Homeownership is within reach of Black Americans and continues to be the best way to start building wealth. To help local residents reach that goal, New Orleans area Black residents are invited to attend Community Wealth Building Day, from 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, July 29 at SUNO to learn more about homeownership and wealth building.
This event is the accompanying consumer-focused event to National Association of Real Estate Brokers’ (NAREB) 70th anniversary convention, scheduled for July 28 – Aug. 1 in New Orleans. NAREB is expecting more that 600 attendees, including Black real estate professionals from across the country, government officials, financial services executives, homeownership advocates, and others.
For the Community Weath Building Day, NAREB and its local chapter, the New Orleans Real Estate Brokers have brought together real estate industry experts, housing counselors from NID-HCA Housing Counseling Agency, mortgage lenders and government agencies representing every aspect of the home buying process to answer questions and demonstrate that owning a home, or investing in real estate is not only possible, but desirable.
Community Wealth Building Day is free and will take place at Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO), Leonard S. Washington Memorial Library, 6400 Press Dr.
“Homeownership is the American Dream that cannot be, and should not be denied to Black Americans. As a people, we did not rebound after the nation’s 2008 financial meltdown. Experience and history tells us that waiting for a solution is not the answer. Advocacy, activism and community education are the tools needed to build our wealth and asset base through homeownership,” said Ron Cooper, president of NAREB, the 70-year old minority real estate trade association.
“NAREB’s taking the homeownership message to the streets at events like our Community Wealth Building Day to let Black Americans know that ownership is still possible, attainable and desirable as the wealth building tool of choice,” Cooper added.
Community Wealth Building Day kicks off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that opens the vendor showcase and admittance to the consumer information sessions, the Clergy Roundtable, professional development sessions for real estate professions, and complimentary lunch for all attendees. Families are encouraged to bring their children to the Youth Academy if child care is needed.
Special guests speaking at the lunch program include: Pastor Herbert Rowe, Upper Room Church; Igwe E. Udeh, Ph.D., dean of SUNO’s College of Business & Public Administration; state Rep. Joseph Bouie, Jr.; Mildred “Money Dr.” Dillion, C.P.A.; and Councilman James Gray, and Sheriff Marlin N. Gusman.
“It’s time for us to come together as a people to teach and practice wealth building in our community through real estate investing because ‘Black Homeownership Matters,’” said Mary Adams Thomas, president of the New Orleans Real Estate Brokers.
Consumers can expect to hear about the availability of purchase assistance funds; addressing bad credit issues; preserving wealth, along with a session to help consumers understand the mortgage process, what to expect from a lender and what questions to ask. The first 75 people will receive a free credit report and an assessment. Representatives from government agencies, lending and higher education institutions, housing counselors, and money management professionals are participating in the workshop discussions and in the exhibit area. Consumers are encouraged to ask questions from the experts to get the answers they need about home purchase or real estate investment strategies. For real estate investors, we have a special class to learn how to purchase tax foreclosures led by the New Orleans Sheriff’s department.
Throughout the day, event participants can register for prizes as they interact with Community Wealth Building Day exhibitors.
“We are excited about teaming with NAREB to bring this vital information to the community. It’s all about educating the people,” said Dr. Igwe E. Udeh, Dean College of Business & Public Administration, SUNO.
“NAREB has started a movement, our 2 Million New Black Homeowners in 5 Years program to establish a new wealth building platform for Black Americans, nationwide. The program is not only our commitment, but our responsibility and obligation to our community. We’re so pleased to bring the program to New Orleans,” Cooper said.
For more information and to register for the FREE Community Wealth Building Day call 504.321.7971 or register at https://CWBD-NEWORLEANS.EVENTBRITE.COM/
