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The national conversation on black
PRESS RELEASE
THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION ON BLACK HOMEOWNERSHIP CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES & PUBLIC POLICY AFFECTING THE STATE OF HOUSING IN BLACK AMERICA
The National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) brings together multi-sector thought leaders and cultural influencers to drive dialogue about whether the American dream of homeownership been realized, deferred, or denied.
Washington, DC – October 23, 2020 – The likelihood that Black Americans can purchase a home of their choice rests in large part on affordability, their consumer credit standing, debt load, employment status, and the availability of housing stock in their respective communities. Layered on top of these specific home buying criteria is a nationwide COVID-19 pandemic impacting the economic outlook and health concerns of all Americans.
The National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), an activist advocate for equality and Democracy in Housing for Black Americans is calling upon civil rights, political, academic, financial, entertainment, sports, and faith-based leaders to join in the fight to build Black wealth through homeownership. The digitally produced National Conversation on Black Homeownership is scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, 2020, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Visit https://national-conversation.eventbrite.com to register.
Moderating the event panel is CNN commentator and former SC State Senator Bakari Sellers. Among the confirmed multi-sector speakers are: Congressman Cedric Richmond (D-LA), Biden Campaign Co-Chair; Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-MI); Marc Morial, president, National Urban League; Rev. Dr. DeForest Soaries, Jr., founder of dfree Financial Freedom Movement; Ray Crockett, former NFL cornerback and 2x Superbowl Champion with the Denver Broncos.
Dr. Vanessa Perry, Associate Dean Faculty and Research, George Washington University School of Business, and principal author of the NAREB 2020 edition of the State of Housing in Black America (SHIBA) report, to be released at this event will provide an overview of the datadriven document.
Also speaking are: James Winston, president & CEO, National Association of Black-Owned Broadcasters; Heather McGee, NBC news analyst and
political strategist; Stephanie Mash Sykes, Esq., Michigan State Representative Jewell Jones, Deputy Democratic Caucus Chair; founding executive director and general counsel, African American Mayors Association, David Dworkin, president and CEO, National Housing Conference; Will Roundtree, Real Estate Investor & financial services expert; LaTisha Grant, Realtist and Chair, NAREB’s House Then the Car campaign; Lynn Poole, marketing coordinator, RentalKharma; Michele Calloway, Chair, NAREB board of directors, and Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, II, senior pastor, Friendship-West Baptist Church.
“It is often quoted that it takes a village to raise a child. I believe that It also takes the entire village leadership to create a safe, stable community that houses the child’s family,” said Donnell Williams, president of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), the country’s oldest minority real estate trade group. Established more than seven decades ago, NAREB has endeavored to eliminate barriers to Black homeownership whether found in the public or private sector.
The first National Conversation was held in 2019 prior to NAREB’s State of Black America forum as part of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference. The event was conceived as a platform to inform and involve the faith-based, social justice, housing advocacy, and Black business groups in NAREB’s mission to increase affordable and sustainable homeownership for Black Americans.
“The Black homeownership rate, now at 47% has been steadily rising since the 3rd quarter 2019. But in comparison to the current non-Hispanic White homeownership rate of 76%, we know that the 29% wealth gap must be closed, and home purchase disparities removed before Black Americans can achieve parity and build wealth,” Williams stated.
The National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) was formed in 1947 to secure the right to equal housing opportunities regardless of race, creed, or color. NAREB has advocated for legislation and supported or instigated legal challenges that ensure fair housing, sustainable homeownership, and access to credit for Black Americans. At the same time, NAREB advocates for and promotes access to business opportunity for Black real estate professionals in all of the real estate disciplines. NAREB annually publishes The State of Housing in Black America report. www.nareb.com
