On Friday, February 23, Young Black Homeowners (YBH), partnering with the African American Leadership Forum (AALFWA), hosted the second Black Equity Ball. This red-carpet affair was created to honor the journey of current and future black homeowners as they embark on the experience of gaining first-time homeownership. The event showcased DJing, musical performances, vendors, a champagne toast, and a dinner catered by That Brown Girl Cooks! that set the tone for the evening. 

"Here in Seattle, King County, we actually have homeownership rates that are lower than the average on the national scale. So by having events like this, what we're doing is changing the narrative or changing the culture," Anzhane Slaughter, the founder and CEO of YBH, said. "We're getting people excited and inspiring others to make homeownership a legitimate and tangible goal for them. "

The event, held at Washington Hall, featured Washington State Representative Jamila Taylor as the MC for the night. 

"It's important that we support black homeownership; folks who want to be part of the community forever in a day pass on this asset to their next generation," Taylor said. "So these young folks who are ready to start their lives with home ownership and celebrate that fact, I think, is something that can help the rest of the community feel like they're part of that journey as well."

This event follows the African American Leadership Forum's groundbreaking $100,000 BIPOC downpayment assistance program.

"African American Leadership Forum is a place where we give advocacy and education so folks can get their education, get jobs, own homes, and we want to be the example for that," Dawn Bennett, Executive Director of the AALFWA, said. 

Last December marked a significant milestone as the program celebrated the graduation of its inaugural cohorts.

"With these funds, we're able to help 20 families get into homes with over 20% down, and this is zero interest," Slaughter said. "You don't have to repay it until you either pay off your loan, refinance or in 30 years when you sell your home."

Jasmine Williams, the event coordinator at Communion R&b and That Brown Girl Cooks!, was one of the first recipients to be part of the program. 

"Being a part of the first cohort for African American Leadership Forum and YBH is very important to me to kind of be that vessel and let people know that Homeownership is possible for young women, women of color, mothers, single moms," Williams said. "Just knowing that it's something that we can do and something that we should do in order to leave something behind and leave behind a legacy."

Young Black Homeowners will continue hosting this event annually, as their 3rd Annual Black Equity Ball is planned for February 22, 2025. 

"The Black Equity Ball is just representation of us," Patrice Norwood, another participant in the $100,000 downpayment program, said. "It is an opportunity for first-time homebuyers, for existing homebuyers, just to share their stories and just their impact on what it's been owning a home for the first time."

For more information about Young Black Homeowners, click here.