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Pittsburgh Courier NEW
www.newpittsburghcourier.com Vol. 114 No. 10 Two Sections
MARCH 8-14, 2023
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Homeownership is very important for Pittsburgh’s Black community Homeownership Forum shows how to create generational wealth by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
If you’re Black, living in the Pittsburgh region and do not own a home, you’re far from alone. The online lending marketplace LendingTree in February released the results of a study it conducted on Black homeownership across the U.S., and found that Blacks in the Pittsburgh region, who make up 7.5 percent of the population, own less than four percent of all the homes. The study comes on the heels of a 2022 report by the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group, which found that African American homeownership within city limits was at 31.4 percent in 2019. In other words, almost 70 percent of Blacks living within Pittsburgh are not homeowners, and it’s even worse across the multi-county region. Even before the LendingTree report was released, a collaboration between the Pittsburgh alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Petra
International Ministries and Monique Winston of MWINS Consulting resulted in a highly-attended Black Homeownership Forum, Feb. 4, at Petra International Ministries in East Hills. “African Americans are the lowest percentage wise when it comes to homeownership and it hasn’t changed much since the ‘60s,” Winston said at the event. “Our goal is to help change the trajectory of Black homeownership.” Nationwide, the gap between White and Black homeownership rates is wider today than it was in 1960. The Pew Charitable Trust reported a 27 point gap in 1960, compared to a 29 percent gap now. “There is a huge connection between homeownership and economic wealth-building,” Winston said. “A lot of people think, just buy a house for the sake of buying a house... They don’t realize that for African Americans, the largest percent of our net worth comes from the eqSEE HOMEOWNERSHIP A4
STATE FARM AGENT DANIELLE HOWARD, far right, among the participants of the Homeownership Forum held, Feb. 4, at Petra International Ministries in East Hills. (Photo by J.L. Martello)
Pittsburgh Black Lawyers Alliance Damara Carter named launches Legal Candidate Forums Urban Redevelopment Authority of by Mackenzie Phillips For New Pittsburgh Courier
With the upcoming 2023 elections, the Pittsburgh Black Lawyers Alliance is hosting a series of Legal Candidate Forums as an easy and accessible venue to chat with candidates seeking public office running for legal positions in Allegheny County. The forums will give the public a chance to see who is running for office and where candidates stand on specific issues. These events are open to the public and hosted virtually via Zoom, with the full schedule and a way to register for the forums on
the Pittsburgh Black Lawyers Alliance’s website. Questions are taken from the public and presented to the candidates in a non-biased setting. The kickoff to this year’s forums was on Jan. 21, featuring personal injury attorney Todd Hollis as the mediator and Matt Dugan, a candidate for district attorney. Questions presented to Dugan ranged from numerous aspects of their campaign to their intended goals if they were to win the position. For the upcoming forums, PBLA will target specific issues in the legal system in Allegheny County, such as bail reform,
firearms and environmental crimes. The next forum will be at 3 p.m., Saturday, March 18. A problem arises when constituents don’t know what elections are taking place or who to vote for, attorney Frank Walker said. PBLA strives to raise awareness of issues in Black communities for those that may not know how to use their votes. Walker, the president of PBLA and a practicing attorney in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, said he understands firsthand the injustices people of color face in and outside of the courtroom, making every vote and every election
EXECUTIVE TEAM OF THE PBLA—Frank Walker, Lena Henderson, Paul Ellis.
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matter that much more. “I think it’s important for everyone to know what the issues are because too SEE BLACK LAWYERS A9
Pittsburgh Chief Financial Officer
The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) has named Damara Carter as its new Chief Financial Officer, becoming the first Black woman to hold the position in the URA’s 77year history. The announcement was made Tuesday, March 7. “I’ve watched Chief Carter work tirelessly for close to two decades in the economic development field,” said Mayor Ed Gainey. “Her dedication to ensuring that all of our communities are being served means she will do all that she can to help everyone have opportunities to thrive.” Chief Carter brings over 27 years of accounting and finance experience to the organization, plus a wealth of institutional knowledge unique to the URA. Chief Carter joined the URA in February 2009 overseeing accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and eventually other functions of the URA’s Finance department, giving her a comprehensive view of the URA’s financial and accounting operations. She has been instrumental in stabilizing and
DAMARA CARTER improving operations of the URA Finance department, overseeing management of public money, and ensuring fiscal responsibility. “My faith has sustained me through all of the turmoil I’ve experienced in my career. I’ve learned what it truly means to let go and let God. Any success I have is because I’m committed to treat-
ing people the way I deserve to be treated,” said Chief Carter. “When I got a chance to strengthen the URA’s Finance department, I did. I knew what needed to happen. I can say my department and staff are great.” “On behalf of the entire board, I want to SEE CARTER A9