ATLANTA, Oct. 30, 2024 ~ Atlanta, GA- On October 12th, Kevan and Ayesha Shelton, co-founders of Black Men Buy Houses, hosted their inaugural event at The Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs. The event was presented by Citizens Trust Bank and featured special guests John Hope Bryant, a renowned entrepreneur and economic empowerment advocate, and H. Jerome Russell Jr., President of H.J. Russell & Company.

The Sheltons launched the "Black Men Buy Houses" initiative to address the barriers and historical inequalities that Black men face in homeownership. According to the couple, Black men often struggle with limited access to information about the home-buying process and financial resources, which can hinder their ability to secure funds for down payments, credit, and closing costs.

"Our initiative's objective is to break down these barriers, enabling more Black men to achieve the dream of homeownership," said the Sheltons.

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The couple was inspired to create this initiative due to the lack of focus on Black men in the homebuyer data. It shows that Black men lag behind Black women in homeownership, education, entrepreneurship, and earnings. With more Black women achieving higher levels of education and workforce participation, initiatives like Black Men Buy Houses are crucial in addressing these disparities.

What started as a goal to help 500 Black men purchase homes in Houston has now expanded into a nationwide initiative focused on empowering Black men through financial literacy in real estate. The Atlanta event offered one-on-one sessions with credit specialists and mortgage representatives as well as panel discussions designed to prepare participants with the tools needed for their homeownership journey.

Black Men Buy Houses currently holds a National MOU with Operation HOPE which allows attendees to gain credit counseling beyond the event. This ties directly into John Hope Bryant's mission of advocating for financial literacy and empowerment within the Black community. During the event, Bryant shared his experience on overcoming financial barriers and stressed the importance of economic equity.

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Citizens Trust Bank, the event's presenter, expressed their pride in partnering with the Black Men Buy Houses initiative. "This event gave us the opportunity to engage directly with Black men in our community, offering tools and guidance to help them navigate the path to homeownership," said Farrand O. Logan, Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of Citizens Trust Bank. "We believe that financial empowerment begins with access to knowledge and resources, and this partnership is about more than just buying houses—it's about creating lasting wealth and stability for future generations," concluded Logan.

The Sheltons have plans to host additional events in major cities under their National MOU with NAREB on their "Building Black Wealth" initiative. They are determined to expand their efforts and impact even more lives.

For media inquiries or to schedule an interview with Kevan and Ayesha Shelton, the couple is available for both in-person and Zoom interviews. Please contact Innovating Marketing Group at 346-980-9062.

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