Own It
Empower Change.
Explore our work, meet the people who make it happen, and find out how you can get involved.
Our mission,transforming home buying.
We’re proud to offer an education program that provides people of color with the knowledge and support needed to make homeownership a reality. Paired with a down payment grant with fewer restrictions, we are rewriting the script of home buying.
Our values,bold collaboration.
We collaborate across industries to creatively dismantle inequities in housing and empower Black and brown communities through lasting, positive change.
- Collaborative: Community members and real estate professionals working together to tackle housing and wealth gaps.
- Community Centered: Making a real, positive difference for Black and brown families — creating a better future for everyone.
- Action-oriented: We are driven, making big moves, and having fun while we do it!
- Unapologetic: We are committed to real change and bold action to achieve racial justice in real estate.
- Creative & Innovative: Dismantling discriminatory systems and creating new, innovative ways to address inequalities in real estate.
Our impact,positive change.
We are steadily growing each year, raising significant funds, expanding community participation, and empowering more families to achieve homeownership.
$900k+
has been raised since April 2021.
60+
real estate professionals are now Ambassadors.
300+
people have taken our education courses.
18
families have purchased homes with our grant.
Why?Dismantling the system.
Our team came together with a shared mission: to boost generational wealth in Black communities through homeownership. We recognize the challenges caused by systemic racism in real estate and finance, and we're dedicated to eradicating these barriers and reversing the impacts of racial discrimination in the Greater Madison area.
13%
of Black/Brown Families are homeowners vs 64% white families.
36X
The average net worth of a homeowner compared to a renter.
$15
in wealth held by Black households for every $100 held by white households in 2022.
0.4%
The rate at which homeownership among Black Americans has increased in the last 10 years – still 29% lower than white Americans.
Who?Your neighbors.
Own It unites community members and professionals in the real estate, banking, and financial sectors together – providing first-hand support for our community. The direction is led by the Board of Directors and the Advisory Team – with great contributions to the education program and down payment grants team.
Staff
Sara Alvarado
Co-Founder, Director
Ian Carter
Co-Director
Board of Directors
Tiffany Malone
Co-Founder, Co-Chair
Justice Castañeda
Co-Chair
Robert Beets
Member
Grace Trewartha
Treasurer/Education
Robert Procter
Member
Rich Henderson
Member
Advisory Council
Sarah Campagna
Education Team
Katie Kolakowski
Ambassador Team
Darin Harris
Grants Team
Narik Riak
Outreach/Partnerships and Data
Gail Wiseman
Partnerships
Sara Whitley
Grants Team, Education, Co-Creator
Ashley Bergren
Education, Grants
Jonathon Ferguson
Education
Jodie Pope
Education, Own It Homeowner
Instructors and Mentors
Grace Trewartha
Lead Instructor
Jonathon Ferguson
Instructor