Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)’s Post

🚀 Matrix Rental Solutions: Recognized as a Featured Innovator! 🏘️ We are thrilled to announce that Matrix Rental Solutions has been recognized by Economic Architecture as one of their Featured Innovators for 2025! 🎉 In their article, “Transforming rentals to make affordability, accessibility, and stability the norm, not the exception”, Matrix was highlighted for its groundbreaking work in promoting equity in the rental housing market. Our Universal Rental Application Platform is making a real impact by: ✅ Eliminating barriers like application fees for renters ✅ Simplifying the housing process with "One Application, One Screening, One Fee" ✅ Supporting public housing authorities and landlords with collaborative, innovative tools ✅ Ensuring equitable access to housing This recognition motivates us to continue our mission to make housing accessible and fair for all. 📢 Read more about the Economic Architecture Project’s Featured Innovators and our story here: Link to article in comments #HousingInnovation #EquityInHousing #AffordableHousing #MatrixRentalSolutions

Over the past 72 hours, I’ve shared several posts about Elon Musk’s outrageous behavior. These sparked engaging dialogue and inevitably drew in a host of trolls. It is easy to be consumed by negativity or paralyzed by fear, especially when small-minded individuals in positions of power threaten the lives and livelihoods of so many. But this is not the time to despair. It is the time to resist, to create, and to act. This is the time for artists to paint, compose, and direct works that reflect the struggles of our era, art that inspires hope and ignites change. This is the time for writers to wield their words as tools to spark new ideas, challenge entrenched worldviews, and pose thoughtful, transformative questions. This is the time for designers and technologists to build products and services that put people above profits, and solutions that prioritize humanity and equity over greed. This is the time for all of us to reclaim our power, to live intentionally, and to take action that uplifts our neighbors, strengthens our communities, and drives meaningful change. In America, our three branches of government feel more compromised than perhaps ever before. This is why we must remember and embody the spirit of “We the people.” We all have a role to play. Whether through your skills, your influence, or your creativity, you have the power to make a difference. At zanago, our mission is to leverage technology and design to create a positive impact, especially for those who have been historically excluded. Together, let us build a better, more inclusive future... Change Happens by Design

Change starts with individuals courageous enough to challenge the status quo! Words can’t fully capture how honored I feel to be featured as an innovator in the Valuing Homes in Black Communities Challenge! If you’ve been following my journey, you know I’ve been deeply transparent about the housing trauma my family endured—and still confronts to this day. Housing insecurity is almost impossible to put into words. It’s a pain that leaves a lasting mark. That’s why my wife and I founded zanago and built Kataba: to help families avoid the heartache we experienced as homeowners. As we conducted research and listened to countless stories from other homeowners in majority-Black communities, we uncovered the devastating extent of devaluation and how deeply it impacts our communities. Being recognized by Economic Architecture and The Brookings Institution for this work is a truly honorable moment! Standing alongside other passionate innovators, all committed to driving change in Black communities, is the ultimate reward. But let me be clear—this recognition isn’t just about me. None of this would be possible without my business partner and life partner, my wife, Arlene Byrd. Arlene, thank you for believing in this vision and for walking this path with me every step of the way. And a big shoutout to Tyrome Smith for sliding into my DMs with the opportunity to apply. Sometimes, one message can change everything! Now Innovators of VHBCC...let's continue to build up some Black communities and beyond! Change happens by Design #Social #Impact #ResponsibleInnovation #Kataba

We’re proud to see our Executive Director, John Haines, and the Community Investment Trust model recognized as Featured Innovators in the Valuing Homes in Black Communities Challenge by Economic Architecture and The Brookings Institution! “The Community Investment Trust (CIT) model democratizes access to real estate investment for communities historically excluded from wealth-building. The CIT allows residents in select neighborhoods to invest $10-$100/month in local commercial real estate. In return, they receive competitive returns and an ownership stake in their community. Piloted in Portland, Oregon, the CIT is now expanding to other cities. Place-based nonprofit organizations, with support from the CIT Services team led by John Haines, are stewarding these projects. CIT combats displacement and promotes equity, local ownership, and community belonging.” Read more about the Featured Innovators here: https://lnkd.in/gY5tCpWk #CommunityInvestmentTrust #ValuingHomes #Innovators #Equity #Brookings #wealthbuilding #economics 

✊🏿 Happy Juneteenth SBAN Network! Today we honor the symbol of freedom that 250,000 freed enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas represent while recognizing that true freedom requires a persistent, collective commitment to embedding racial justice in all our work. For SBAN, that means supporting research and efforts on the ground that secure the future of Black-led businesses through community ownership. ------- 📍 One of our Community Ownership Case Study Awardees, Partnership in Property Commercial Land Trust (PIPCLT) is securing commercial property to hold “in trust” indefinitely in Minneapolis so the land will remain affordable to BIPOC business owners in perpetuity. In PIPCLT’s words, their vision is to “create neighborhoods that reflect the economic, cultural, and social wealth of the community, where local BIPOC businesses can thrive, residents have decision-making power and ownership of land, and together build a vibrant, human-centered economy. This approach disrupts systems of racialized capitalism that have historically marginalized BIPOC communities from property ownership and economic opportunities.” 👏🏿 SBAN is proud to be a part of this growing movement and looks forward to sharing more in-depth stories from these case studies later this year! #antidisplacement #Juneteenth #communityownership

Estate planners play a pivotal role in intergeneration wealth transfer. Let’s hear what they have to say.

Knowledge work is about shared meaning making from day one! See what it looks like when research engagement actually starts as a partnership.   For this study, Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County invited an advisory group of community leaders to re-define what access means for advancing Black homeownership. Over 100 community residents participated to deepen the understanding of what actually works.  https://lnkd.in/eBm7Skrb #equity #knowledge4justice #socialchange

What do you think about the Red Hat Amphitheatre moving a block south (further into what was 4th Ward - a Black community destroyed between 1968-1971 to build the Dawson-McDowell Connector in a process called Urban Renewal) and closing a block of South Street, one of the original boundaries of the city of Raleigh? Do you even realize that this is happening? There is a community meeting this coming Monday at the Memorial Auditorium to share more information and to ask questions. https://lnkd.in/eBWpFxvy Sorriest job of community engagement that I have ever seen - and that's not on the Office of Community Engagement but on the folks who thought that this didn't need to be addressed by ALL of the people in the city, not just those who inhabit the "downtown" area. Here is more information about the meeting. Show up. Ask questions. https://lnkd.in/ensgRanm Have they considered that with all of the new development and planned development what closing the street off will mean for all of those people - because they won't all be walking! As we are continually asking for recognition of 4th Ward - is the only recognition going to be a mural painted on a wall that people drive past? And why must the Black community continue to bear the brunt of the development in this city? This is not what Opportunity Zones were supposed to be about - they were for the building up of the community not the continued making money for gentrifing developers. Does any of this mean that I am against downtown businesses? No. I just hate shoddy and haphazardly put together engagement and this is that. Will Shaw University be affected by this in a positive way or will they be left out in the re-routing? According to what I read on the City's website, now the strollway will access Lenoir street, bypassing Shaw University on the way from Chavis to Dix. That seems odd. https://lnkd.in/egc-4AuZ

Talib Graves-Manns & Carmen Cauthen, mindful of Dr. Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, #Habit_2, #Begin_With_The_End_In_Mind. How would you like to see community move from reactive to proactive? Here's a good conversation compliments of GARY JONES, MBA. #Iron_Sharpens_Iron @ #Get_With_The_Program, #BuyFixUpReBuildTheBlock. Your thoughts? https://lnkd.in/eWdPfqX9

This week on The Massive Change Show, we’re talking with Sara Alvarado, a real estate professional turned racial justice advocate. Sara co-founded " Own It Building Black Wealth " , authored Dreaming In Spanish: An Unexpected Love Story in Puerto Vallarta, and created the Racial Justice Toolkit for Real Estate Professionals. Hear how she transformed her career and her purpose, plus her answers to our three “System Shaker” questions. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation—listen now! 🎧🗣️https://spoti.fi/4jqe5nc