Senator Sanders Launches Groundbreaking Home / Business Ownership Program

Senator James Sanders Jr. (D-Rochdale Village, Far Rockaway) kicked off a new, free, groundbreaking home and business ownership program with a celebration on March 8, 2018 at the Jamaica of Commerce.

"Who is ready to own a home?" Sanders asked the crowd, who responded with much applause. "Langston Hughes once said that America should be America for everyone. There is so much wealth and progress all around us, but for a long time our plate has been empty. Let's do something about that."

The event marked the grand opening of the Madam C.J. Walker Institute. This program begins with a mandatory 4-week financial boot camp which teaches participants how to repair / build their credit and how to design a personally tailored budget. The second part of the program will partner candidates with banks that have various down payment assistant options and move residents closer to their ownership goals.

At the kickoff event, industry experts presented free resources designed to promote wealth. Both the senator and the financial advisers are committed to helping applicants achieve their dreams of home and business ownership.

The program is named after Madam C.J. Walker who is recognized as the first black woman to become a millionaire in America. In addition to being an entrepreneur with a successful line of hair care products, Walker was also a philanthropist, and a political and social activist. 

Senator Sanders is partnering with Urban Upbound, East West Bank, Santander Bank, NYC Department of Consumer Affairs and others in order to make this program possible.