MANNA, Inc.

Your home is your biggest investment. Are you protecting it?

Join Manna Homes and City First Enterprises for our FREE Financial Wellness Series: Protecting Your Home and Wealth. This monthly webinar series is designed to help DC homeowners build stronger, smarter financial futures.

First session
May 6, 2026
12 to 1 PM
Virtual via Zoom

Featured Speaker
Danisha Brown, CEO and Founder of Risk Exchange Agency

Topic
Financial Health and Understanding Your Financial Position

Danisha is an insurance expert and financial literacy advocate on a mission to help individuals, especially women and communities of color, build and protect generational wealth.

Register at mannahomes.org/hoc

Coming up in the series
Home Maintenance and Repairs
Money Management and Financial Stability
Wills and Estate Planning

Every first Wednesday, May through August 2026

ProtectYourWealth AffordableHousing FinancialLiteracy CityFirstEnterprises FreeWebinar HousingJustice MannahomesDC CFEPartnership

We’re thrilled to welcome two incredible leaders to the Manna, Inc. Board of Directors: LaMeka Short and Tom Donaghy.

LaMeka Short is a fourth-generation Washingtonian and a dynamic leader working at the intersection of housing policy, real estate development, and public-sector strategy. With more than 20 years of experience navigating government systems and advancing equitable development, LaMeka brings deep expertise in public finance, partnerships, and community engagement. As Managing Partner of ShortKeys Solutions and co-founder of a mission-driven real estate platform, she is dedicated to expanding access to homeownership and small-business opportunities for historically underserved communities.

Tom Donaghy, Principal and Shareholder at KGD Architecture, brings more than three decades of experience shaping thoughtful, community-centered spaces across the country. His work spans civic buildings, mixed-use developments, senior housing, hospitality, and infrastructure. Known for his commitment to sustainable design, mentorship, and creating places that truly serve communities, Tom’s perspective will be invaluable as we continue building high-quality affordable housing.

We are honored to have LaMeka and Tom join our board at such an important moment for our work. Their leadership and expertise will help guide the future of our mission and strengthen our impact across the region.

Welcome, LaMeka and Tom! 💙

This Black History Month, we honor the past and build the future.

As we move through February, we reflect on legacy, resilience, and the ongoing work of expanding access to opportunity.

The historic Whitelaw Hotel once stood as a symbol of Black excellence and was listed in The Negro Motorist Green Book during segregation. It represented access, dignity, and community at a time when those things were intentionally denied. Today, we have a community of long-term residents who call the Whitelaw Apartments home.

At Manna, building wealth through homeownership remains central to our mission. Through preservation, like the renovation of the Whitelaw Building, new development, and homebuyer education, we continue expanding access to ownership in DC and beyond.

Access to homeownership and financial education has the power to change families for generations and we are honored to support this journey.

We hope your Thanksgiving was full of warmth, connection, and community.
As we reflect this week, we’re filled with gratitude for the people who make our work possible every day; our neighbors, partners, supporters, and all of the future homebuyers building stability and generational wealth here in DC and beyond.

Thank you for being part of the Manna family. 🧡
We’re grateful for you today, and always.

With Gratitude,
The Manna Team

Manna Monthly November Email from Manna, Inc. A Season of Gratitude and Growth November is a time for giving thanks, celebrating wins, and reflecting on the many opportunities ahead. As the year winds down, Manna is gratefu

Mark your calendars! it’s almost time for OktoberFest Housing Resources Expo!

Join Manna, DC DHCD, and 11th Street Bridge Park for an afternoon of food, fun, and housing resources for DC residents.

✅ Meet lenders and housing counselors
✅ Explore programs like HPAP and Inclusionary Zoning
✅ Enjoy giveaways, community, and fall festivities

Saturday, October 25 | 12–4 PM
THEARC
1901 Mississippi Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20020

Register today at mannahomes.org/hoc or scan the QR code in the flyer.
Don’t miss this celebration of housing, community, and opportunity!

HOC Talk Tuesdays with

Thinking about buying a home but not sure where to start?

Join Manna for Talk Tuesdays with Truist Bank – a monthly virtual series designed to help you feel confident about the mortgage process. Bring your lunch or a coffee and settle in.

Details:
📅 Every 4th Tuesday | 12 Noon | Zoom
🎤 Featuring Kevin Claggett, Truist Community Mortgage Specialist
✅ Learn what lenders are really looking for
✅ Get tips to be mortgage-ready
✅ Ask your questions in real time

See you on the 23rd! Link to register in profile!

🏡 Thinking about buying a home?
Don’t miss the East of the River Homebuyer Club!

📅 Saturday, August 23, 2025
🕙 10 AM – 1 PM
📍 THEARC EAST, 1901 Mississippi Ave SE-In the community room
🥞 Breakfast provided

✨ Featuring Duane Sewell, Owner of DMV Home Inspections, sharing expert tips on what to look for in a safe and sound home.

👉 Register here: link in profile or bridgepark.org/homebuyer

📣 Calling all Ward 7 & 8 residents! Ready to take your first step toward homeownership?
Join us for the East of the River Homebuyer Club

📍 THEARC East – 1901 Mississippi Ave SE
🕙 Saturday, July 26 | 10 AM – 1 PM
🥐 Breakfast provided!

✅ Learn from HUD-certified housing counselors
✅ Get expert guidance on credit, savings & buying your first home
✅ Connect with community resources

💬 Featured Experts:
👨🏽‍🏫 Fernando Martinez, Director of Education & Counseling
👩🏾‍💼 Nickei Bent, Senior Housing Counselor at Manna

🔗 RSVP or learn more: bridgepark.org/homebuyer

📸 Save & share this post to spread the word!

Last week, we celebrated a major milestone, distributing Savings Match & Debt Reduction checks to our incredible program participants! 🙌🏽✨

Our Saving Match and Debt Reduction program helps residents in DC and Prince George’s County save up to $1,350 over six months, attend financial education courses, and receive a dollar-for-dollar match to reduce debt or boost savings, getting participants one step closer to homeownership.

Swipe to see real quotes from our participants.

Each check represents more than just funds, it’s a step toward financial resilience, improved credit, and long-term stability.

🎉 Huge congratulations to all our participants, you’re doing the work, and we’re honored to support you.

🙏🏽 Special thanks to our amazing sponsors, and for investing in this powerful, life-changing work.

📅 Interested in joining the next round? Visit mannadc.org, contact our HOC team, or join us at the East of the River Home Buyers Club, held every 4th Saturday in partnership with Link in bio to learn more.

Thinking about buying a home but not sure where to start? Join us at the East of the River Homebuyer Club on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at THEARC East!

This month, we’re joined by expert Realtor Tierra Willard, who has helped hundreds of first-time homebuyers across DC and MD. She’ll be sharing real talk on the homebuying process, insider tips on available programs like HPAP and DC Opens Doors, and how to make smart moves in today’s market.

Time: 10 AM - 1 PM
Location: THEARC EAST, 1901 Mississippi Ave SE
Bonus: Breakfast provided!

Let’s build the future you deserve—starting with the keys.

RSVP now: [link in bio or bridgepark.org/homebuyer]

Today, our team came together to celebrate the birthdays of Yvette Thomas and Winona Francis—two incredible team members whose dedication makes a lasting impact.

As Senior Director of the Home Ownership Center, Yvette’s leadership and passion for expanding homeownership opportunities have helped countless families achieve their dreams.

Winona, a key member of our Real Estate Development Team, works tirelessly to move new developments forward, ensuring that every aspect of the process runs smoothly.
We are grateful for all that you do and wish you both a year filled with joy, success, and continued impact.

Happy Birthday, Yvette and Winona!