The excitement is palpable as two years of hard work by the Housing Team at Communities Unlimited (CU) comes full circle.

It all began in 2022, when CU partnered with come dream. come build. (cdcb), a non-profit housing organization focused on creating sustainable communities through homebuyer education, financing, and the design and construction of quality, affordable homes. In collaboration with buildingcommunityWORKSHOP (bc), a non-profit community design organization, they developed the DreamBuild solution — an innovative housing process that allows homebuyers to design, build, and finance a safe, affordable, high-quality home they can build equity in and adapt to their evolving needs.

The collaboration deepened with the addition of the City of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and local entrepreneur and youth mentor Codney Washington, Founder and Director of WE Center | WE Build. His organization provides workforce training, mentorship, and certification for at-risk youth, creating an invaluable link between the community and workforce development.

On March 28, 2025, that impact reached a milestone with the ribbon-cutting and open house of the first WE Build modular home in Arkansas.

On the front lawn of the new home, a gathering of people and organizations who made the event possible stood together to celebrate. Ines Polonius, CEO of CU, underscored the importance of partnerships in making the day a reality.

“This is the product of deep collaboration — from the Partners for Rural Transformation (PRT), who introduced us to this model, to come dream. come build., who are the brains behind this innovation, and the partnership here with WE Center, who took that model, customized it to this space, and made it a reality,” she said.

The event featured speakers reflecting on the project’s journey and the dedication of those who brought it to life. In addition to Ines and Codney, speakers included Audra Butler, CU’s Area Director of Rural Housing; Michael Rivera, CU’s Director of Lending; Pine Bluff Mayor Vivian Flowers; Kim Davis of the King Foundation; and Benje Feehan from bcWORKSHOP.

The day’s most moving moment came when Verna Perry, the new homeowner, stood on the front porch with Codney, his crew from We Center, and two apprentices who helped build the home.

Guests lined up to tour the new home, greeted at the door by Verna and the crew from WE Center. Inside, they marveled at the open-concept living room, which flowed seamlessly into the dining area and kitchen — complete with pristine white marble countertops and sleek stainless-steel appliances. They peeked into the first bedroom, now converted into a home office, explored the

spacious master suite with its luxurious bathroom, and admired the guest bathroom and third bedroom. The tour ended in the cozy den before guests stepped onto the back porch to take it all in.

After the home tour, the crowd made their way to the WE Center workshop, located three miles down the road. There, Codney shared the experience of building the home and his pride in the apprentices’ growth.

Following lunch, Benje spoke about volumetric modular housing, and Michael introduced CU’s new Home Improvement Loan program. A panel discussion followed, featuring housing experts including Latriana Robertson of Simmons Bank, Lori Brockway and Susan Gardner from the Arkansas Development Finance Authority, Susan Forte of Houseaboutit, and Christie Lindsey of Phoenix Youth.

The day concluded with final remarks from Codney, who highlighted the programs of WE Center | WE Build.

This home and this event mark just the first step in a much larger journey.

“This is just the beginning,” Polonius said. “We already have eight more homes coming later this year, and the plan keeps expanding.”

This day stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, community, and perseverance — and offers a hopeful glimpse into the future of affordable housing in Pine Bluff.