You may have noticed some Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity Staff members tabling at recent community events this year such as Open Streets and the Selby Ave Jazz Festival. Take a moment to meet some of the friendly faces behind the table and learn a little bit more about what drives them.
The unique interactions that you can only have at community events are part of what makes Portia so passionate about her work. Hearing stories and real-life experiences of the greater Habitat community is essential for improving our organization in a meaningful way.
When asked why she decided to work for Habitat, Portia responded, "I wanted to work with foundational Black Americans, and I wasn't able to do that one the same scale with other organizations." Habitat's initiatives are making tangible progress in this area and Portia wants to expand this progress. She specifically called out the homeownership gap in Minnesota as a driving force for her work. Additionally, she stressed the importance of Habitat's rules and guidelines during the application process. They exist as a tool to aide potential homeowners rather than add another barrier to homeownership.
Portia is a North Minneapolis homeowner and in her free time, she loves watching True Crime documentaries and listening to True Crime podcasts with her daughters.
She shares Portia's passion for making a positive impact in her community and hearing homeowner experiences firsthand. She firmly believes that “that the true process of wealth development and building wealth come with the understanding of how money works, and how to analyze your financial needs in order of priority to make your money work for you.”
Pearll's commitment to sharing her knowledge with as many people as possible is undeniable, as is the impact of that commitment. Pearll hopes that every potential homeowner is financially well informed and knows the full scope of the homebuying process.
Pearll is an accomplished spoken word poet and has authored several books of poetry. When she's not working, she enjoys writing and spending time with her kids.
Preston enjoys going out into the community for tabling events and speaking with potential homeowners and members of the greater Habitat community. "What I enjoy most about tabling in the community is smiling and sharing with people something that is powerful and meaningful." Preston's determination to bring a positive earnest influence into the community is an excellent example for all of us to follow.
In his free time, Preston loves watching Minnesota sports teams, especially the Minnesota Vikings and Timberwolves (although he admits that watching them is a struggle at times). He also loves movies, rapping and writing poetry, singing and pretty much playing any sport.
Preston also expressed how much his family means to him; his mother, three sisters, and two brothers mean the world to him. He also wants to be a role model for his three nieces and three nephews.
Twin Cities Habitat is so excited to have such passionate members engaging with the community, and they are excited to meet you! If you or someone you know would like to have Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity at a community event, don't hesitate to reach out! You can contact Preston Powless in order to get in touch.