On Saturday, February 22, the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) is hosting an inspiring and educational event, providing critical information to the Black community on how to gain wealth. The Miami Gardens stop on the NAREB Building Black Wealth Tour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 21311 N.W. 34th Ave., Miami Gardens, FL 33056.
The event will provide opportunities for the Black community to learn how to buy a home, invest in real estate, and navigate the inheritance process, also known as ‘What to do with Big Mama’s House?’ This session will guide you on how to handle inherited property, including the legal and financial aspects. There will be counseling sessions with lawyers, a certified housing counselor, NAREB real estate agents known as Realtists, and mortgage lenders.
Rev. Arthur Jackson, III, Pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, is the esteemed host for the event. Other speakers include:
- Courtney Johnson Rose, NAREB President
- Miami Gardens Mayor Rodney Harris
- Danny Felton, NAREB 1st Vice President
- Tamika Mosses, South Florida Local Board President
- David Berenbaum, Deputy Assistant Secretary of HUD’s Office of Housing Counseling
- Terrance Gibson, International Director of Bigger and Better Business for Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
“Our Building Black Wealth events address systemic racism and discrimination by providing opportunities for education, networking, and access to resources that have historically been denied to our communities,” said Dr. Rose. “NAREB facilitates economic empowerment and wealth-building. Our tour events aim to dismantle barriers that prevent Black families and individuals from building intergenerational wealth and improving their quality of life.”
The Building Black Wealth Tour showcases the knowledge of experts in multiple fields, such as real estate, inheritance, investing, and personal finance. The presenters are highly qualified and experienced, offering counseling, valuable insights, and practical advice to Black families and individuals at our events nationwide.
There are 2 million mortgage-ready Black Americans who don’t yet own houses. NAREB hopes to provide information that will convince them to become homeowners. From 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., consumers can have one-on-one meetings with real estate professionals and housing counselors to prepare for homeownership. Sessions will include:
- What to do with Big Mama’s House?
- Investing 101
- ABC’s of the Homebuying Process
NAREB launched the Building Black Wealth Tour in the fall of 2023 to address the expanding Black-White Wealth gap in the U.S. The NAREB State of Housing in Black America Report found that the Black-White wealth gap is so expansive across the United States that the 400 wealthiest Americans control the same wealth as all 48 million Blacks living in the country. The wealth imbalances perpetuate America’s racial disparities in housing, education, employment, income, and health that create inequitable communities nationwide. The median wealth for White households is $188,200, compared to $24,100 for Black families.
Through various workshops, interactive sessions, and one-on-one counseling, NAREB Black Wealth Tour Event attendees receive the knowledge needed to build a pathway to family economic security. NAREB brings this data and information to our communities, where families and individuals can use it to chart new futures, including intergenerational wealth and the benefits of homeownership. The NAREB Black Wealth Tour can catalyze change. For too long, the Black community has lacked the resources and intergenerational wealth of other communities. NAREB seeks to end these disparities and help Black communities thrive.
The collaboration presenting the Miami Gardens Building Black Wealth Tour Event is a testament to the unity and shared commitment of various organizations. Our Outreach Partners for the event include the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, the African American Mayors Association, Inc., the Divine 9, and the National Bar Association. This collective effort underscores our shared goal of empowering the Black community through wealth-building opportunities.
In 2024, NAREB established April 13 as National Building Black Wealth Day. More than 25,000 people flocked to events nationwide in over 100 cities! Seminars and one-on-one sessions presented various topics, from homeownership and property investment to business startups and other wealth-building opportunities. Each location drew an impressive average of 200 to 250 attendees, with an additional 2,000 individuals signing up for virtual sessions via Zoom. Notable figures graced the events, including Chance the Rapper in Chicago and Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard. Mayor Howard, who also serves as the President of the African American Mayors Association, headlined the event in her city.
Even then, President Joe Biden was impressed. In a letter to the NAREB, the President applauds the NAREB Building Black Wealth Tour, saying the organization of predominantly Black real estate professionals is helping “bring us closer to realizing the full promise of America for all Americans.” He adds: “Your work can transform lives and support future generations. As you celebrate this wonderful occasion, I hope you take well-deserved pride in the important role NAREB has played in uplifting communities across the country. I have never been more optimistic about our Nation’s future than I am today, in part because of organizations like NAREB promoting fairness and equity for all. As you look to the incredible opportunities ahead, I wish you continued success for years.”
NAREB recognizes that increasing Black homeownership will require a multifaceted approach that addresses financial and systemic barriers and provides families and individuals with the information, resources, and tools they need.
“We know increasing wealth-building capabilities is crucial to the future economic security of our families,” Dr. Rose said. “To empower Black families, they must better understand household budgeting, credit management, and mortgage options. We know that down payment assistance and low-interest loans targeted at minority buyers can alleviate some economic constraints. However, families must know where to go and how to activate these programs. Too many people in our communities don’t know where to turn. That’s why NAREB Black Wealth Tour is so important.”
This year, the NAREB Building Black Wealth Day will be held on April 12, 2025, with the host event in St. Louis, Missouri. The day will be filled with insightful sessions, interactive workshops, and one-on-one counseling, all aimed at empowering the Black community with the knowledge and resources to build wealth. Sessions will be available via streaming, ensuring that everyone can participate and benefit from this transformative event.
