Our story

Black Women Build-Baltimore was founded in 2017 by Shelley Halstead who believes that for Black women to build intergenerational wealth, with the inherent security and prosperity it can generate, they must also learn the skills necessary to maintain that wealth. Home ownership and the ability to maintain that asset is one way this can be achieved.

With a passionate belief in the power of knowledge, skills, and opportunity to shape a woman’s life, Shelley founded Black Women Build – Baltimore on an intersectional framework.

Black Women Build-Baltimore is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

SHELLEY'S BIO

VALUES

That Black women deserve to be treated with dignity for their inherent worth as human beings

method

We understand that oppression is experienced at the intersection of identities, conditions, systems, policies, and practices; therefore, we address barriers that impact the ability of Black women to thrive.

GOALS

To create wealth and build community by dismantling the barriers that work against our ability to thrive.

In action

Since our start in 2019, we have completed 28 houses. To help keep their houses affordable, BWBB works with the Committee on Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP), which provides a 10-year tax credit on the property value increase resulting from rehabilitation work, saving thousands of dollars for the homeowner.

BWBB is not only rebuilding sections of historically disenfranchised neighborhoods, they’re doing so economically, environmentally, and consciously.

WE WANT BLACK WOMEN TO THRIVE

Our goal is to create change by creating community, knowledge, and wealth together. We appreciate your interest in our Program. If you are looking for additional reading on the need we are trying to address, please visit our Need page.

THE NEED

Building community, knowledge, and wealth together.

Organization

BECOME A HOMEOWNER

mailing address:
P.O. Box 16564
Baltimore, MD 21217

This project is supported in part by:

Black Women Build-Baltimore is an equal employer. You do not need to identify as Black or a woman to apply but as a mission-based organization, we center Black women.