Dr. Sharon Gonzalez
Founder & Chairman
Dr. Sharon Gonzalez is an educator, real estate broker, and entrepreneur dedicated to creating opportunities and empowering communities through education and homeownership. With over 20 years of teaching experience, a Ph.D. in Adult Education, and a Licensed Real Estate Broker certification, Dr. Gonzalez has devoted her career to breaking generational curses and fostering financial stability in marginalized communities.
The vision for Blacklining Foundation was born from Dr. Gonzalez’s lived experiences. A first-generation New Yorker, her family migrated from Charleston, South Carolina, seeking opportunity but instead encountering the harsh realities of systemic neglect. She grew up in a Harlem tenement building plagued by deplorable condition, no heat, no hot water, dark hallways, and a relentless infestation of rodents. Like many Black and brown communities, Harlem was redlined, deemed unworthy of investment, leaving tenants trapped in cycles of poverty and housing instability.
In the late 1970s, New York City launched the Housing Development Fund Corporation (HDFC) to convert neglected buildings into low-income co-ops. The tenants of Dr. Gonzalez’s building, Avondale Apartments, took action, entering the Tenant Interim Lease (TIL) Program in 1980. Through education, workshops, and governance training, they became their own landlords, successfully transitioning their building into an HDFC cooperative. This experience shaped Dr. Gonzalez’s understanding of power, ownership, and self-determination.
Watching her community fight for dignity and control over their own housing ignited a lifelong mission. She recognized that education and homeownership were the keys to financial empowerment. Determined to help others escape the cycle of housing instability and economic exclusion, she pursued a career in teaching to educate, and in real estate to provide pathways to ownership.
Blacklining Foundation is the manifestation of that mission. Through its initiatives, Dr. Gonzalez works to reverse the effects of redlining, equip individuals with financial literacy, and empower families to build generational wealth. Whether through education, advocacy, or real estate guidance, she remains committed to ensuring that underserved communities no longer have to fight for the basic right to a decent, stable home they can own it.
Kedisha Walters
Co-Founder & Treasurer
Kedisha Walters is the co-founder and Treasurer of Blacklining Foundation Inc. Ms. Walters is first generation American with heritage of Jamaican decent. Her family migrated to New York with the vision of home ownership and obtaining the American dream. As years progressed Ms. Walters noticed that her family was one of the only Black families left in her neighborhood as others were forced out.
Ms. Walters has a degree in Finance and has worked in the finance industry for over 10 years. Her start in financing was working in a CPA advertising firm. As she navigated her way through the world of finance; she became a Licensed Real Estate agent in New York, and the CEO of K Walters Notary Services. Working intensively in real estate transactions and noticing that people of color were almost absent in the process, this was most troublesome.
Combining both her knowledge in finance and real estate, she noticed the crucial and unquestionable gap in these fields and the lack there in of people of color.
It’s her passion to help people navigate their way through two of the most critical parts of everyone’s life, finances and real estate. She enjoys helping people create a process that is their own that can work for them. Through Blacklining Foundation Inc., she hopes to provide Black communities with resources that they were once deprived of.
Lexis Gonzalez
Board Member
Lexis Gonzalez is the co-owner and chef of Lady Lexis Kitchen and Lady Lexis Sweets. Lexis is a born and raised Harlemite.
She graduated from NYC School of Technology with a degree in a Culinary Arts. Ms. Gonzalez has competed in pastry competitions. She has appeared in Essence, Food and Wine and Chopped Sweets. Lexis has also worked with the youth re-entering the workforce in the culinary industry.
Tamika Cole
Board Member
Tamika Cole is a multi-talented leader and advocate for health, wealth, and legacy. By day, she excels as a dynamic brand consultant and also serves as an experienced phlebotomy professional. As a devoted mother and successful entrepreneur, Tamika proudly owns and operates her own e-commerce business, embodying an entrepreneurial spirit that creates opportunities and empowers others.
Tamika is deeply committed to breaking generational curses and building sustainable pathways for growth and success in underserved communities. With a keen eye for strategy and creativity, she has assisted numerous businesses in refining their branding, amplifying their presence, and achieving their fullest potential. Whether she is delivering compassionate care in her role as a phlebotomy professional, crafting innovative brand strategies, or managing her own business ventures, Tamika approaches every challenge with precision, empathy, and unwavering dedication to uplifting those she serves.
Her multifaceted expertise and steadfast commitment to community empowerment align seamlessly with The Blacklining Foundation’s mission to reverse systemic inequities and foster economic opportunity. Tamika’s contributions as a board member reflect her passion for creating lasting impacts and building legacies that resonate across generations.
Naomi Fells
Board Member
Naomi Fells is a dedicated advocate for homeownership and generational wealth creation, with a passion for helping inner-city individuals secure stable housing and build long-term financial security. As a Licensed Real Estate Broker, Real Estate Instructor, Notary Public, and Home Improvement Contractor, Naomi brings over two decades of experience in the real estate industry, guiding individuals, families, and seniors through the complexities of buying, selling, and managing properties.
A firm believer that owning property in New York City is one of life’s greatest privileges, Naomi is committed to ensuring that historically marginalized communities have access to the tools and resources necessary to achieve homeownership. She works tirelessly to educate prospective buyers on making informed decisions, securing the best deals, and navigating the path to financial independence.
In addition to her commitment to first-time homebuyers, Naomi is especially passionate about helping senior citizens protect and maintain their assets. She understands the unique challenges that aging homeowners face and works to ensure they have the support needed to safeguard their properties, avoid predatory practices, and pass down wealth to future generations.
Naomi’s guiding principle is simple: Every real estate transaction should be a success. Whether helping a family plant roots in a new home, supporting sellers in maximizing their property’s value, or assisting seniors in securing their legacy, she is committed to excellence, integrity, and results.