Our Mission
The Somos Accelerator for Economic Resilience (SAFER) is a non-profit that will focus on advocating for industries that are creating higher-paid jobs and to providing support and technical assistance to mission-driven organizations that seek to use land and real estate to promote economic development, economic equity, community resilience and other social development outcomes that benefit historically under-resourced communities. SAFER will seek to tackle the broader issue of wealth inequality in America by increasing economic opportunities for those that need it most and by assisting organizations to develop tools that will help level the playing field in securing access to capital and the creation of generational wealth.
A SAFER Story
how we got started
Historically, real estate and land development have been utilized to create wealth for those who have existing access to capital, technical expertise, and social and political privilege. This has created a self-perpetuating process that often leaves historically under-represented groups on the periphery of an industry that has tremendous influence and power. These communities and organizations need assistance in overcoming those historic inequities.
Government institutions are beginning to recognize the unique barriers to accessing capital and real estate faced by certain communities. Increasingly, programs and funds are emerging to address some of these barriers and increase access for these historically under-represented groups. SAFER seeks to provide the technical know-how that allows non-profits to harness these opportunities and empowers them to create agency and generational wealth for these communities.
SAFER believes that the tools for wealth creation - including higher pay jobs and real estate ownership - can and should also accrue to those who have been denied access to the wealth and security they provide and, moreover, that such empowerment can benefit society at large. Financial security, environmental and social justice, more livable cities—these are benefits that we should strive to create for all our citizens.
the challenge
This lack of representation and access has resulted in the absence of the institutional knowledge and formal and informal relationships that would allow disadvantaged populations— especially people of color—to build influence over land use for themselves and their communities. SAFER proposes to address these issues head-on—not by deferring to, or relying on, those who currently have that institutional power, but by helping build the power from within – by ourselves for ourselves.
SAFER will participate as the non-profit affiliate of Somos Group to provide the technical support and assistance to smaller non-profit organizations that seek to build community prosperity and resilience through the use of real estate and property development. Somos Group brings expertise across a broad field of disciplines, harnessing professionals in development, land-use planning, law, labor relations and government advocacy.