It’s been a busy year addressing the racial inequities in the real estate world and we see progress. Thank you for being a part of the work, for supporting, and helping to spread the word!
Our co-founder, Tiffany Malone, was featured on the front page of the WI State Journal in June for all her work and dedication to making change happen. Big shout out to Tiffany! This is a great article to read. It shares important information and also highlights the work that Own It: Building Black Wealth is doing.
As we continue to offer classes, connections, and resources for Black and brown families we also get the privilege of witnessing and celebrating new homeowners in their wealth building journey.
Congratulations to Shalory on her new home!
Shalory used the Own It $15,000 down payment gift to help her close on her first home at the end of May! It was an exciting day for her, her two sons, and the Own It team! Shout out to her Realtor, Belinda Thomas at Alvarado Real Estate Group, and Ellen Bernards, her Lender, at Lake Ridge Bank.
We can’t make dreams like this come true without the help of our community.
Thank you to Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church
Thank you to Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church for the generous donation of $15,000!
In March, St. Andrew’s hosted a panel discussion at their church that offered more education and information about the wealth gap and the racial disparities in homeownership, and encouraged their congregation to support Own It. We are grateful for their partnership.
You can watch the panel discussion online at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRlrL_22E5M
If you are part of a faith-based community or organization that is addressing anti-racism we would love the opportunity to present our work. Please email us at info@ownitbbw.com.
Introducing the Black Network of Real Estate Professionals
Own It hosts the Black Network of Real Estate Professionals for monthly meetings. In an industry where the percentage of Black and brown professionals is significantly lower than white professionals, we believe it is critical to focus on ways to build wealth within real estate professions, too. Representation matters. #HireBlackProfessionals
Our progress
Thank you for helping us grow and help change the trajectory of generational wealth within our community! Here is how your support makes a difference:
- 50 real estate professionals have committed to be Ambassadors and donate funds
- Over $600,000 has been raised for Own It since April 2021
- 8 brokers are participating, making it easy for their agents to systematically contribute
- 126 people have participated in the Wealth Building course
- 55 people have participated in the Homeownership course
- 14 families have been awarded a down payment grant
- 9 families have closed on their new homes! See their stories »
Updated July 30, 2023
About Own It
The Own It: Building Black Wealth program is a private sector initiative designed to address and eliminate barriers to wealth building and homeownership for Black and brown families in Madison, Wisconsin. The pilot program — currently offered only to families, alumni, and staff at One City Schools — has two main components: education courses and down payment funds with very few restrictions.