MEMPHIS HABITAT
Our 600th Memphis Habitat Home Homebuyer Celebration
Honoring the accomplishments of our homebuyers is important to Memphis Habitat. It gives us an opportunity to celebrate our clients’ efforts and validates the work we’re doing together. Earlier this summer, we were honored to celebrate the completion of our 600th home. It’s one of the latest homes to be finalized on Carver Street in the Castalia Heights neighborhood. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis has had the opportunity to build over 20 houses on this street, allowing multiple Mid-South families to have their dreams come to fruition.
In addition to the Homebuyer Celebration, we also held a block party for our neighbors on Carver Street with free food, lively music, face painting, balloons and fun activities for all ages. It was a great opportunity to celebrate our new homeowners’ hard work and dedication as we created lasting memories together.
Meet our 600th Homebuyers
Memphis Habitat was eager to celebrate LaTonya and her son Marco as our 600th homebuyers! This family’s journey toward homeownership is a true testament to the transformative power of our donors’ generous support. LaTonya and Marco dedicated themselves to completing a 13-week homebuyer education program. They completed over 200 hours of partnership hours working along volunteers to build thier homes and the homes of other future Habitat homebuyers. We’re making miracles happen every day at Memphis Habitat.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO
When I started this journey, my goal was simple — to make sure everyone in the 901 had adecent place to live. After experiencing inadequate housing at a young age, I understand the importance of being an advocate for Habitat homebuyers. That humbling experience equipped me with the wisdom and knowledge to lead a team that ensures everyone has an equitable opportunity to achieve homeownership.
My team has been making moves around Bluff City — literally! This Summer, Memphis Habitat honored our 600th homebuyer! LaTonya and her family will join nearly 20 other Habitat homeowners on Carver Street. We also want to thank our Spring Build volunteers for helping us construct those homes on Carver Street. If you’re interested in volunteering on a build site, see details on our Fall Build in the newsletter.
Our Building Connections series hosted a Valuing Assets in Black Communities event that supported Habitat for Humanity’s network-wide commitment to closing the Black homeownership gap and achieving equity in housing. Memphis Habitat’s Women Build events also supported equitable homeownership, specifically for women. We want to thank Tina Knowles, Kontji Anthony and Valero Memphis Refinery for supporting our Women Build events.
Memphis Habitat has officially opened our second ReStore in Collierville, Tennessee! Purchase with a purpose and start shopping today.
I’m proud of the 901 Habitat team for executing successful events while serving our clients with a warm and welcoming essence. I was also incredibly grateful to receive CEO of the Year from Memphis Magazine. Obtaining this honor is not only a testament to my work but also to the joint efforts of my astonishing team at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis.
Given the growing demand for our work, I promise we will continue to meet the need for ourservice. Together, we will continue to change lives and build capital for Memphians.
SPRING BUILD
Our Spring Build 2024 was an absolute success! Memphis Habitat hosted __ volunteers in the Castalia Heights area of South Memphis. We appreciate everyone who dedicated their time to help us develop quality, affordable homebuying opportunities in the 901.
Fall Build
Our Fall Build season kicks off in mid-September in North Memphis. No experience is needed. You will be guided by Habitat staff in a safe, fun environment. Sign up below with QR code.
ReStore
Dwayne Spencer President & CEO
You can volunteer year-round at either one of our ReStore locations.
Registration is now open. Scan the QR code to sign up today!
WOMEN BUILD
Tina Knowles Motivates Women in Memphis
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis hosted our inaugural Women Build Luncheon, featuring guest speaker Tina Knowles. We brought women from all walks of life together and inspired their commitment to making decent, affordable, and healthy housing more accessible. Special thanks to our fireside chat moderator, Kontji Anthony from News Channel 3’s Live at 9. Lori Humber, COO of Memphis Habitat, told News Channel 3, “Memphis is a city with powerful, educated, strong women, and we would like them to march forward with us as we try to continue making great changes for families in our city that will benefit the community.”
We’re grateful to our presenting sponsor Valero Memphis Refinery. Vice President and General Manager, Eric Brown, said “Valero is proud to partner with Memphis Habitat to inspire women in the 901 to
build strength and stability through homeownership. We’re building something meaningful with this event, and creating foundations for a brighter future.”
Days after the luncheon, Memphis Habitat hosted Women Build. Women were invited to build homes alongside homebuyers in South Memphis. This collaborative environment created generous synergy for both our clients and volunteers. We want to thank everyone who attended our Women Build events and look forward to your participation next year!
BUILDING CONNECTIONS
Valuing Assets in Black Communities
To expand the conversation around Black homeownership in Memphis, we hosted Valuing Assets in Black Communities, as part of our Building Connection series. This is a new event series that will focus on cross-sector conversations that highlight housing’s connections to broader community well-being and ability to thrive. This series supports Habitat for Humanity’s network-wide commitment to closing the Black homeownership gap and achieving equity in housing. Speakers for the event included keynote speaker Andre M. Perry, Ph.D., a senior fellow at the Brooking Institution and Natosha Reid Rice, DEI officer at Habitat for Humanity International. We want to thank every thought leader who participated in this Building Connections series. Your opinion as experts in your respective fields helped us expand the conversation on spreading black wealth through
homeownership at Memphis Habitat. Follow us on social media @memphishabitat to learn more about the next event in our Building Connections series.
