Dayton NAACP Honors Cora H. Diggs with 2025 Community Service Award
- Greater Dayton Realtist Association
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
The Dayton Branch of the NAACP proudly presented the Community Service Award to longtime educator, real estate leader, and civic advocate Cora H. Diggs during its annual Freedom Fund Banquet. The award was presented by Mattie White, Vice President of the Dayton Branch NAACP, recognizing Diggs for her decades of unwavering commitment to service, leadership, and community empowerment.
The Community Service Award honors individuals who have demonstrated an extraordinary dedication to improving the lives of others. Recipients of this recognition must show a sustained commitment—over ten years or more—of giving their time, talent, and influence to uplift the community and further the advancement of democracy. The honoree must embody what it means to be a true servant leader. This year’s recipient, Cora H. Diggs, exemplifies that standard.
A Life Shaped by Determination and Community
Born and raised in Foreman, Arkansas, Diggs was one of eleven children. A driven scholar from the beginning, she graduated from Foreman High School in 1965 and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in business education from Philander Smith College in 1969. Following her passion for teaching, Diggs relocated to Ohio, accepting teaching positions in McConnelsville, Zanesville, and ultimately Dayton.
During a visit to Dayton in 1971, she was offered a position that would change her life’s trajectory—Business Education instructor at the Montgomery County Joint Vocational School (now Miami Valley Career Technology Center). While teaching, Diggs continued her education, earning a master’s degree from Wright State University.
After ten years shaping young minds in the classroom, Diggs transitioned into corporate work as a Marketing Analyst at General Motors. It was there she met her future husband and business partner, Frederick J. Diggs, Jr.
Champion of Fair Housing and Entrepreneurship
In 1986, Fred and Cora earned their real estate licenses, followed by broker licenses in 1989. That same year, they co-founded Realty World People First Realty, a minority-owned firm built on the principle of “fulfilling the American Dream of homeownership by putting people first.” Under their leadership, the company became one of Ohio’s largest minority-owned real estate brokerages, partnering with HUD, VA, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and local government agencies.
Their company was later acquired by HER Realtors (now Howard Hanna Real Estate Services) in 2005, where the couple became Founding Partners.
With more than 39 years in real estate, Diggs continues to serve as a licensed Realtor and President of the Greater Dayton Realtist Association, the local chapter of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), whose mission is to “promote democracy in housing.”
Service Beyond Business
Diggs’ impact reaches well beyond real estate. She has:
Mentored youth through Montgomery County Youth Services
Volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and local food pantries
Served on Dayton Realtors’ Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee
Her leadership and advocacy have earned multiple awards, including:
Marie Kindrick Fair Housing Award
KeyBank Community Recognition Award
Dayton Real Estate Ambassador for the City of Dayton
Legacy Honoree, Dayton Montgomery County Black Elected Officials (2022)
Diggs and her husband were also featured in the PBS documentary Redlining: Mapping Inequality in Dayton and Springfield, highlighting their advocacy for fair housing and neighborhood revitalization.
