Disrupt Development Summit 2024

Women of Color Develop & The Houston Land Bank host

January 19th

Houston, TX

LEARN. CONNECT. BUILD.

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Get ready to soar to the top of the real estate game with the Disrupt Development Summit, a one-of-a-kind summit that's traveling right to your city! This full-day summit is all about building up our diverse communities through real estate development. The speakers line-up is aces, with industry experts sharing their knowledge, and plenty of networking opportunities to make connections with movers and shakers at every stage of the development process. It's all happening in Houston, thanks to a powerful collaboration between the Houston Land Bank (HLB), Women of Color Develop LLC, and other partners. So, let's unite and register now to secure our spot!

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

The Downing Brothers

Straight from the lively South Side of Chicago comes the dynamic duo of real estate, Anthony and Anton Downing! These twin brothers have taken the world by storm as they juggle reality TV fame, being firefighters, and community leaders all at once. Their family values inspired them to pursue a passion for real estate, which they've used to create a positive impact. Their shows, "Double Down" on HGTV and "Backyard Bar Wars" on TruTV, showcase their talent for flipping properties and coming up with stunning designs.

While their TV fame is impressive, their true passion lies in empowering their community. Their experience as firefighters for Chicago (Tower Ladder 34) and Dolton, Illinois (Engine 16) showed them the need for community development. They started by renovating a single-family home and have since completed several larger projects. Their mission is to make real estate investment accessible to black communities and provide resources that can build generational wealth. They're making waves with their "Homecoming with the Downing Brothers" podcast, college tours, and community partnerships.

Their mantra of "Dream. Plan. Execute." inspires others to pursue their passions and make a difference in their communities. The Downing Brothers are a true testament to the power of determination and resilience.

HGTV hosts

The Downing Brothers

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Special Guest

Ashley Bell

Ashley D. Bell is the CEO of a fintech startup called Ready Life, which aims to reduce the racial wealth and homeownership gaps in the United States. The company helps its customers show lenders that they have the cash flow to secure a mortgage, even if they don't have a credit score.

Bell is also the founding partner of The National Black Bank Foundation (NBBF), which is leading the campaign to close America's racial wealth gap. The foundation is working to revitalize and modernize historically undercapitalized Black banks, which will, in turn, lift Black families, businesses, and communities across the country.

Before starting his own ventures, Bell was a partner at Dentons, the world's largest law firm focused on public policy. He also served as the White House Policy Advisor for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Office of American Innovation. In February 2018, he was appointed as Regional Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration for Region IV, overseeing nine District Directors and delivering agency services to over 500 employees and partners.

Bell is a renowned attorney and has received numerous accolades, including being named one of America's top 40 attorneys under 40 by the American Bar Association, a National Impact Leader of the Year by IMPACT DC, and a 21st Century Leadership Fellow at the Harvard University JFK School of Government.