Title and Brokerage Company Owner wants to make impact in community
Tuwanna Dennis is a designated managing broker and realtor. She also is the owner of Dior Realty Group. Dennis has acquired 840 E. 87th St. with plans to create 840 Impact, where the real estate firm, as well as her non-profit and other businesses will be located. Photos provided by Melanie Brown
Dennis has been in the real estate industry for 20 years. She started in the mortgage sector, then became a broker. In 2014, she started her brokerage in Indiana. In 2016, she started another brokerage, in Illinois. She is licensed in Indiana and Illinois.
Buzz about Dennis’ brokerage started to spread, and she was introduced to a business partner who works in tax liens. From him, she learned the business of purchasing property taxes. Since 2015, Dennis and her partner have been working closely.
When the pandemic started in 2020, Dennis decided to open up more of a Real Estate business. She opened up the title company, along with the brokerage, and plans to open a Real Estate school.
“Where we are today, this man created the path for that. So, I have to go back and create paths for someone else as well and I have to be able to bring our communities up. I know I can’t do it by myself, I know it takes a team effort. This is something I have to start and my team will come and we’ll be able to conquer things he started and we’ll just be able to finish it,” she said.
The 20,000 square foot building will house the businesses for Dior Realty Group, and there are plans for a UPS Store and a PSI Testing site. Dennis’ non-profit organization will also be located in the business. She plans to host job readiness training programs for the youth through the organization, including investing, real estate and homeownership. Dennis doesn’t want to just be in the community, but to help the community where her business is located.
Dennis wants to provide opportunities for young people, something she didn’t have access to while growing up. She was able to move up in her career and figure out how to be successful. But, she realized it wasn’t something she was taught. She wants to change that dynamic by using her knowledge to help future generations improve their outcomes.
“I do want to have the resource center to let young people know business can be conducted, it can be conducted by an African American woman, we can be successful, and you just have to work hard for whatever you want,” she said. “We want to be able to have the gateway for them to get through some hoops that they need to, in order to see what that looks like.”
Dennis is in the process of renovating the building. The expectation is to have the building completed by June of 2022. Dennis believes 840 Impact will help thousands of people in the community. She believes that preserving the neighborhoods is imperative and the key to changing the trajectory of the community.
Dennis is looking for donations to help cover the cost of renovations to the building. The Go Fund Me page is DRG Economic Development Center.
For more information about Tuwanna Dennis, visit www.diorrealtygroup.com.
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