Fair City Challenge sponsors present a check to the winning team, the WEALTH Collective. From left to right, John Kalina, Vice President of Admin Services, Independence Blue Cross; Vonetta Hawkins; Clara Lyons; Dr. Almitra Tankersly; Meg Niman, Impact Labs Program Manager; and Michael MacFarland, Senior Vice President of Education and Public Finance at TD Bank
On October 8, 2025, the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia revealed the winner of its 9-month-long Fair City Challenge (FCC), a social innovation competition aimed at supporting social enterprises with promising ideas for closing Philadelphia’s $57B property valuation gap. The winning team, The WEALTH Collective, led by Vonetta Hawkins, Clara Lyons-Devaugn, and Almitra Tankersly, was awarded the Grand Prize of $50,000 for its project aimed at combating racial home appraisal bias by equipping both residents and professionals with tools to create an equitable and accountable housing valuation system.
Powered by Economy League research that identified a $57 billion valuation gap between residential properties in non-white versus white-majority neighborhoods in Philadelphia, the FCC was created to identify, incubate, and accelerate social enterprises with innovative approaches to addressing the undervaluation of homes in Black and brown neighborhoods in Philadelphia. Driven by the Economy League’s mission of fostering equitable and inclusive growth, the FCC aimed to support bold, novel solutions for addressing the racial equity gap embodied in property valuation, led by entrepreneurs like The WEALTH Collective, who are committed to helping close this gap.
This year’s four finalists included:
- Raíces Capital Fund, led by Kersy Azocar, is creating a pathway to equitable property ownership by assisting aspiring Latino real estate investors in purchasing and rehabilitating vacant or underutilized properties in disinvested neighborhoods.
- The WEALTH Collective, led by Vonetta Hawkins, Clara Lyons-Devaugn, and Almitra Tankersly, is creating a citywide response to racial appraisal bias through a three-part Technology, Policy, and Community (TPC) framework.
- North Roots x Bossed Up, led by Garrison Hines and Brandy Fortune, is transforming vacant land in North Philadelphia into vibrant community assets through its Soil and Soul initiative.
- Philadelphia Climate Equity Home Fund, led by Somalisa Sahoo, is helping homeowners in historically disinvested neighborhoods finance energy-efficient home improvements that reduce utility costs and raise home equity.
Each of the four finalists proposed strong, community-centric visions and actionable business plans. The WEALTH Collective was chosen by a panel of expert judges for its high-impact potential and clear path to implementation. Their approach is designed to serve both current and future homeowners as well as the real estate stakeholders who shape the housing landscape. Homeowners who engage with the platform gain access to educational resources and pathways to challenge unfair appraisals, helping them protect the value of their homes while also strengthening their role in the process. At the same time, appraisers, lenders, and municipal agencies benefit from timely market data, valuation insights, and policy guidance that improve decision-making and lower risk.
“The Fair City Challenge is a bet on nurturing social entrepreneurship, community innovation, and targeted investment,” said Jeff Hornstein, Executive Director of the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia. “This year’s finalists built creative solutions for addressing structural inequities in our real estate market, and by awarding The WEALTH Collective with this year’s grand prize, we are supporting a replicable model that will support closing the racial wealth gap in Philadelphia and beyond. We are grateful to our sponsors for believing in the Impact Labs social innovation challenge model.”
The Fair City Challenge is made possible through the support of TD Bank, Comcast, Independence Blue Cross, and NewCourtland. The Economy League will continue to work closely with The WEALTH Collective to nurture and grow their venture over the coming months. For more information, please visit economyleague.org/faircity.
