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LAND FRAUD NIGHTMARE – IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU!

Shining the light on the ever-increasing crime of seller fraud, deed fraud, and seller impersonation Imagine sitting at home or working at the office, minding your own business, when suddenly you receive a disturbing phone call informing you that not only is someone impersonating you, but they are also in the process of trying to […]
The post LAND FRAUD NIGHTMARE – IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU! first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 years ago

June 14, 2023

Forward Times Staff

Shining the light on the ever-increasing crime of seller fraud, deed fraud, and seller impersonation

Imagine sitting at home or working at the office, minding your own business, when suddenly you receive a disturbing phone call informing you that not only is someone impersonating you, but they are also in the process of trying to sell your land without your consent or knowledge.

Believe it or not, deed fraud and land theft is very frequent in Harris County, and it happens more often than you think. As a matter of fact, it recently happened to someone very close to the Forward Times newspaper—its very own owner, Karen Carter Richards.

Earlier this year, a realtor came by Karen’s home on a Friday afternoon looking for her, but she was not home at the time. Fortunately, her son and his wife happened to be at her house that day. Once the realtor determined that he had indeed found “the real Karen Carter Richards,” he immediately informed her son that her property was set to be sold on Monday morning for $235,000. Yes, you read that right. Her property was set to be sold in a few days!

An imposter was seeking to hijack Karen’s property right from under her nose.

Karen eventually spoke with the realtor about her property over the phone and was told that the title company they had been working with on a land transaction involving her property made him aware of some serious red flags relative to the deal. They encouraged the realtor to locate “the real Karen Carter Richards,” because several things seemed abnormal and weren’t adding up.

Some of the red flags that gave the imposter away to the title company included them: not being able to provide key information and documents when asked; constantly telling the title company they couldn’t find certain requested items and were looking for them; trying to sell the property under market value; wanting to do a quick sell; and not wanting to come into the title company to sign important documents.

Once notified about the imposter and the suspected land fraud, Karen immediately contacted real estate veteran Gerald Womack at Womack Development & Investment Realtors, who handles all of her real estate properties. He spoke with the title company and the realtor and worked with them to put a halt to the fraudulent real estate transaction and prevent a catastrophe.

Gerald Womack

The case was then turned over to the Harris County District Attorney’s Consumer Fraud Division, who has been in contact with Karen multiple times. They discovered several fraudulent documents that had been created, where her signature was forged on them. Karen also filed a police report with the Houston Police Department (HPD) and investigators have been working with the Harris County District Attorney to bring criminal charges against the imposters.

The entire ordeal was extremely unsettling for Karen, who doesn’t know how something like this could have happened to her, let alone anyone.

“I was shocked that this could happen to a vacant piece of property that my family has owned and paid taxes on since I was a teenager,” said Karen. “This has never happened to any of our properties. I have learned that vacant land is a target, so I would encourage anyone to make a point to check on their property more regularly. These people had a For Sale sign on my property, but because I rarely go over there, I didn’t know.”

Womack states that outside of Karen’s situation, he recently has had two other instances where this occurred. In the first, the seller was alerted directly by the listing agent after she failed to show up to the closing. In the other instance, Womack states that he was pulling information for a client on their property and noticed that it was listed for sale online and was pending. When he brought it to the owner’s attention, the owner thought Womack was mistaken until he saw it for himself. Womack then contacted the listing agent and was able to get it pulled from the market.

Neither property was sold.

Womack believes that the only way this type of crime works is under anonymity.

“Historically, a seller will meet with a real estate agent in person and list their property,” said Womack. “We have become an email and text driven society and thus these criminals are able to carry out this scheme by creating fictitious email addresses, temporary phone numbers, and mobile applications, which provides them ways to text from untraceable numbers.”

Womack states that when he is made aware that a property owner may be subjected to some fraudulent activity, the first thing he does is have them contact the listing agent who is marketing the property and get the information of the title company. He also advises anyone in this situation to alert the local authorities to file a police report.

“In my experience, this crime is generally only done with vacant land, but that is not to say it could not happen on inherited property, abandoned property, or run-down property either,” Womack emphasized. “Property owners need to routinely check their respective county appraisal’s website to confirm there has been no change in ownership. I would also suggest that they visit their property, especially if it is not where they reside, to ensure no changes have been made without their knowledge.”

Valerie Turner currently serves as Assistant District Attorney and is the head of the consumer fraud division at the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. She wants the public to know that the likeliest victims are people who don’t use a title company to close a land transaction.

“Without a title company to check the title history, it is easy for crooks to sell property they don’t own to unsuspecting buyers, who pay good money and expect good title,” Turner says. “If the buyer goes through a title company, purchases title insurance, and then there is a problem, the title company is on the hook to either get the buyer good title or refund all of their money. Of course, if a thief inserts his name into the title history using a forged deed, a title examiner will not catch that because the title company does not investigate beyond the four corners of the deeds. They don’t call the last true owner and ask, ‘Did you sign the deed to the (current seller)?’ They don’t research to find out whether the last true owner was alive at the time of the purported signing of the deed. That only happens once there is a complaint, and our office investigates.”

Turner tells the Forward Times that her office worked in conjunction with the Harris County Clerk’s Office to pass legislation in 2016, which no longer allows a person in Harris County to anonymously file a real property document.

According to Turner, the law now requires that the person present photo identification, which is then scanned in by the clerk. That information is not made public, but if a complaint is received and her office investigates, they can ask for a copy of the photo identification. This law only is applicable in Harris County, in that some of the smaller counties objected to such a requirement.

The areas in Harris County that most often see this kind of theft are neighborhoods with abandoned houses. The crook can change the locks, file a deed inserting him into the chain of title, and put up a sign advertising the house as for sale. Then they give the unsuspecting buyer a deed once payment is made in full. Because the buyer received the property via fraudulent deed, no ownership was conveyed. According to Turner, the Sunnyside community in southeast Houston is a neighborhood where deed fraud occurs frequently.

Turner states that a property owner might only find out this has happened to them if they were to drive by their property or their house and see that it is occupied. She states that the owner might also check the Harris County Appraisal District’s (HCAD) website, especially after not receiving a property tax bill for some time, and learning that the property is now in someone else’s name.

“To avoid falling victim to this crime, owners should check the HCAD website once a year to make sure the property is still in their name,” says Turner. “Also, they should make sure they receive their property tax bill. Buyers should always close with a title company. That way, if something goes wrong, they are protected. Another option would be to purchase deed fraud insurance. Homelock and other companies sell this product. I don’t know the details of the policy though. I’m not sure if they just alert the owner to the fact that the property has been taken out of their name, or whether they insure the value of the property if a sale occurs without the owner’s consent.”

Unfortunately, Turner states that if someone impersonates an owner and sells their property, which is most often what they see happen at title companies, the owner is often out of luck if the sales proceeds are actually sent to the land thief by the title company. But, Turner indicates, in a case like that, they are usually able to trace the money to an account and investigate from there.

“If a thief files a forged deed, and sells the property that way, then there will be a cloud on the title and the true owner will not be able to sell the property,” Turner emphasizes. “If the true owner does not want to sell to the unsuspecting buyer, then they will have to hire an attorney to file a suit to remove the cloud from the title. If the unsuspecting buyer contests the matter in court, it could cost up to $50,000 or more to correct the situation. The true owner could file a lawsuit against the title company for not confirming the identity of the seller. I don’t know how successful that would be, though.”

According to Turner, these incidents are criminal in nature, and the Harris County District Attorney’s office often files the following charges: Aggregate Theft, Forgery, False Statement to Obtain Property, or Securing Execution of a Document by Deception.

Turner states that if the land thief is caught and identified, prison time is a possibility depending on that person’s criminal history and their ability to pay restitution.

“If the thief has a prior felony conviction and served prison time, it is doubtful we would offer probation, so prison time would be more likely,” says Turner. “If there is a significant amount of restitution owed due to a defendant’s actions, then a requirement would be for the person to pay a substantial amount of restitution upfront and show an ability to pay the remainder of the restitution. If they can’t do that, then prison time will be our offer.”

Turner states that the amount of prison time a land thief serves is dependent on the facts of the case, the number of properties stolen and their values, and the defendant’s criminal history.

“If we file Aggregate Theft for stealing from a true owner and unsuspecting buyer (or more than one of each), then the amount of the theft can go up rather quickly,” says Turner. “If the total amount stolen is over $300,000, then the punishment range (assuming no other prior felony convictions with prison trips) is 5-99 years or Life with the possibility of a fine up to $10,000. I’ve had land thieves sentenced to probation and others sentenced to 28 years, 40 years, etc.”

The Texas Real Estate Commission has been assisting the Texas Land Title Association in educating real estate license holders on trending fraud schemes.

The Texas Land Title Association has reported seeing more people fall victim to seller impersonators, with the prime target properties being vacant land or investment property such as vacation homes, second homes, rental properties, and any other instance where the tax mailing address is different than the property owner’s address.

According to the Texas Land Title Association, a typical scenario involves an impersonator calling a sales agent for a property to be listed below market value, so that the potential buyer thinks the purchase is a bargain, and then to lure the agent into taking the listing, the imposter might say something like:

“This is a quick sale.”

Not only are land and property owners susceptible to this type of activity, but realtors are also at risk of representing someone who is not the rightful owner to the property they are trying to sell.

“This type of fraud is terrifying because of how much it has increased and how quickly,” said David Tandy, chair of the Texas Land Title Association’s Seller Impersonation Fraud Task Force. “Until that real seller decides to do something like refinance or sell the property, they are not aware of the fraudulent transaction involving their property. And by that point, the duped buyer has lost all their money, the real estate agents have lost their commissions, and the entire transaction is void.”

Realtors can be a huge part of the solution if they know what red flags to look for and understand how important their role is. Those red flags include:

The property in question involves vacant land or an owner not living on property.
Imposter Seller wants a quick sale.
Imposter Seller wants a cash sale.
The property is listed below market value.
Imposter Seller only wants to communicate by email or text and does not want to meet in person.
Imposter Seller’s phone area code is unrecognizable or foreign.

Before listing a property, realtors should make sure the property owners are verified by getting a copy of two forms of identification, asking for a recent utility bill, and asking questions about the property that only the true owner would know.

“This just suddenly exploded. We’ve seen similar forged deed fraud in the past, but this new type of fraud is just pervasive” said Leslie Midgley, executive vice president and CEO of the Texas Land Title Association. “These criminals are highly sophisticated with their schemes and hard to detect if you aren’t vigilant. Title agents and underwriters have implemented many best practices to try and shut these transactions down, but there is much work to be done as significant losses have already occurred and the criminals seem to be increasing their efforts, not retreating.”

If you, or someone you know, are the victims of land fraud, please contact local law enforcement, report it online to the Federal Trade Commission at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/, and if you are in Harris County, reach out to the consumer fraud division at the Harris County District Attorney’s Office at 713-274-5555.

The post LAND FRAUD NIGHTMARE – IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU! appeared first on Forward Times.

The post LAND FRAUD NIGHTMARE – IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU! first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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California, Districts Try to Recruit and Retain Black Teachers; Advocates Say More Should Be Done

SACRAMENTO OBSERVER — Many Black college students have not considered a teaching career because they have never had a Black teacher, said Preston Jackson, who teaches physical education at California Middle School in Sacramento. Those who consider a teaching career are often deterred by the cost of teacher preparation, taking required tests and unpaid student teaching.

Published

2 days ago

December 17, 2024

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A Series by EdSource | The Sacramento Observer

Recruiting and retaining Black teachers has taken on new urgency in recent years as California lawmakers try to ease the state’s teacher shortage. The state and individual school districts have launched initiatives to recruit teachers of color, but educators and advocates say more needs to be done.

Hiring a diverse group of teachers helps all students, but the impact is particularly significant for students of color, who then score higher on tests and are more likely to graduate from college, according to the Learning Policy Institute. A recently released report also found that Black boys are less likely to be identified for special education when they have a Black teacher.

In the last five years, state lawmakers have made earning a credential easier and more affordable and have offered incentives for school staff to become teachers — all moves meant to ease the teacher shortage and help to diversify the educator workforce.

Despite efforts by the state and school districts, the number of Black teachers doesn’t seem to be increasing. Black teachers say that to keep them in the classroom, teacher preparation must be more affordable, pay and benefits increased, and more done to ensure they are treated with respect, supported and given opportunities to lead.

“Black educators specifically said that they felt like they were being pushed out of the state of California,” said Jalisa Evans, chief executive director of the Black Educator Advocates Network of a recent survey of Black teachers. “When we look at the future of Black educators for the state, it can go either way, because what Black educators are feeling right now is that they’re not welcome.”

Task force offers recommendations

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond called diversifying the teacher workforce a priority and established the California Department of Education Educator Diversity Advisory Group in 2021.

The advisory group has made several recommendations, including beginning a public relations campaign and offering sustained funding to recruit and retain teachers of color, and providing guidance and accountability to school districts on the matter. The group also wants universities, community groups and school districts to enter into partnerships to build pathways for teachers of color.

Since then, California has created a set of public service announcements and a video to help recruit teachers and has invested $10 million to help people of color to become school administrators, said Travis Bristol, chairman of the advisory group and an associate professor of education at UC Berkeley. Staff from county offices of education also have been meeting to share ideas on how they can support districts’ efforts to recruit and retain teachers of color, he said.

The state also has invested more than $350 million over the past six years to fund teacher residency programs, and recently passed legislation to ensure residents are paid a minimum salary. Residents work alongside an experienced teacher-mentor for a year of clinical training while completing coursework in a university preparation program — a time commitment that often precludes them from taking a job.

Legislators have also proposed a bill that would require that student teachers be paid. Completing the 600 hours of unpaid student teaching required by the state, while paying for tuition, books, supplies and living expenses, is a challenge for many Black teacher candidates.

Black teacher candidates typically take on much more student debt than their white counterparts, in part, because of the large racial wealth gap in the United States. A 2019 study by the Economic Policy Institute showed that the median white family had $184,000 in family wealth (property and cash), while the median Latino family had $38,000 and the median Black family had $23,000.

Lack of data makes it difficult to know what is working

It’s difficult to know if state efforts are working. California hasn’t released any data on teacher demographics since the 2018-19 school year, although the data is submitted annually by school districts. The California Department of Education (CDE) did not provide updated data or interviews requested by EdSource for this story.

The most recent data from CDE shows the number of Black teachers in California declined from 4.2% in 2009 to 3.9% during the 2018-19 school year. The National Center for Education Statistics data from the 2020-21 show that Black teachers made up 3.8% of the state educator workforce.

Having current data is a critical first step to understanding the problem and addressing it, said Mayra Lara, director of Southern California partnerships and engagement at The Education Trust-West, an education research and advocacy organization.

“Let’s be clear: The California Department of Education needs to annually publish educator demographic and experience data,” Lara said. “It has failed to do so for the past four years. … Without this data, families, communities and decision-makers really are in the dark when it comes to the diversity of the educator workforce.”

LA Unified losing Black teachers despite efforts

While most state programs focus on recruiting and retaining all teachers of color, some California school districts have initiatives focused solely on recruiting Black teachers.

The state’s largest school district, Los Angeles Unified, passed the Black Student Excellence through Educator Diversity, Preparation and Retention resolution two years ago. It required district staff to develop a strategic plan to ensure schools have Black teachers, administrators and mental health workers, and to advocate for programs that offer pathways for Black people to become teachers.

When the resolution was passed, in February 2022, Los Angeles Unified had 1,889 Black teachers — 9% of its teacher workforce. The following school year, that number declined to 1,823 or 7.9% of district teachers. The number of Black teachers in the district has gone down each year since 2016. The district did not provide data for the current school year.

Robert Whitman, director of the Educational Transformation Office at LA Unified, attributed the decrease, in part, to the difficulty attracting teachers to the district, primarily because of the area’s high cost of living.

“Those who are coming out of colleges now, in some cases, we find that they can make more money doing other things,” Whitman said. “And so, they may not necessarily see education as the most viable option.”

The underrepresentation of people of color prompted the district to create its own in-house credentialing program, approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, Whitman said. The program allows classified staff, such as substitute teachers, paraprofessionals, administrative assistants and bus drivers, to become credentialed teachers while earning a salary and benefits at their original jobs.

Grow-your-own programs such as this, and the state’s Classified School Employee Credentialing program, and a soon-to-be launched apprenticeship program, are meant to diversify the educator workforce because school staff recruited from the community more closely match the demographics of the student body than traditionally trained and recruited teachers, according to research.

Los Angeles Unified has other initiatives to increase the number of Black educators in the district, Whitman said, including working with universities and colleges to bring Black teachers, counselors and psychiatric social workers to their campuses. The district also has programs that help school workers earn a credential for free, and channels employees completing a bachelor’s degree toward the district’s teacher preparation program where they can begin teaching while earning their credential.

All new teachers at Los Angeles Unified are supported by mentors and affinity groups, which have been well received by Black teachers, who credit them with inspiring and helping them to see themselves as leaders in the district, Whitman said.

Oakland has more Black teachers than students

Recruiting and retaining Black teachers is an important part of the Oakland Unified three-year strategic plan, said Sarah Glasband, director of recruitment and retention for the district. To achieve its goals, the district has launched several partnerships that make an apprenticeship program, and a residency program that includes a housing subsidy, possible. A partnership with the Black Teacher Project, a nonprofit advocacy organization, offers affinity groups, workshops and seminars to support the district’s Black teachers.

The district also has a Classified School Employee Program funded by the state and a new high school program to train future teachers. District pathway programs have an average attrition rate of less than 10%, Glasband said.

This year, 21.3% of the district’s K-12 teachers are Black, compared with 20.3% of their student population, according to district data. Oakland Unified had a retention rate of about 85% for Black teachers between 2019 and 2023.

Better pay, a path to leadership will help teachers stay

Black teachers interviewed by EdSource and researchers say that to keep them in the classroom, more needs to be done to make teacher preparation affordable, improve pay and benefits, and ensure they are treated with respect, supported and given opportunities to lead.

The Black Educator Advocates Network came up with five recommendations after surveying 128 former and current Black teachers in California about what it would take to keep them in the classroom:

Hire more Black educators and staff
Build an anti-racist, culturally responsive and inclusive school environment
Create safe spaces for Black educators and students to come together
Provide and require culturally responsive training for all staff
Recognize, provide leadership opportunities and include Black educators in decision making

Teachers interviewed by EdSource said paying teachers more also would make it easier for them to stay.

“I don’t want to say that it’s the pay that’s going to get more Black teachers,” Brooke Sims, a Stockton teacher, told EdSource. “But you get better pay, you get better health care.”

The average teacher salary in the state is $88,508, with the average starting pay at $51,600, according to the 2023 National Education Association report, “State of Educator Pay in America.” California’s minimum living wage was $54,070 last year, according to the report.

State efforts, such as an initiative that pays teachers $5,000 annually for five years after they earn National Board Certification, will help with pay parity across school districts, Bristol said. Teachers prove through assessments and a portfolio that they meet the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. To be eligible for the grant, teachers must work at least half of their time in a high-needs school. Teachers who qualify are also given $2,500 to cover the cost of certification.

This incentive will help teachers continue their education and improve their practice, said Los Angeles teacher Petrina Miller. “It’s awesome,” she said.

Teacher candidates must be actively recruited

Many Black college students have not considered a teaching career because they have never had a Black teacher, said Preston Jackson, who teaches physical education at California Middle School in Sacramento. Those who consider a teaching career are often deterred by the cost of teacher preparation, taking required tests and unpaid student teaching.

“In order to increase the number of Black teachers in schools, it has to become deliberate,” Jackson said. “You have to actively recruit and actively seek them out to bring them into the profession.”

Since starting in 2005, Jackson has been one of only a handful of Black teachers at his school.

“And for almost every single one of my kids, I’m the first Black teacher they’ve ever had,” said Jackson. “… And for some of them, I’m the first one they’ve ever seen.”

Mentors are needed to help retain new teachers

Mentor teachers are the key ingredient to helping new Black educators transition successfully into teaching, according to teachers interviewed by EdSource. Alicia Simba says she could have taken a job for $25,000 more annually in a Bay Area district with few Black teachers or students but opted to take a lower salary to work in Oakland Unified.

But like many young teachers, Simba knew she wanted mentors to help her navigate her first years in the classroom. She works alongside Black teachers in Oakland Unified who have more than 20 years of teaching experience. One of her mentor teachers shared her experience of teaching on the day that Martin Luther King Jr. was shot. Other teachers told her about teaching in the 1980s during the crack cocaine epidemic.

“It really helps dispel some of the sort of narratives that I hear, which is that being a teacher is completely unsustainable,” Simba said. “Like, there’s no way that anyone could ever be a teacher long term, which are things that, you know, I’ve heard my friends say, and I’ve thought it myself.”

The most obvious way to retain Black teachers would be to make sure they are treated the same as non-Black teachers, said Brenda Walker, a Black teacher and president of the Associated Chino Teachers.

“If you are a district administrator, site administrator, site or colleague, parent or student, my bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and my special education credential are just as valuable and carry as much weight, and are as respected as any other educator,” she said.

“However, it’s just as critical for all those groups to acknowledge and respect the unique cultural experience I bring to the table and acknowledge and respect that I’m a proud product of my ancestral history.”

Black teachers: how to recruit THEM and make them stay

This is the first part of a special series by EdSource on the recruitment and retention of Black teachers in California. The recruitment and hiring of Black educators has lagged, even as a teacher shortage has given the task new urgency.

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Christmas Travel: When is the Best Time to Take Your Trip

BIRMINGHAM TIMES — When planning for your trip, the thoughts of hitting the road or boarding a flight can be stressful. You envision not “sugar plums dancing in your head”, but crowded airports, long lines and very heavy traffic because Christmas travel can be notoriously difficult. It’s a time of high demand and volume with millions traveling during the winter weather, which is often synonymous with snowstorms, icy roads and delayed flights.

Published

2 days ago

December 16, 2024

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By Samuetta Drew | Birmingham Times

Christmas is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year. It’s a time when people schedule trips to visit family and friends, take that winter wonderland vacation or simply enjoy a festive getaway.

When planning for your trip, the thoughts of hitting the road or boarding a flight can be stressful. You envision not “sugar plums dancing in your head”, but crowded airports, long lines and very heavy traffic because Christmas travel can be notoriously difficult. It’s a time of high demand and volume with millions traveling during the winter weather, which is often synonymous with snowstorms, icy roads and delayed flights.

This safety article is meant to help you dodge the busiest crowds and make your trip as stress-free as possible, but also not to lose focus on practicing good safety measures. It will identify the best travel dates and times.

Most travelers wait until closer to Christmas, so plan your trips this year earlier in the week – specifically Monday, December 16, through Thursday, December 19. This is ideal for several reasons:

Lower Crowds – airports and highways are less congested.
Cheaper Flights – airlines often offer lower fares earlier in the week before the rush begins.
Less Stress – with fewer people on the road and shorter lines at the airports, your travel experience will be much smoother.

The least busy days with fewer travelers during Christmas are:

December 24 (Christmas Eve)
December 25 (Christmas Day)

While not as bad as the days immediately before, Christmas Eve still poses some challenges, such as:

Last Minute Travelers – many people wait until the last minute to travel.
Shortened Hours – some businesses and transportation services close early.
Higher Stress Levels – the pressure to arrive on time can add a little additional stress.

Avoid peak times at the airport. Opt for the late or early morning flights. The red-eye flights and early morning flights are generally less popular but offer significant advantages such as:

Fewer Delays – airports are generally less busy during these times, reducing the risk of delays.
Faster Security Checks – shorter lines at TSA means you will get through the airport faster, especially if it’s a large airport.
Affordable Options – airlines sometimes offer discounts on less desirable flight times.

Hopefully this article will help you Keep an Eye on Safety when traveling over the 2024 Christmas season by decreasing your holiday chaos, which could result in your lack of focus while traveling.

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PRESS ROOM: Trace and ARDN Join Forces to Promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

NNPA NEWSWIRE — The African Renaissance and Diaspora Network (ARDN), a New York-based nonprofit, is committed to promoting the African Renaissance by strengthening ties between Africa and its diaspora through development and peace-building initiatives. Trace, an international multimedia platform focused on Afro-urban entertainment and youth success, is globally recognized for its contributions to Afrocentric cultures and its support of creators and fans from the African diaspora.

Published

2 days ago

December 16, 2024

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Trace, a global multimedia platform dedicated to Afro-urban entertainment and youth success, and the African Renaissance and Diaspora Network (ARDN) have entered into a partnership to guide their joint actions over the next two years. The objectives and details of this partnership will be revealed during a digital press conference on Tuesday, December 17, at 3 PM (GMT+1). Main speakers will be Olivier Laouchez, CEO & Co-Founder of Trace, Djibril Diallo CEO & President of ARDN as well as Richard Gant, ARDN’s Art, Culture and Sports Chair and renown actor, screenwriter and director.

Mandatory registration here.

Two Organizations, One Shared Vision

The African Renaissance and Diaspora Network (ARDN), a New York-based nonprofit, is committed to promoting the African Renaissance by strengthening ties between Africa and its diaspora through development and peace-building initiatives.

Trace, an international multimedia platform focused on Afro-urban entertainment and youth success, is globally recognized for its contributions to Afrocentric cultures and its support of creators and fans from the African diaspora.

A Partnership for Global Impact

ARDN and Trace are collaborating to:

Advocate for equality and success,
Support the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030,
Foster peace and security, and
Provide aid to vulnerable communities”Our partnership with Trace represents a significant milestone in our mission to rally support for Africa and its diaspora. Together, we will amplify our impact and raise global awareness of African cultural richness and challenges,” said Djibril Diallo, President of ARDN.

“We are proud to collaborate with ARDN to contribute to the SDGs, positively impact people and societies, and elevate African cultures,” added Olivier Laouchez, co-founder and Executive Chairman of Trace.

The ARDN Red Card Campaign: First Joint Initiative

A central focus of this partnership is the ARDN Red Card Campaign, which tackles gender-based violence and discrimination. Positioned within the “Pathway to Solutions” framework, the campaign features the Red Card Pledge—a global movement aligned with SDG #5 to advance gender equality and empower women and girls worldwide, serving as a critical step toward accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The campaign encourages individuals and organizations to symbolically raise a red card, taking a stand against discrimination and promoting actions to eliminate inequality. It underscores the indispensable role of women as agents of transformative societal change. With the support of Trace and its innovative Trace+ streaming platform, the initiative will scale globally, reaching broader audiences and galvanizing international efforts for change.

This launch marks the beginning of a worldwide collaboration aimed at mobilizing collective action through symbolic gestures like the red card. It is the inaugural joint initiative between ARDN and Trace.

Adding a dynamic musical element, Trace will contribute to the Afrobeat remix of the campaign’s theme song, AOFB (“Africa Open for Business”), produced by Mackadamion. Featuring a prominent Afrobeat artist, the remix will premiere on Trace networks, celebrating Africa’s emergence as a hub of innovation and opportunity through captivating rhythms and uplifting lyrics.

A Committed Partnership for Sustainable Change

The Trace X ARDN partnership reflects their shared commitment to inclusion, cultural pride, and sustainable development. Together, they aim to contribute to societal improvements benefiting the African diaspora and beyond.

For more information about this partnership and upcoming initiatives, please contact:

Trace Contact: press@trace.plus

ARDN Contact: angelauzoeme@gmail.com

About Trace

Trace is a leading multimedia and digital platform dedicated to Afro-urban music and cultures, as well as the success of youth and artists. Trace regularly engages 350 million fans in 190 countries through entertainment and empowerment platforms. Learn more at http://www.trace.plus | Download the free Trace+ app on the App Store and Google Play.

About ARDN

The African Renaissance and Diaspora Network (ARDN), founded in 1990 and headquartered in New York, is a non-profit organization with consultative status at the United Nations and representation in over 80 countries. ARDN works closely with the United Nations to champion sustainable development across Africa and its diaspora. Its flagship initiatives, such as the Red Card Campaign, address critical issues like discrimination and gender-based violence while celebrating Africa’s potential and empowering women’s leadership. Through strategic partnerships, ARDN is dedicated to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals and fostering meaningful global impact. Learn more at: http://www.ardn.ngo