Ten current/future NEOKC emerging developers completed their four-session classroom seminar series of the Placekeepers program, representing the first cohort of hopefully many to create real estate wealth ethically in the NEOKC community.

A The Mine OK program team of the The Ronnie K. Irani Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth (I-CCEW) in 2019/20 developed an operating plan for this program designed to empower and equip minority residents and stakeholders of NEOKC. The team was inspired by ULI Oklahoma to create a program for NEOKC residents to develop their own neighborhood.

The plan was adopted by Quintin Hughes of NEOKC Renaissance and Maurianna Adams, MPA of Progress OKC, and they won a grant from the Black Justice Fund to launch Placekeepers. They hired an incredible talent in DeAndre Martin, who refined the plan, and recruited 10 amazing participants. The cohort learned the steps to successful, ethical development, and now they’ll be paired with mentors to rehab and build in the NE side. Councilwoman Nikki Nice attended every session and reinforced the need for the cohort’s expertise and energy.

To learn more about the PlaceKeepers Program, visit https://www.neokcr.org/placekeepers