On April 25, Trinity Habitat for Humanity launched the Opal Lee 100 Legacy Home Initiative, a bold plan to build 100 affordable homes for Fort Worth’s essential workforce families.
The project, inspired by civil rights icon and local treasure Dr. Opal Lee, began with a ceremony for the first home of the initiative at 5600 Eisenhower Drive, marking a milestone in the city’s push for accessible housing.
“We’re not just building houses — we’re building futures,” Christine Panagopoulos, chief operating officer at Trinity Habitat, said, per Fort Worth magazine. “How fortunate are we to have a world-renowned civil rights leader like Dr. Opal Lee championing the need for more attainable homeownership right here in Fort Worth?”
The initiative honors Dr. Lee, known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” for her tireless work in making Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021.
Lee’s personal story of housing injustice fuels the project. In 1939, when she was 12, a racist mob burned down her family’s Fort Worth home on June 19, forcing them to flee.
Decades later, Trinity Habitat gifted Lee the same lot at 940 E. Annie St. for $10 and built her a new home there in 2024/Shutt with partners Texas Capital and HistoryMaker Homes.
Her story of perseverance now inspires the Legacy Home Initiative.
The initiative is funded by Trinity Habitat and Bank of America, which has committed to supporting the 100-home goal.
“Trinity Habitat for Humanity’s Opal Lee 100 Legacy Home Initiative is doing inspiring work to provide housing and hope for hardworking families across Fort Worth,” said Mike Pavell, president of Bank of America Fort Worth.
The initiative targets families like teachers, nurses, and first responders, who often struggle to afford homes in Fort Worth’s rising market. Trinity Habitat’s model involves homeowners contributing “sweat equity” by helping build their homes alongside volunteers, ensuring affordable mortgages and community pride.
The Opal Lee 100 Legacy Home Initiative builds on Trinity Habitat’s 35-year history of constructing over 800 homes in the region. Lee’s involvement as a founding board member and advocate adds a powerful narrative.
Trinity Habitat and its partners aim to create lasting change, one house at a time, in honor of Dr. Lee’s enduring legacy.