Twala Lockett-Jones | Woman of Achievement & Courage
- Year: 2026
- Location: WomanUp and Celebrate Kalamazoo
Twala Lockett-Jones is a Kalamazoo real estate broker, entrepreneur, author, and community advocate whose work is helping families achieve homeownership, build generational wealth, and strengthen neighborhoods.
Growing up on Kalamazoo’s Northside, Twala developed an early fascination with real estate, imagining new possibilities for buildings and land throughout her community. At 19, she purchased her first home and soon discovered a passion for helping others do the same. She became a licensed real estate professional in 1996, building her career under the mentorship of Broker Willie Mae Pierson before founding Lockett-Jones Realty Group in 2019.
In 2020, Twala turned her attention to the racial homeownership gap and launched the 40.40.40 Challenge, an ambitious initiative to help 40 Black families under the age of 40 become homeowners within 40 months. Her team surpassed that goal, helping 44 families purchase homes in just 18 months.
Twala’s commitment to creating opportunity extends well beyond her real estate business. She founded Girls Build Kalamazoo, a nonprofit that introduces girls to careers in construction, STEM, and real estate, and serves on several committees focused on equitable housing and neighborhood revitalization.
She is also the author of Princess Mackie Buys a House, a children’s book that has sold more than 20,000 copies and is used in schools across the country to teach financial literacy and make homeownership feel understandable and achievable for young people and underserved communities. The book has also taken Twala to national stages, where she speaks about financial literacy, faith, homeownership, and generational wealth.
Together with her husband, Kenneth, Twala also owns a small construction company and several rental properties, transforming neglected homes into dignified, affordable housing. Across each of these efforts, she remains focused on a common goal: expanding access to homeownership and creating pathways for families to build wealth that lasts for generations.
