The case for representation and wealth creation

Neily Soto, Developer & Housing Advocate, and Best Seller Author of Breaking the Glass Ceiling. She is now running as one of the first Latinas for the city council in her community. Growing up in subsidized housing, she recognized an opportunity in real estate, becoming an investor and housing developer. Neily’s passion for real estate and entrepreneurs has allowed her to help develop programs locally to aid first-time home buyers in the early stages of her career, such as the down payment assistance program for the City of Lawrence under the administration of Mayor Sullivan and Interise, a program she taught to help aide local businesses scale. Her focus has always been First Time Home Buyers and business owners in communities of color. In the great recession, she pivoted her business to serve over 400 families, modify their loans, or transition them with a short sale. In 2011, she shifted her business to helping owner occupants cash out some equity to start building a portfolio, as well as serving entry-level investors to attain the knowledge to start investing. A decade later, Neily has shifted again to start developing inventory as our communities are in dire need of housing. Some of her accomplishments include becoming Founding Chair for the Diversity Equity & Inclusion task force in Massachusetts and Founder of PRG, LLC a development and consulting firm producing Attainable Housing Developments which is focused on bringing housing stock for home ownership into all communities of color. She is the Co-Founding President of Business Network International Advocates in Lawrence, MA, and Is the current President of the Massachusetts Housing Coalition in Cambridge, MA, where their mission is to promote a sustainable and smart growth housing environment that supports economic, racial & social equality. Neily was born in Massachusetts to Dominican parents and lives there with her husband and children. In her free time, Neily still sits on several boards and is working to create sustainable homeownership and generational wealth for as many families as possible. She enjoys traveling with her family and dances Salsa for entertainment. She loves to eat and exercise and has a passion for art and literature. Her biggest accomplishment has been to put her oldest daughter through college debt-free and mentor her for home ownership and passive income at the age of 22.