In America, we define ourselves by who we are and how we treat others, not by what we look like or what’s in our wallets. In this series, “Women of Color on the Front Lines,” made in collaboration with Shelterforce, we hear from women of color who are working on the front lines of housing justice.

Kea Mathis is a community organizer for Detroit People’s Platform fighting for racial justice and equity for low-income Black Detroiters. As a Black woman and a mother, she is deeply affected by returning citizen issues, housing issues, and issues that impact the Black community.

Kea’s message is clear: Everyone deserves an affordable, safe, and quality home in the neighborhood of their choosing. We all have a role to play in coming together to rewrite the rules, regulate rents, and build options people can actually afford. We make the future and we can ensure all of us have a place to call home.