The Community First initiative is a collaborative program funded by FHLBank Chicago designed to expand who participates in Wisconsin’s and Chicago’s development landscape. For the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP), this means a focus on the Southwest Side, where the need for affordable, high-quality housing is urgent. Through hands-on training, mentorship, and real-world projects, the initiative prepares emerging developers from the community to navigate the complexities of property development, preparing families for homeownership, construction management, and community-centered design. By cultivating local talent and investing in community-driven development, Community First aims to reshape the future of housing by ensuring that the people who live in these neighborhoods also have the opportunity to build and reinvest in them.
For Dantay Williams, a Community First Fellow with SWOP, the initiative has opened his eyes to the full scope of what it takes to become a homeowner and a developer. “Being a homeowner isn’t just about buying a home and taking care of the physical,” he shared. Through the fellowship, he learned about the behind-the-scenes work that most first-time buyers never see—things like certificates of error, taxes, tax appeals, and how public funds are generated through property tax dollars. Working with architects gave him a deeper appreciation for the details: how flooring choices interact with appliances, how to build a home to last, and how each small decision affects the overall structure. He also gained essential housing terminology and a clearer understanding of what it means to truly maintain a home from foundation to finish.
Being part of the Community First Initiative has also carried personal meaning for Dantay. He joined at a moment when homeownership wasn’t even on his radar, and the opportunity shifted his perspective on what was possible. “Now that I’m in it, I realize how much bigger it is,” he said. Beyond his own growth, he feels a responsibility to share what he has learned with families who may not know what they are stepping into when pursuing homeownership. He sees his new skills as tools not only for his own advancement but for uplifting others who have historically been excluded from development spaces.
Through his involvement, Dantay has become increasingly aware of how unequal the developer landscape is—and how necessary programs like Community First are in changing that reality. He noted that while he always knew developers existed, he was unaware of how few developers of color worked in the field. Now, he finds himself walking
into homes and instinctively asking questions about layout, design choices, and construction decisions. He also recognizes the corner-cutting and “shabby work” that too often appears in disinvested neighborhoods, a pattern he believes can shift when more community-rooted developers enter the field.
Reflecting on his experience, Dantay says he has gained a wealth of knowledge but feels eager for even more. He wants to see development from start to finish and imagines a future where full-time workers from the community are deeply engaged in every stage of the process. “I loved being a part of this program,” he said, “and I want to be in more spaces where the developing is happening. There’s so much more to learn.” Through fellows like Dantay, the Community First Initiative is not only building homes—it is building leadership, opportunity, and long-term community power.
