Habitat at South by Southwest 2025
Habitat for Humanity is proud to have been the presenting sponsor of the Social Impact Pavilion at SXSW Expo 2025 — an iconic event celebrating the convergence of technology, film, music, education and culture. See how we connected with global innovators, creators and leaders driving positive change.
Advancing Black Homeownership exhibit
Through the power of storytelling and art, the Advancing Black Homeownership exhibit highlights the complex factors driving housing inequities in the U.S. and invites visitors to experience these challenges firsthand.
The exhibit was launched in 2024 as part of our Advancing Black Homeownership Initiative, Habitat’s strategy and commitment to reduce the racial homeownership gap. It was exhibited at SXSW from March 9-12, 2025.
Interested in learning more or hosting the exhibit? Use our simple form to let us know how we can help.
Advancing Black Homeownership
through Housing Justice Panel
Habitat was proud to present a panel, Advancing Black Homeownership through Housing Equity, on Industry Day at SXSW 2025. Our CEO, Jonathan Reckford, and VP and Executive Director of Habitat Capital, Daniel Gura, were joined by Andre Perry of the Brookings Institution and Lisa Matthews of The Associated Press for a discussion on the historical and ongoing struggle for equal access to housing.
The panel examined discriminatory policies that created systemic barriers and showcased successful initiatives that can break them down, offering a path forward to a more equitable future.
Panelists
Jonathan Reckford
Chief Executive Officer,
Habitat for Humanity International
Andre Perry
Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
Daniel Gura
Executive Director and Vice President,
Habitat Capital at Habitat International
Scenes from the expo
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Habitat for Humanity’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live, but a structure of intentional and systemic racial discrimination in the U.S. has created barriers to homeownership for many Black families.
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The homeownership gap between Black and white households is more prominent in Minnesota’s Twin Cities than in any other metropolitan area, with the nation’s largest Black and white homeownership gap at 51 percentage points — more than 20 percentage points above the national average. Learn how Twin Cities Habitat is responding to the challenge of closing the gap.
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Mary Kay Huss, Richmond Metropolitan Habitat chief executive officer, talks about historic housing discrimination and what Habitat is doing to help advance Black homeownership locally.
