By: Karen G. Hatcher, CPM®
“Real estate is a powerful tool for social mobility. By becoming an ally, we can help to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to benefit from homeownership.”
I recently attended the Atlanta REALTORS® Allyship Workshop with Tye Taylor, CEO of Great Minds Unlimited. The workshop was a call to action for real estate professionals to become allies for inclusion in the real estate industry.
While progress has been made in our industry, there is still much work to be done to create a truly inclusive environment for all.
This article will explore the concept of allyship and provide three steps for becoming an ally in real estate, based on Tye Taylor’s recommendations.
What is Allyship?
First and foremost, allyship extends beyond merely supporting diversity and inclusion; it encompasses actively utilizing one’s privilege and influence to foster change and uplift underrepresented individuals.
For instance, I possess privilege in various ways. Although I am Black, my professional status, educational background, and marital status grant me a certain level of privilege. As a result, I am responsible for employing this privilege to facilitate change and elevate those who are underrepresented, especially in these areas.
Breaking down barriers in the real estate industry is possible through allyship. Here are three steps to becoming an ally:
3 Ways to Become an Ally
- Acknowledge: The first step is acknowledging and recognizing that there are issues of inequality within the real estate industry and maybe even your own community.
This acknowledgment allows real estate professionals to confront the realities of discrimination and exclusion and enables them to consider how they can make a positive impact in their communities.
Take a look around, who is represented at your parks, shops, and local restaurants or even in your home and at your parties? I want you to also go beyond race in this thought process.
Tye started our class out by having us raise our hands if we were: married, had a college degree, were a parent, or a single parent, etc. This allowed everyone to start to think beyond race and start to examine all the other ways we are diverse.
Being an ally to underrepresented groups means helping them succeed. One way to do that is to sponsor them for opportunities. As a leader, it’s important to actively support and recommend underrepresented groups for opportunities.
- Apologize: I don’t mean to harp on this issue, as diversity fatigue is a real concern. However, addressing past mistakes is essential for allies. To do so acknowledge any past actions or behaviors that may have contributed to inequality within the industry, even if unintentional.
You may or may not have participated in these historical transgressions, however, it’s also ok and acceptable to apologize for the organization’s involvement, or lack of action taken when the discrimination came to light.
For instance, you may encounter individuals who share their concerns about past discrimination experiences. Such moments of confession provide an opportunity for these offenses to be recognized.
By offering a sincere apology and expressing genuine remorse and developing actions for change. Allies demonstrate their commitment to change and set a positive example for others.
- Change: Allies can make a real difference by changing their attitudes, behaviors, and practices to create a more inclusive environment. This may involve educating oneself on issues of systemic racism and discrimination, advocating for diverse representation at all levels within the organization, or holding others accountable for their actions.
I’m not just talking about counting numbers, I mean implementing strategic changes that shift the organization’s culture and process to prevent discrimination in the future.
I want to acknowledge the efforts of organizations like Atlanta REALTORS® who are using their influence to make the industry more inclusive and representative of the communities they serve.
Addressing Diversity Fatigue
As important as it is to promote diversity and inclusion in real estate, it’s equally essential to address “diversity fatigue.” Allies must be vigilant in keeping the content and education fresh while maintaining their commitment to change, encouraging others to join the journey toward true inclusion.
In conclusion, allyship is vital in fostering a more inclusive real estate industry and breaking down existing barriers. All of the local REALTOR multicultural organizations were present and represented at the Allyship workshop including, Empire Board of Realtists, Atlanta Real Estate LGBTQ+ Alliance, Asian American Real Estate Association of America, Women’s Council of REALTORS and the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals. In addition, other local REALTOR boards were present as well.
Real estate professionals can work together to promote diversity, elevate underrepresented individuals, and bring communities together by acknowledging the challenges of inequality, apologizing for past mistakes, and committing to making things better.
Organizations like Atlanta REALTORS® are playing a crucial role in this journey towards inclusive and thriving communities, as allies endeavor to create an environment where everyone has the opportunity to benefit from social mobility & lifestyle value of homeownership.
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