April 2025 Reflection & Looking Ahead

April 2025: Lessons, Progress & What's Next

As April closes, we pause to reflect on the powerful conversations and actions that shaped this month. From celebrating Financial Literacy and Fair Housing Month to sharing tools for investing and navigating the homeownership journey, April was a reminder that knowledge is our greatest tool and community is our strongest asset.

Here’s a look at what we explored, what we learned, and how we’re carrying this energy into the rest of the year.

Money Talks: Budgeting, Credit & Cash (Oh My!)

We kicked off the month with real talk on financial foundations. Whether you’re building from scratch or sharpening your skills, we covered:

• How to build a budget that matches real life (not just your bills).

• The importance of checking and understanding your credit report.

• Why small savings add up over time.

Local Alachua County programs and resources for financial education.

Takeaway: Money confidence doesn’t come overnight—but it grows with every intentional step you take.

Fair Housing 57 Years Later: Know Your Rights

We honored the legacy of the 1968 Fair Housing Act by empowering you with tools to protect your housing rights today. We explored:

• What housing discrimination can look like in 2025.

• How to recognize it and where to report it.

• Gainesville-area organizations supporting renters and buyers.

• How equal housing is critical for closing the racial wealth gap.

Takeaway: Housing is more than shelter; it’s access, stability, and legacy. And everyone deserves that.

Wealth That Works – Stocks, Real Estate, Life Insurance & Legacy

This week we turned up the volume on wealth building, not just for us, but for those who come after us. We kept it real and relatable while exploring multiple ways our people can secure the bag long term.

We covered:

• Stocks vs. real estate – and how both can work for us even with modest resources.

• REITs & house hacking – for those not ready to be landlords but still want to eat off the land.

• Life insurance – not just a safety net, but one of the most underused tools in building generational wealth. We broke down how a $50/month policy can flip into a six-figure legacy for our babies.

• Heirs’ property – the importance of estate planning to keep Big Momma’s house in the family and stop the cycle of land loss. We included simple steps to write a will and resources for title cleanup.

Community takeaway: It’s not about how much you make. It’s about how much you move and how much you keep.

Realtist Week Recap & Homeownership Hacks

To close out April, we reflected on Realtist Week and what it means for Black homeownership in Alachua County and beyond:

• We celebrated stories of new homeowners.

• Shared hacks like co-buying with family and using local down payment assistance.

• Reviewed what’s happening in the Gainesville real estate market.

Takeaway: Black homeownership is not just possible—it’s happening. And we’re here to make it happen for more of us.

Looking Ahead: May & Beyond

As we head into May, we shift focus to wellness, seasonal readiness, and community celebration. We’ll explore mental health, home maintenance, local cultural events, and a mid-year money check-in. The journey continues—and you’re not on it alone.

Let’s keep learning, sharing, and building.

📩 Stay tapped in. 📣 Share with a friend. 🖤 Support Black. 

Grow Wealth. Build Community. ✊🏾