Meet Dominique

The Origin Story: A Legacy of Service

Dominique Lamb is a "military brat" in the truest sense. Born at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, while both of her parents were stationed at the Navy base, her early years were defined by the rhythm of military life. Her father, a submariner in the U.S. Navy originally from Columbus, Georgia, and her mother, a DC native, instilled in her the discipline and "mission-first" mentality that would later become her professional trademark.

After moving around for the first six years of her life, Dominique's family settled in Accokeek, in Southern Prince George's County. It was here that her roots took hold, but her perspective began to expand when she made the choice to attend Suitland High School for its magnet programs. Being bussed from the quiet suburbs of Accokeek into Suitland, Dominique found herself befriending peers from District Heights, Capitol Heights, and Forestville. By age 15, the stark differences between these neighborhoods sparked a fire within her. She began to question the systems that created such disparate realities and dreamed of one day changing these communities through non-profits or public office.

The Scholar-Practitioner: Turning Pain into Policy

Dominique's academic path in Politics and Philosophy at Washington & Lee and George Mason University was always intended to be a stepping stone toward the law, but life provided a different, more grueling education. As a survivor of domestic violence and dating abuse, Dominique realized that abuse had been normalized in her world until a graduate school internship with the Red Flag Campaign opened her eyes to the difference between interpersonal abuse and healthy relationships. This revelation changed her trajectory. She began teaching college students in Northern Virginia about the "red flags" of abuse, eventually taking this mission into the federal government.

At just 25, while working for the U.S. Department of Education, Dominique wrote a healthy relationships curriculum and a bill to fund its teaching in schools. She argued a simple, powerful truth: it made no sense to teach sex education without the context of the relationships in which those acts occur. She requested a meeting with then-Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who, after a 15-minute presentation, told her this was her "legacy." Following his advice, she authored and self-published What Happens In This House in 2016. The book became a required text at George Mason University and the foundation for her non-profit, We Teach Love, which eventually reached international audiences as far as Uganda.

The Pivot: From Federal Service to Real Estate Reform

Dominique's entry into real estate was born out of frustration. At 26, after buying her first home in Bowie, she was appalled by the poor service and lack of care from the agents she encountered. She decided to get her license simply so she would never have to hire another agent again.

However, political shifts in 2016 threatened the federal agency where she was working (the Office of Financial Research at the Department of the Treasury). Facing a "Reduction in Force" (RIF), Dominique didn't look for another government job. Instead, at age 30, she doubled down, earned her broker's license, and launched her own firm. She vowed to right the wrongs she had witnessed, paying her agents 80–100% commissions, prohibiting predatory practices like "wholesaling," and providing rigorous one-on-one training. By her fifth anniversary, she had expanded her brokerage to five states. During this time, she launched a subsidiary dedicated to her late grandfather: The Kirby Institute.

The Kirby Institute: Dismantling the Housing Industrial Complex

What began as a subsidiary evolved into a "think-and-do tank" fueled by Dominique's firsthand encounters with racism and discrimination in Southern real estate markets. These experiences led her back to the law as a consultant for the highest levels of government.

Dominique has identified and defined what she calls the "Housing Industrial Complex"—the framework that upholds a culture of discrimination and wealth extraction. Today, she applies this redefinition in her work as: A Consultant to Congress—advising federal and state officials in Maryland and Georgia on equitable solutions. A University & Law School Guest Lecturer—teaching at Washington & Lee University School of Law on civil rights and racial justice. An Expert Witness—providing the professional and ethical clarity needed to settle housing disputes.

The "Why"

Dominique remains a proud Marylander, carrying the discipline of the Bethesda Navy base, the heart of Accokeek and Suitland, and the resilience of a survivor into every room she enters. Whether she is training 1,000+ housing professionals or advising on federal policy, her mission is to ensure that "home" is a sanctuary of safety and equity—not a site of extraction. For Dominique, housing is the "Sale of Survival," and she is dedicated to making sure that survival is never again used as an excuse for inequity.