On a shimmering autumn evening in Atlanta, the Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center transformed into a constellation of elegance, purpose, and Black excellence. The 65th Annual Awards & Scholarship Gala — hosted by the Empire Board of Realtists, Inc., in partnership with The EREB Foundation — unfolded as more than a black-tie affair. It was a living tribute to legacy, leadership, and the relentless pursuit of economic empowerment.
Guests arrived draped in satin, velvet, and sequins, moving through the ballroom like a celebration in motion. But beyond the sparkle, heart and history filled the room — 86 years of advocacy, community uplift, and the battle for “Democracy in Housing,” the core mission that has driven the Empire Board since its founding.
A NIGHT FOR TRAILBLAZERS
This year’s theme, “Celebrating the Journey: Where Legacy Lives and Futures Rise,” rang loud as the organization honored three monumental figures whose contributions continue to shift the landscape of real estate, economic equity, and education.
2025 Honorees
• Donahue Peebles III — Visionary Developer & Entrepreneur
• John Hope Bryant — Operation HOPE Founder & National Economic Empowerment Leader
• Dr. Kevin James — President, Morris Brown College & Champion for Educational Equity
Each honoree represented a pillar of progress — development, financial empowerment, and educational transformation. Together, they formed a triumvirate of impact, embodying the very essence of the Empire Board’s mission.
“I SEE YOU”: A MOMENT OF GRATITUDE
Among the evening’s standout voices was Marcia Johnson, representing Chase, one of the night’s premier sponsors. Poised and radiant, she stepped to the microphone with a message that transcended ceremony.
“I see you,” she said, echoing a sermon she’d heard days prior. “I see your passion. I see your commitment. I see what you have built in this organization.”
Her words threaded through the room like affirmation itself — recognizing the labor, love, and leadership that built the Empire Board’s enduring presence. She applauded the team around her, inviting members of the Chase delegation to the stage with the kind of joy that felt like community in action.
THE HEARTBEAT OF ADVOCACY
For Dr. Marvetta Bozeman, the Empire Board’s current president, the night represented far more than ceremony—it was the continuation of an 87-year legacy.
“Because we were African Americans, we were not able to join many of the real estate boards,” she reminded the audience. “So our organization was formed to make sure we have the same rights as everyone else—and that’s the right to fair and equitable housing.”
Her voice carried both reverence for history and a fire for the future. The Empire Board’s work, she noted, is not episodic but unending: community outreach, policy advocacy, professional development, and, each year, scholarships that light the path for the next generation.
“This work is not just work for us,” she said. “It is Kingdom work.”
A FUNDRAISER THAT FUELS FUTURES
The gala, though glamorous, has always been rooted in purpose. The evening served as a cornerstone fundraiser for the EREB Foundation Scholarship Fund, supporting students pursuing careers in real estate, business, and community development. It’s an investment in futures that, for many, would otherwise remain out of reach.
A NIGHT OF POWER, PURPOSE & POSSIBILITY
If energy could be bottled, this night would be priceless. Between the honorees’ riveting stories and the crowd’s electric anticipation, the Empire Board’s mission didn’t simply shine—it radiated.
Dr. Bozeman put it best:
“We give back to the community, and we honor those who continue the fight with us.”
As the final applause echoed and the lights softened, the message remained clear:
Legacy is not a relic. It is a living, breathing force—passed from hand to hand, generation to generation. And at the Empire Board of Realtists’ 65th Annual Gala, that legacy rose higher than ever.