Clearing the path to homeownership: ‘Black Excellence in Real Estate’ awards gala now in its fourth year

TAMMY THOMPSON AND MARY HESTER, LEADERS OF THE ANNUAL BLACK EXCELLENCE IN REAL ESTATE AWARDS GALA. THIS YEAR’S EVENT WAS HELD, SEPT. 26, AT THE WINTERGARDEN AT PPG PLACE, DOWNTOWN. (PHOTO BY J.L. MARTELLO)

Black homeownership is a problem in Pittsburgh.

Thirty-three percent, or 1 in 3 African Americans in Pittsburgh, are homeowners. Almost 75 percent, or 3 of 4 Whites in Pittsburgh, are homeowners.

And when they talk about homeownership being a vital part of wealth-building for families, one can see how far behind African Americans are in Pittsburgh in this category.

When Mary Hester, founder and owner of LifeVenture Real Estate Solutions, called founding executive director of Catapult Greater Pittsburgh Tammy Thompson about starting a “Black Excellence in Real Estate” awards gala, Thompson thought Hester was crazy.

“We don’t have time to do anything else,” Thompson told Hester some years ago.

Hester told Thompson it needed to happen, and Thompson obliged. Together, they began the first “Black Excellence in Real Estate” awards gala in 2021 at the Heinz History Center.

It sold out easily.

It had to be moved to a larger venue in 2022; thus, it was held at the Wintergarden at PPG Place, Downtown. And it sold out there, too.

This year, 2024, the event sold out within two weeks of the tickets going on sale.

“I’m so happy that she encouraged me to do this with her,” Thompson said.

“Black Excellence in Real Estate” is a chance to honor those who are dedicated to increasing Black homeownership statistics in the Pittsburgh region. “Those” could be bank lenders, individuals, private companies, developers, contractors, elected officials, or government entities.

Whomever it is, Thompson and Hester are recognizing them each year, at a dress-in-your-best-but-come-ready-to-have-fun atmosphere. This year’s event was held, Sept. 26.

 

THE HILL DISTRICT FEDERAL CREDIT UNION WAS THE COMMUNITY BANK OF THE YEAR. PICTURED IS RICHARD WITHERSPOON SR.

During the event, Thompson told the New Pittsburgh Courier a real estate agent of the year was honored (Deanna Davis), chosen by the votes of the community; also, Thompson and Hester honored a homeowner of the year (Chrystyn Ballard), legacy award winner, (Alicia Majors), nonprofit of the year (Rising Tide Partners), community bank of the year (Hill District Federal Credit Union) and developer of the year.

HONOREE TINA DANIELS, DEVELOPER OF THE YEAR (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO)

Tina Daniels, owner of Concrete Rose Construction, was the developer of the year. She made news earlier in the summer by developing homes and apartments in Homewood, called “Benedict Dwellings,” and is working on another project, called “Anderson Estates” on Hermitage Street.

“She’s thinking about longevity in the property, that children will be raised in the property,” Thompson said of Daniels. “She’s less concerned about making a profit than she is building quality affordable housing for our community.”

BROTHER MELVIN HUBBARD EL FROM THE MAYOR’S OFFICE GIVING A PROCLAMATION TO TAMMY THOMPSON AND MARY HESTER

Catapult Greater Pittsburgh’s core mission is to create wealth-building opportunities for Black families, and homeownership is the main component. Throughout the day, the phones at Catapult’s East Liberty offices are ringing, residents getting information about how they can get into homeownership.

“Right now, Black folks are at the bottom of the list for homeownership in this country. So our work is designed around creating the education, the intentional opportunity-building by way of creating our own down payment and closing cost assistance program,” Thompson told the Courier. “Doing everything we can to limit and mitigate the barriers to homeownership for Black folks.”

THE EVENING’S HONOREES WITH TAMMY THOMPSON AND MARY HESTER

 

 

 

 

About Post Author

Comments

From the Web

Skip to content