Change starts at the local level. That's why we're here.
Racially-based appraisal bias is a well-documented and pervasive issue that has long contributed to the widening wealth gap for Black families. Much of it has been driven by “historical racialized appraisals that influence contemporary values and appraisers’ racialized assumptions about neighborhoods to drive appraisal method,” according to a study published in the journal Social Problems.
The study found that from 1980 to 2015, homes in White neighborhoods appreciated almost $200,000 more than comparable homes in similar communities of color.
A different study by the Brookings Institution in 2018 found that in the average U.S. metropolitan area, “homes in neighborhoods where the share of the population is 50 percent Black are valued at roughly half the price as homes in neighborhoods with no Black residents,” and that there is a level of “implicit bias” in an individuals’ perception of members of an oppressed class. The study also found that the “value of assets — buildings, schools, leadership, and land itself — are inextricably linked to the perceptions of Black people.”
About us.
Meet our founders.
Black Homes Matter is a movement led by the Fair and Unbiased Appraisal Advocates, a coalition of community leaders, realtors, elected officials and other concerned citizens across Prince George’s County, MD.
Marvin E. Holmes, Jr.
Maryland State Delegate
Delegate Marvin E. Holmes, Jr. has served in the Maryland House of Delegates for almost 20 years. Many define him as the “guru” of housing and real estate.
Before his election to the General Assembly, Delegate Holmes served on the Board of Directors for the Economic Development Corporation. He also served as advisor to the State Water Quality Advisory Committee for Washington Suburban Sanitary District, Diversity Committee of the Greenbelt City Council and President of the Watkins Park Homeowners’s Association.
Melanie Gamble
Realtor
Melanie Gamble is an author, John C. Maxwell Certified coach, speaker, Realtor® and owner of 212 Degrees Realty, LLC.
Melanie is a graduate of Florida A&M University, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s in Public Administration. She is the first woman and youngest Executive Director of the Florida Conference of Black State Legislators. Her proudest moment came during the 1994 legislative session when she worked on the introduction and passage of the Rosewood bill, which awarded the descendants of Rosewood, FL over $3 million in reparations.
Melanie is the author of “Unintended Consequences – The Great Recession’s Impact on Communities of Color” and co-authored “The Big Secret” with renowned author and coach Jack Canfield.
Melanie and her husband enjoy life with their three sons in Maryland.
Ckori Jones
Developer
Ckori was raised in Prince Georges County, Maryland. In 2015, Ckori and his business partner collectively founded BroCAR Properties, a company that acquires property for long-term holds and development.
Ckori takes pride in giving back to the community. He is a lifelong baseball coach, a mentor for young adults, and ministers as a deacon at Woodstream Church.
Arden Lyles
Realtor
Arden Lyles is a highly analytical, reliable, and dedicated sales professional offering several years of broad-based and progressive experience in sales, marketing, and business development.
He possesses an outstanding reputation for his contributions to record-setting sales, territory startup/ expansion and new account development.
Jacqulyn Priestly
Community Advocate,
Principal at Oak Hill Strategies
Jacqulyn Priestly is a community advocate, passionate about creating pathways to equitable access and opportunities for women, communities of color and other historically marginalized populations.
She is the principal of Oak Hill Strategies, a Maryland-based public relations and marketing communications agency that serves federal and state government agencies, national associations and non-profits and community-based initiatives.
Jacqulyn, her husband and their three sons proudly reside in Prince George's County.
Kym Taylor
Maryland State Delegate, Advocate, Caregiver & Business Owner
Delegate Kym Taylor serves Maryland's 23 district in Prince George's County. She is a native Washingtonian and a 1982 graduate of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. She is also a 1986 graduate of George Washington University, where she earned a BS in Information Systems.
Delegate Taylor is a charter member of the National Harbor Chapter of Jack and Jill of America. Initiated into the Mu Delta chapter at the George Washington University, Delegate Taylor has been a loyal member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. for 36 years.
She has held numerous offices, chaired various committees (local and regional), and is dedicated to serving others.
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