the ringer in the military, she found herself in $75k of household debt, and her (now ex) husband kicked her out of her own home. She needed to make a change and FAST. So she reached out to her community, including the Courage Driven Latina community, and her community came through for her.    Lourdes Fernando is a passionate advocate for veterans and a Chicago realtor specializing in VA loans. An 11-year Army National Guard veteran, she empowers fellow veterans, particularly women, to achieve financial independence and stability through the strategic use of their VA benefits. Over 90% of her business focuses on assisting veterans in securing homeownership. Beyond real estate, Lourdes actively engages in community initiatives, serving as chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee at Keller Williams Realty. Her dedication has earned her recognition, including the REALTOR® Community Service Award, underscoring her commitment to supporting and uplifting the veteran community.   In this week’s episode, Lourdes shares her story of building wealth and community after her military service. She was able to find herself a new home, invest in property, clear out her debt, and save $40k in just a few years. When her previous community fell through, she joined Courage Driven Latina and dove headfirst into studying the VA benefits that are available to her. Now, she helps other vets take full advantage of their benefits and build generational wealth. Listen to Lourdes’s episode to learn how you can leverage your community even in the worst of times.  Follow Lourdes on: Instagram: @lourdes_lu_fernando Website: https://www.jlhomesforyou.com/    Follow Erika on: Instagram @‌theerikacruzTikTok @‌theerikacruzLinkedIn Website: http://www.theerikacruz.com How to work with Erika: Join the waitlist for the Courage Driven Latina program here. Join the waitlist for the Magnetic Mastermind here.   Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.