Mel Wilson, MRE
REALTOR® Emeritus, President, California Association of Black Real Estate Professionals (CABREP)
I am honored to serve as the 2025 President of the California Association of Black Real Estate Professionals (CABREP). I follow in the footsteps of trailblazing past Presidents—Malcolm Bennett, Dolores Golden, and Robert Johnson—and industry icons like Michael Teer, former NAR and CAR Director; LeFrancis Arnold, 2012 President of the California Association of REALTORS®; Evelyn Arnold, CAR’s 2018 recipient of the California Distinguished REALTOR® Award; and William E. (Bill) Brown, 2017 President of the National Association of REALTORS®. Their legacy of leadership and vision inspires me as we chart a bold path forward in these turbulent times.
I stand with REALTORS®, REALTIST, our Affiliate members, community leaders, and allies who are committed to:
Developing Great Leaders
Growing Our Businesses
Strengthening Black Homeownership
Creating and Sustaining Generational Wealth
This year, we are offering classes on:
Developing and implementing effective business plans
Identifying and targeting niche markets
Mastering negotiation techniques
Leveraging media platforms for marketing
You—our members and sponsors—are the foundation of CABREP’s success. Together, we will rise to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities ahead, empowering our members to compete and excel in the real estate industry.
Women make up 65% of our membership, yet they earn 40% less than their counterparts. This is not just a statistic—it’s a Call to Action. We will confront and dismantle the societal barriers and systemic inequities that contribute to this gap. As a member-focused president, my mission is clear: to equip CABREP members—both women and men—with the money-making skills to thrive and close the gender and racial income gap in any real estate market.
CABREP will lead the charge, advocating for banks and mortgage industries to expand community lending programs and invest in strengthening Black homeownership. These investments will generate profits and dividends for our sponsors and our stakeholders while creating generational wealth for Black families. Together, we will make an impact that lasts for generations.
Rebuilding Altadena and Restoring Our Legacy
Altadena is a resilient community that has defied the odds despite a history of housing discrimination. Its strength is reflected in the numbers:
53% hold college degrees
$129,000 median income
$1,037,000 median home value
18% Black – 27% Latino – 42% White – 53% Women
80% Black homeownership — double the national average.
The recent Eaton Fire has profoundly impacted Altadena, with over 5,450 homes destroyed, 950 homes severely damaged, and 17 confirmed fatalities. The devastation has disproportionately affected Black families — nearly half of Black households were destroyed, compared to 37% of non-Black households.
The California Association of Black Real Estate Professionals (CABREP), in partnership with the California Association of Realtors and industry alliance partners, is committed to helping Altadena rebuild. We will provide the technical support and guidance needed to help residents and business owners navigate the complex disaster relief, recovery, and restoration process. Together, we will restore Altadena’s strength and legacy.
Our Services Include:
Real estate Market & Temporary Housing
Navigating FEMA Services & SBA Loans
Mortgage Relief & Financial Services
Facilitate Mental Health Assistance
Insurance Claims Advocacy
Title and Estate Planning
Community Planning
We Affirmatively Commit to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Amid national efforts to dismantle affirmative action and DEI initiatives, CABREP stands firm in our belief that hard work and education are paramount. Our members are highly educated, diligent professionals from diverse backgrounds. Together, we form a formidable, strategic coalition—advocating for homeownership and generational wealth. Diversity is Our Strength!
Our fight goes beyond diversity and inclusion; we actively promote equity in homeownership and business ownership—tangible assets that create generational wealth and economic stability. We are committed to ensuring that opportunities to build wealth through real estate are accessible to all.
If you share our vision of diversity, equity, and inclusion, we invite you to join our mission, support us, and collaborate with us to close the homeownership, gender, and racial wage gaps. Together, we will build a future rooted in opportunity and prosperity for all.
Mel Wilson, MRE, REALTOR® Emeritus
President, California Association of Black Real Estate Professionals (CABREP)
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