Race, Wealth and Homeownership Conference
Closing the Wealth Gap: Race, Wealth, and Homeownership
This conference will explore ways to uplift our Black and Brown communities through homeownership which builds individual wealth and will ultimately help Cincinnati create a more vibrant, diverse, resilient, and equitable community. The most significant indicator of systemic racism in the United States is the wealth gap between Blacks and Whites. The disparity in homeownership accounts for a significant part of that wealth gap. The gap in Cincinnati could not be more clear. Black homeownership in Cincinnati is around 31% while white home ownerships is around 73% - a 42% gap.
As we seek to address the crisis in affordable housing there is the need to look at this deeper, systemic issue of the wealth gap. This means addressing the question not only in terms of subsidized rental markets but also in terms of homeownership and fair housing.
This event will raise consciousness about this inequity and further discuss how we might address it in the Cincinnati region. We invite you to join us to address the many issues surrounding Black homeownership locally and nationally. We will explore how an increase in Black home ownership can become a key component in helping to create Black wealth. We will explore how this is being done in other parts of the Country and what we should do locally to promote greater homeownership among our Black neighbors.
Keynote Speaker : Jim (James) A. Cunningham
As Deputy Regional Administrator for HUD’s Midwest Regional Office, Jim is responsible for coordinating the delivery of HUD programs in Region V’s six States: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. He oversees the operations of seven HUD Field Offices throughout the Region managing White House initiatives, Secretarial priorities and achievement of HUD agency priority goals.
Jim has been with the Department for 30 years in various capacities in both Headquarters and the Field and has served as the Chicago Regional Office’s Deputy Regional Administrator for seven years. Jim started his HUD career as a Presidential Management Intern in HUD Headquarters in the Community Development Block Grant Program. He has also worked in three Field Offices and was the Field Office Director for the Cincinnati HUD Office for 14 years. Prior to coming to HUD, Jim worked at the Chrysler Motors Corporation as a Management Trainee in his hometown of Belvidere, Illinois. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Illinois (1987) and a Masters of Public Administration from the American University (1991).