ESR Academy is a development training and mentorship platform founded by Craig L. Sawyer to equip emerging real estate developers with the technical skills, industry access, and real world exposure needed to build equitable, community centered projects. ESR Academy provides a structured pathway into the industry for individuals who traditionally lack access to networks, capital sources, mentorship, and hands on project experience. The Academy’s curriculum emphasizes practical learning, ethical development practices, and the understanding of how real estate can serve as a vehicle for long term community impact.

Through a combination of live instruction, in depth workshops, and project based learning, ESR Academy immerses participants in actual development scenarios, from deal sourcing and underwriting to entitlements, public funding strategy, and community engagement. Students gain exposure to genuine, in progress development projects within the Poiema Development Group pipeline and partner ecosystems, allowing them to apply classroom knowledge to real tasks and decision making processes. This hands on approach sets ESR apart from theoretical programs by grounding education in active, real time development work.

The Academy also brings in industry professionals, consultants, developers, lenders, attorneys, and public sector leaders as guest speakers. These sessions provide direct access to high level insights, real world challenges, and networking opportunities typically reserved for established industry insiders. ESR Academy serves as a bridge into the professional development community, demystifying the process while empowering aspiring developers with the sophistication and confidence required to operate at a high level.

At its core, ESR Academy exists to activate the next generation of equitable developers, expanding the field with practitioners who understand both the mechanics of development and the responsibility it carries. By combining mentorship, technical training, and real world project alignment, ESR Academy strengthens local development capacity and ensures that the communities shaping the future of urban development include voices that reflect their diversity, aspirations, and long term needs.