History
OUR BOARD PROVIDES ANSWERS YOU CAN PUT INTO ACTION
Better Informed Corporation emerged from a passionate trio in Chicago committed to revitalizing boarded-up properties. Recognizing the need for collective action, the founders established the Illinois non-profit organization to engage the community in the rehabilitation process. Dedicated to building better communities, the corporation focuses on elevating neglected properties, contributing to positive urban transformation, and fostering lasting impact in Chicago and beyond.
Collaborators
DAMON RITENHOUSE
Mr Ritenhouse is an equity partner in a foreclosure defense law firm and head litigation attorney. Damon was active in the Center for Public Interest Law and earned a certificate for his pro bono service.
He was also a 711-licensed law student at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, where he defended clients in housing court.Upon receiving his law license, Damon joined EV
Has as a foreclosure defense attorney. Since joining the firm, he has handled several hundred residential and commercial foreclosure files and has successfully argued motions in courts all over the state of Illinois.
In addition to his work at EV Has, Damon also serves as the supervising attorney for the Neighborhood Legal Assistance Project (NLAP), which is a legal help desk providing brief legal services to homeless clients in the South Loop
MAHMOUD FAISAL ELKHATIB
Mr. Elkhatib is a commercial litigation & transactions attorney with over 26 years experience. His primary focus areas include distressed assets, commercial and corporate transactions, real estate development, construction law, municipal building code violations, and asset protection vehicles.
Elkhatib regularly practices in housing court since 2013 and manages the entire receivership process for private receivers from appointment to deed. He has personally represented landlords, tenants, property owners and receivers throughout the housing court process and in various stages of commercial litigation.
Elkhatib's repertoire includes active real estate development experience from hands on general contracting and working with subcontractors to take projects from identification, acquisition, through the rehabilitation and construction process to sale. He has been a part of the development of hundreds of residential and commercial properties in Chicagoland.
ROBERT M JOHNSON
Mr. Johnson is executive director of CRC-IL, LLC (Community Receivers Consortium Illinois).
Mr. Johnson has an extensive and diverse career encompassing contrition, software development, software support, and project management. As a real estate developer over the past several years, he has purchased at auction, rehabilitated, and sold a number of single-family homes in the Chicagoland area.
Mr. Johnson, through his corporate entities has acquired housing court receivers liens and multi-million dollar outsourcing contracts with JPMorgan and Bank of America.
Mr. Johnson is certified in Production and Inventory Control (CPIM) by the American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS). He began his career with a multi-year background in construction of homes and farm structures.
Our Values
Empowerment
Community Resilience
Community Resilience
At Better Informed Corporation, we are dedicated to empowering communities through real estate education. We focus on informing politically under-represented members, fostering knowledge that enables individuals to advocate for their rights and contribute to the improvement of their neighborhoods.
Community Resilience
Community Resilience
Community Resilience
Recognizing the impact of over 100,000 vacant properties in Chicago, known as "Zombie Properties," we prioritize building community resilience. Our efforts target reducing crime, mitigating danger, and preventing the decline of neighborhood values, ensuring that local families thrive in secure and vibrant environments.
Collaboration
Community Resilience
Collaboration
Collaboration is central to our approach at Better Informed Corporation. We actively seek partnerships with residents, stakeholders, and community members. Through collective action, we aim to create a collaborative network dedicated to revitalizing vacant properties and building a more interconnected urban landscape.
Innovation
Community Resilience
Collaboration
Innovation is a key value at Better Informed Corporation. We embrace creative solutions to address the challenges posed by vacant properties. By staying at the forefront of innovative approaches, we strive to make a lasting impact on communities, contributing to positive urban transformation and sustainable neighborhood development.