Women of Ward Black Law Help Habitat for Humanity Build Home

Greensboro, NC – On Saturday, January 8, 2022, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro dedicated its first of 6 homes in the Willow Oaks community for its Women Build 2021 project. This dedication ceremony took place for Tamieka Smith and her two sons, Christian and Cameron.  Ward Black Law, one of the Foundation Sponsors, for the “Women Build” house, joined other donors, volunteers, and members of the community to unite in celebration of the commencement of the Smith family home.

Habitat for Humanity, founded in 1976, is a global nonprofit Christian housing organization. Habitat started its first Women Build event in 1991 in Charlotte, NC, and has since become a national initiative to bring women together to build stronger, safer communities. Through recruitment and education, Women Build events inspire women to come together to raise funds and help their communities build homes for families who lack affordable housing. It is 100% funded by women and 100% built by women. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro dedicated its first all-women-built home in 2019.  Ward Black Law Attorney Gerard Davidson, who has been involved with Habitat for Humanity for many years and served as Chairman of the Board, sponsored the firm’s first team in 2019 and again last year for the Smith family.  This team of 11 women, named the Legal Ladies, joined 2 members of the Muslims of the Triad team for one day last summer to help frame and raise the first walls of the Smith family home.

Stephanie Salinas, a paralegal at Ward Black Law and volunteer on the team talked about her experience with the build. She said, “It was a very hot Saturday in July; we all started early in the morning and finished late in the day.  It was team building as we worked together to complete different tasks such as carrying wood and supplies, hammering nails by hand, and framing the walls.” Stephanie expressed that it was rewarding to see the results of their labor at the end of the long workday. “When it was time to raise the framed walls, it was definitely a trust-building exercise. It required incredible teamwork to lift those heavy walls. Some of us held up the walls on one side and some of us helped hold up the walls on the other side as we hammered in the nails to secure the frame.” Stephanie, a Guilford College graduate, shared that Tamieka currently attends the same college studying Sociology with a minor in Psychology. Stephanie said, “It was not only rewarding to build a house for a local family but to know that I was helping out another Guilford College alum was really cool.”

A lot goes into this entire building process, and Habitat has protocols in place to make sure the construction process is done safely and correctly. When volunteers first arrive for their build day, they start with safety training provided by Habitat’s on-site supervisors. Each participant is given their safety equipment including glasses and hard hats. The supervisors oversee the entire build to make sure the house is constructed properly and according to code.

Ward Black Law’s Executive Director, Ronda Holloway, was originally part of Habitat for Humanity Greater Greensboro’s Women Build committee planning meetings and volunteered for both builds in 2019 and 2021. Ronda shared that each team is responsible for fundraising and contributing toward the $85,000 goal allocated toward the costs of raw materials. When the home is complete, the homeowner is responsible for the mortgage, which is the difference between the money raised and the build cost, making it an affordable home to own. When asked what this experience meant to her, Ronda shared, “I want people to understand that it is very empowering as a woman to know that you are helping another woman own a home. Because it is physical work and you’re putting in your sweat equity, it makes it so much more meaningful. Frankly, you don’t think you can do it, but we did.  It’s inspiring to know we helped give Tamieka and her boys a nice, safe, and affordable place to call home. This is going to break the cycle of poverty for generations to come.”

Tamieka shared with all in attendance at the dedication ceremony that her sons motivated her to begin the journey of homeownership.    In her earlier years, she prioritized stability and the importance of setting goals and now her boys are getting to see firsthand the results of their mother’s determination and work ethic. She stated, “Wow. This is a dream that I never thought would happen. I feel so blessed.”  It was quite the celebration for Tamieka when she closed on the home in January on her birthday. This investment is a gift that will provide security for her and her family for the future.

Attorney Nichad Davis of Ward Black Law expresses the impact that Habitat for Humanity has had on his life. Growing up, Nichad was childhood friends with Corey Williams, so much so, that they called each other brothers.  Corey is the late son of Penny Smith, a recipient of a Habitat for Humanity home more than 20 years ago. Nichad, who lived in the Smith home with Penny and Corey, acknowledges Penny as his bona fide hero, “She took the blessing of this home that was built for her and opened up her heart and her doors to me and other young boys in the neighborhood and community. She devoted this home to encouraging, inspiring, and building up young men. I know because I am one of those young men she helped build.”  Penny fostered many children and was also considered a “community mom.” She loved on kids throughout the neighborhood. Nichad said for nearly 7 years straight you could find groups of friends and even entire AAU basketball teams camped out in sleeping bags on the floors of Penny’s home. She provided a safe and loving environment for these boys and demonstrated an example of Christ that many may not have otherwise seen. To this day, she is very involved with Habitat for Humanity. Penny is often asked to speak at volunteer events and shared with an audience at a dedication ceremony for a home she helped build in 2019, “When I was told I was going to be a homeowner, it was one of the most exciting moments of my life.” Nichad can remember running around the neighborhood with Corey and their other friends watching Penny’s home being built. Little did he know that more than 20 years later, Gerard Davidson one of the volunteers who helped build Penny’s home would come to be his colleague at the same law firm, Ward Black Law. This is a full-circle moment for Nichad; he says to anyone who is thinking about becoming a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, “Never underestimate the impact you may have on a child who is watching, whose parent needs housing. For many of the recipients, it’s their first home; they’ve lived in apartments or public housing most of their lives. You never know 5, 10, or 20 years later the impacts that your time, money, or resources can have on a child’s life. I am truly grateful for Penny, Habitat for Humanity, and all of the volunteers.”