Shenteria Childs

I currently live in Las Vegas (and a few months of the year in Illinois). I am an author and have a voice over and video business (see www.shenteria.com). I was born and raised in East St. Louis, which unfortunately has been the most dangerous city in America. My mother still lived in East St. Louis with her younger sister until last year, but there had been a fire in the apartment that my Aunt was renting and they had to move out. So Edward and I decided to buy my mom a home. Even after leaving my hometown and moving to Las Vegas over 7 years ago, I always wished better for the city and area I had long lived in. I even tried to organize a group to meet with the city council to try and improve conditions, but got no results. There seemed to be a general feeling of despair and lack of hope.
I can’t think of a better way to give someone hope than to give them a home to live in and a means to make enough money to be independent. So I really want to put my efforts into this project because I know first hand now what a big difference it can make. I must say that gifting this first home took almost half of my total net worth, but it has been so worth it seeing how much it has helped my mom. After I increase my net worth considerably I would like to gift another home to another deserving black lady. I really hope those of you with more wealth will open your hearts and really make a life changing difference with a gift of a home to a deserving black woman who otherwise would never be able to have a home (and in many cases would always be beholden to someone else to even get by).

Edward Southwick

I live in Las Vegas. I am a real estate investor and I teach a happiness/self-improvement course. I have always been interested in how to become the best person I can. So I have long studied about self-actualization, happiness and health (see www.allabouthappiness.com and www.youaretheproject.com). Through my happiness studies and teaching it for many years, I know that the highest levels of happiness come through joyful giving. There is nothing more joyful and satisfying then to benefit others and especially to be a catalyst for a major change in that person’s life (which gifting a home definitely does). I am also fortunate to have kept my health at a high level and hope I will have many more years to better serve my fellowman and woman.
My biggest goal in life now is to make a positive difference. I feel that empowermillionblackwomen.org is one of the best ways I can give back. I really do feel that in general women have not been fully treated fairly, and they deserve so much more. Having known Shenteria for a number of years now, and knowing more about many black women’s situations and how passionate Shenteria is about this, I am fully involved in making this happen (and it truly has given me great joy to have participated in helping her mother, Florda). I too, hope many wealthy people will step up now and make their lives really matter by completely transforming another person’s life with the gift of a home.