New Haven, CT — To those who know her, Roberta Hoskie is much more than a real estate mogul. For Cherice Dykes, Hoskie serves as an inspiration for her and many others throughout the nation. “I’ve been watching her and admiring her work, which led me to directly connect with her for mentorship,” said Dykes, a New Haven, Connecticut native.
“She’s become a role model for many of us the New Haven. To see someone from this city make it; it’s a confidence boost,” Dykes said.
Whether it’s through Hoskie’s Outreach School of Realty, her Ms. Millionaire Mindset for Women seminars or the Small Business Q&A with Roberta, all of which are efforts to rid the city of the cycle of poverty, Dykes said attending Hoskie’s classes motivated her to start her own company.
“She’s been very influential in my life. Her courses have helped me gain a better understanding of real estate and the ability to create wealth for myself,” Dykes said. “Reaching back and pushing others to get to where she is while not forgetting where she came from is very inspirational.”
Yet, for Hoskie, who was born Christmas Day, the road to success wasn’t always presents and bright lights.
Rags to Riches
Poverty was the norm for Hoskie growing up in the New Haven. It wasn’t until she had her son, Dante Brito, that her life began to change.
“I was afraid I was going to raise a young boy that was a statistic,” said Hoskie, who then was a single mother on welfare earning $417 a month. “I didn’t want my son to end up in jail or dead.”
She was 18 when she had Dante. But at 20, Hoskie started an internship at Yale University and later took advantage of a first time home buyer’s program offered by the school.
The first home she purchased was on Norton Street in New Haven in the 1990s which jump started her real estate investment career. She purchased the home for $88,000, but decided to have the home appraised and learned it was worth $300,000. Hoskie wasted no time selling the house and turning a profit. After that sale, she became determined to continue to make smart investments and figured out ways to grow financially.
Yet, with a few years of real estate experience under her belt, Hoskie opened her first company, Outreach Property Management in 2004. While Hoskie’s passion is buying and selling properties, she said her other calling is helping others break the poverty curse. Among other projects set for this year, Hoskie plans to develop affordable housing for the elderly and veteran populations.
“Many elderly don’t age in the community in which they live; they just can’t afford it. We want to provide a nice place where they can enjoy their latter years,” said Hoskie. “They shouldn’t have to worry about how they’re going to survive; we’re going to provide an opportunity according to their income.”
She also believes veterans are oftentimes overlooked. “They put their lives on the line for our country, said Hoskie. “They shouldn’t be homeless after military service; we have to put more of a priority on them.”
The development is estimated at $8.5 million and will be named Roberta Wooten after her grandmother, Hoskie said.
Philanthropic Efforts
As a part of Hoskie’s philanthropic work, she has provided scholarships for students and private funding to various organizations. Her newest undertaking came last winter when she adopted New Light High School. The school is one of the New Haven Public School’s alternative programs and is part of New Haven Mayor Toni Harp’s YouthStat Initiative, a data-sharing plan to identify and engage at-risk youth.
“I see so much of me in those students and I can relate to their life challenges,” said Hoskie, who was once a second and third chance student and at one point in her life homeless.
“If I can do it and I was like them, they can too,” she said. “Sometimes people just need to see and touch someone from their own community that has broken the cycle of poverty to help them achieve their dreams.”
New Light High School Principal Larry Conaway said students will benefit from Hoskie’s involvement as it relates to her story and experiences.
“This is a great opportunity for the New Light community. It’s noble of her to take our school on as a community business partner,” said Conaway, who completed The Principal’s Center program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a charter member of Epsilon Iota Iota chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.
“She was one of these students at one time,” said Conaway, “but, it shows, if you can change your focus it’s likely that students can end up like her.”
Ms. Millionaire Mindset Academy
This year, Hoskie has launched Ms. Millionaire Mindset online seminars and Ms. Millionaire Mindset Academy, a technology based academy with the purpose of teaching real estate investing while inspiring women to take control of their lives by finding their purpose through creating multiple streams of revenue.
“It’s changing lives,” said Hoskie. “Whether it’s the vehicle of real estate or a vehicle of hope, it’s changing lives.”
Hoskie will hold the Ms. Millionaire Mindset Women’s Conference on May 14th, at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Connecticut. “The conference is important as there are so many women with so much untapped potential,” said Hoskie “We are designed for specific purposes, that we must fulfill; we need to stop existing and start living.
Hoskie believes all people are born with dreams. She said her acronym for DREAM is Divinely- Revealed -Event -Awaiting- Manifestation. “I decided to make this a women’s conference, because when women are given live changing information, they bring it home to their husbands and children.”
For more details and/or to register for the conference, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/ms-millionaire-mindset-women-conference-tickets-20997575313
Hoskie was inducted into the Gateway Community College Hall of Fame in 2012 and has received a number of honors as a business professional. She is a co-host on WYBC’s, 94.3FM talk show, the Electric Drum Round Table; she serves on several boards throughout Greater New Haven and is married to Chris Watts. She is available for speaking engagements. For more details about her, visit www.robertahoskie.com
PRESS CONTACT:
Jackie Hoskie
(267) 593-5566
jacquelinehoskie@paradigmshft.com