About Thredz
Background Overview
Thredz.org is a 501(c)(3) Community Building Corporation dedicated to empowering and preserving historically Social Economically marginalized communities by amplifying their voices and creating equitable pathways to homeownership, entrepreneurship, and community-led investments.
President’s Letter
Marria McIntosh (President/CEO,Thredz.org)
“At Thredz Community Building Corporation, our work exists at the intersection of community empowerment, economic mobility, and justice.
Across the country, communities are experiencing rapid change—rising housing costs, displacement pressures, political polarization, and policy shifts that impact who has access to opportunity and who
does not. These realities make our mission more urgent than ever.
One of the most persistent disparities in America today is the racial homeownership gap. While homeownership remains the primary driver of generational wealth in the United States, Black families continue to be dramatically underrepresented among homeowners.
Nationally, Black homeownership hovers around 43–45%, compared to more than 70 percent for White households—a gap that has persisted for decades despite civil rights legislation intended to close it.
The causes are not accidental. They are rooted in a long history of structural barriers—from redlining and discriminatory lending practices to unequal wages, appraisal bias, and limited access to capital.
Even today, Black borrowers are nearly twice as likely to be denied a mortgage compared to White applicants, regardless of income level.
When we talk about closing the racial wealth gap, homeownership must be part of the solution.
At the same time, the national conversation around democracy and participation continues to evolve. The Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most important civil rights laws in American history, has faced significant legal challenges in recent years. Courts have already weakened key protections, and ongoing legal battles continue to raise concerns about the future of safeguards designed to protect voters from racial discrimination.
Access to housing, access to opportunity, and access to democracy are deeply connected.
The national climate around immigration and enforcement also affects the stability of many families. As federal immigration enforcement policies evolve, housing advocates have raised concerns about how fear of deportation or retaliation can discourage vulnerable residents from reporting unsafe housing conditions or discrimination.
These are complex issues—but they all intersect at the same question:
Who gets to belong in our communities?
In 2019, the nation marked the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first Africans in Jamestown, Virginia in 1619—a painful reminder of the beginning of slavery in what would become the United States.
That moment marked the start of a long struggle for freedom, dignity, and equality that continues today.
More than four centuries later, the work of building a more equitable society is still unfinished.
We also continue to reflect on pivotal milestones that shaped the path forward:
- The Civil Rights Act of 1964, now more than sixty years old, which outlawed discrimination but did not eliminate the systems that created inequality.
- The Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954, which declared segregated schools unconstitutional yet reminds us that equal access to education still requires vigilance and advocacy.
- The enduring legacy of the NAACP, founded in 1909, whose work continues to inspire generations fighting for justice and equal opportunity.
These milestones remind us that progress is not guaranteed—it is built by people willing to challenge systems and create new pathways.
For me, this work is deeply personal.
I often think of my great grandmother, Nobie Lee, an African American woman born in 1919—the daughter and granddaughter of enslaved people and sharecroppers.
She raised me from the time I was just three months old.
With only a third-grade education, she worked as a maid and, in 1954, purchased our family home in cash.
That home still stands today.
Her determination taught me something powerful:
- Ownership changes everything.
- Ownership provides stability, dignity, and the ability to pass something forward to the next generation.
- Her story—and the stories of so many families like hers—are why the mission of Thredz matters.
Today, Thredz is working to counter displacement and expand opportunity through initiatives including:
- Pathways to Homeownership, helping families move from renting to ownership
- Youth Leadership and Workforce Development (Y3)
- Entrepreneurship support and economic empowerment
- Community engagement and civic participation
- Innovative housing and redevelopment strategies
Our goal is not simply to talk about inequality—but to build real solutions that change outcomes.
At Thredz, we believe communities should not simply survive change.
They should shape it, benefit from it, and own it.
As we look ahead, we invite residents, partners, institutions, and leaders to join us in building communities where opportunity is not reserved for a few—but accessible to all.
Together, we can create neighborhoods where history is honored, where families remain rooted, and where the next generation inherits not just hope—but ownership, stability, and possibility.”
Marria McIntosh
President & CEO
Thredz Community Building Corporation”
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At Thredz, we are committed to addressing the root causes of gentrification and working towards solutions that promote economic empowerment and racial equity.