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MortgagePoint ยป Your Trusted Source for Mortgage Banking and Servicing News 38 E X P E R T I N S I G H T S C losing the homeownership gap is a marker for progress in our country. As a result, increasing homeownership, particularly among diverse and underserved commu- nities, is a priority for many across the mortgage and financial services indus- tries, yet progress can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. MortgagePoint sat down with Wil Lewis, Global Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Talent Acquisition Officer for Experian, and Gwen Garnett, the Ex- ecutive Director of the HomeFree-USA HBCU Center for Financial Advance- ment, to discuss some of the challenges, as well as how the mortgage and finan- cial services industries can drive change and the role that financial education plays in closing the homeownership gap. Lewis was named the first-ever Global Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Talent Acquisition Officer for Experian. In this role, he strives to build on the company's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity, institutionalize inclusive processes as a key to innovation, ensuring that every employee and key stakeholders feel con- nected to the organization and culture, and that talent represents the communities in which Experian operate. Prior to this role, Wil was Diversity & Inclusion Executive and Head of Bank of America's global dis- ability LGBT+, and military strategies. Wil also had responsibility for the firm's Global Employee Networks and D&I recognition, responsible for 11 networks with more than 350 chapters in 40 countries with 180,000- plus memberships. Garnett is Executive Director of the HomeFree-USA HBCU Center for Financial Advancement in Riverdale, Maryland. In her role, Garnett focuses on providing financial, leadership, and professional development training for students at historically Black colleges and universities. She is the former Neighborhood Lending Executive for the Consumer Real Estate Division of Bank of America. She is the recipient of many awards for her work in diversity and mentoring, and is an active member of St. Paul Baptist Church, where she serves in several ministries. Q: Tell us about the current state of homeownership? Wil Lewis: While homeownership remains a goal for many individuals and families, the reality is, various macroeconomic factors have made it more difficult to attain over recent years, including rising home prices and interest ACCESS AND EDUCATION DRIVING HOMEOWNERSHIP AMONG DIVERSE COMMUNITIES Wil Lewis and Gwen Garnett share their perspective on the current state of homeownership and what needs to be done to boost homeownership among diverse communities.