Economic Architecture

National Community Reinvestment Coalition - NCRC’s #JustEconomy Conference offers a broad selection of exciting, cutting-edge sessions like the one I’m speaking on, Thursday, March 27 at 11am: Valuing Homes in Black Communities: (Re)designing our markets to advance racial equity and build generational wealth! We’ll discuss new innovations and strategies in the housing equity space, examining how structural innovations can be fostered to create impact at the city, state, and national level. Join us: https://lnkd.in/etSj-ZaS

We are excited to be heading to the National Community Reinvestment Coalition - NCRC #JustEconomy Conference this week in Washington, D.C. Will you be there too? Learn from Stuart Yasgur of Economic Architecture and Andre M. Perry of The Brookings Institution and Brookings Metro on Thursday, March 27, at 11am-12:15pm at the Washington Hilton (Georgetown Room). They will lead a conversation about the Valuing Homes in Black Communities Challenge and (re)designing our markets to advance racial equity and build generational wealth. Stuart and Andre will also be joined onstage by four guests, Spotlight Innovators whose structural innovations are creating impact at the city, state, and national level. Together, they will offer a compelling mix of innovation, equity, and strategic vision to propose new ideas, practical solutions, and a deeper understanding of how we can collectively build a more just economy. This conference is the largest national gathering of community nonprofits, policymakers, government officials, business and foundation leaders, media and academia focused on economic justice, and we cannot wait to share insights from innovators across the U.S. with this group of leaders and advocates. We hope to see you there! www.ncrc.org/conference

Spotlight Innovator Kyle Kamrooz, Founder and CEO of Bonus Homes, offers a different approach to selling a home by enabling homeowners to cash out their home equity without taking on new debt or having to find a buyer. By rethinking home equity, Bonus Homes is helping middle-class build long term wealth for their retirement while meeting their needs today— a seamless way to move on with life. Its new category, called Home Equity Sale, enables homeowners to unlock 100% of their current equity while retaining up to 35% of their home’s future market value. Thus, homeowners can own an investment property that will grow in market value as part of their long-term retirement portfolio. "With this model, homeowners can meet their immediate financial needs today without giving up their ability to build wealth for tomorrow,” says Kamrooz. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eU2J5etq

Spotlight Innovator John W. Haines and his team at Community Investment Trust (CIT) are democratizing real estate investment by creating a groundbreaking model that enables local residents to invest in and co-own commercial properties in their neighborhoods. The success of CIT’s model not only grows the wealth of its investors but also fosters a sense of belonging, community ownership, and civic participation. “Our investors in Portland started voting when they didn’t vote before,” says Haines. “Why? Because they are owners in their community. Their investment gives them a voice far beyond their front door, and that return on investment just sweetens the impact.” CIT’s impact is expanding beyond Portland. From Lansing, Michigan to Charlottesville, Virginia, and Salt Lake City, Utah, Haines and his team are actively supporting local organizations to build and lead CITs in multiple cities, with a goal of reaching 50-100 communities. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e3DJiXXy

Congratulations to our Spotlight Innovators from the Economic Architecture and The Brookings Institution's Valuing Homes in Black Communities Challenge. Ashon Nesbitt, Cat Goughnour, MSc, Doug Ryan, Gabe Ewing del Rio, CMB, AMP, John W. Haines, Junia Howell, Kyle Kamrooz, Marcus Martin, Tamara Knox, and Vernon Jay are addressing the racial wealth gap by providing alternative pathways to homeownership and wealth-building across the U.S. The Innovators were recently announced at a The Brookings Institution event with Andre M. Perry, Stuart Yasgur, and Robert Puentes all serving as panel moderators. Watch our event: https://lnkd.in/ekZGjRXg Learn more about the Valuing Homes in Black Communities Challenge: https://lnkd.in/eFNxeMSu

Join me in congratulating the 2025 Spotlight Innovators from the Valuing Homes in Black Communities Challenge. Ashon Nesbitt (Florida Housing Coalition)  Cat Goughnour, MSc (Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD))  Doug Ryan (Grounded Solutions Network)  Gabe Ewing del Rio, CMB, AMP (Homeownership Council of America)  John W. Haines (Community Investment Trust) Junia Howell (eruka)  Kyle Kamrooz (Bonus Homes) Marcus Martin (Homium)  Tamara Knox (Frolic Community)  Vernon Jay (EquityShare) Each of these innovations offers a concrete opportunity to create the structural change that values homes. Learn more about their work: https://lnkd.in/eFmM6czr Join Economic Architecture and the The Brookings Institution Institution in supporting these initiatives. 

Innovators across the United States are developing structural innovations that (re)design our markets for the public good.     “Collectively these innovators extend an invitation to each of us to say, how can we contribute? How can we participate? How can we be part of fostering this new generation of structural innovations that we really need?” says Stuart Yasgur, Founder and Principal of Economic Architecture.    Meet the Spotlight Innovators from the Valuing Homes in Black Communities Challenge from Economic Architecture and The Brookings Institution and consider how you can be a part of this future. Ashon Nesbitt (Florida Housing Coalition) Cat Goughnour, MSc (Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)) Doug Ryan (Grounded Solutions Network) Gabe Ewing del Rio, CMB, AMP (Homeownership Council of America) John W. Haines (Community Investment Trust) Junia Howell (eruka) Kyle Kamrooz (Bonus Homes) Marcus Martin (Homium) Tamara Knox (Frolic Community) Vernon Jay (EquityShare) Read more: https://lnkd.in/eFmM6czr

It was a real honor last week to be recognized by The Brookings Institution and Economic Architecture for Frolic Community's work to bridge the racial wealth gap and strengthen the financial power of Black communities. The day they announced the spotlight innovators was filled with warmth and curious conversation. If you would like to see me explain Frolic's work, see the attached video. I am on the second panel (only 20 min panel).

What a phenomenal event hosted by The Brookings Institution Andre M. Perry and Stuart Yasgur on the very important topic of valuing homes in Black communities. We heard from innovators looking to drive forward a new generation of how we do real estate in rethinking ownership, restorative opportunities and innovative financing. It was a reminder of how real estate is the oldest form of creating wealth in America. That accessibility has been more challenging than ever, especially for Black and brown people. Necessary change is on the horizon and I'm excited to be a part of it.

Today is an exciting day: At 2pm, we will announce the Spotlight Innovators of the Valuing Homes in Black Communities Challenge at The Brookings Institution. These innovators are tackling the racial wealth gap with market- and policy-based structural innovations across the U.S. Once introduced, these innovators will take the stage to discuss how they are rethinking ownership, pushing new frontiers in financing homes, and pursuing restorative opportunities, in panels moderated by Stuart Yasgur, Andre M. Perry, and Robert Puentes. Brookings President Cecilia E. Rouse will also speak. Register now to join in person or online and learn more about the inspiring initiatives that are (re)designing our markets for the public good: https://lnkd.in/ekZGjRXg