By: Kayla Johnson Microaggressions, or “everyday slights and insults that communicate negative messages to marginalized individuals, often unknowingly perpetuated by well-intentioned people,” as defined by Harvard professor Chester M. Pierce in the 1970s, happen constantly in every industry, even real estate. It’s imperative in real estate that industry professionals understand what they are and how they manifest. Microaggressions could undermine …
Terms to Avoid: Master Suite
By: Kayla Johnson The term “master suite” has been a standard term in the real estate industry for years, commonly used to describe the primary bedroom with an attached private bathroom (en-suite) in a home. However, discussions over the past few years have highlighted the potentially insensitive connotations associated with this term. The use of the word “master” to describe …
Use These Tips to Alleviate DEI Fatigue
By: Lee Davenport, PhD It’s in the numbers that offices and organizations focused on improving DEI and belonging leads to a more positive workplace environment. In doing your own research, you may have read stats and facts like these: “Organizations that implement Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training are up to 21% more profitable than those that do not.” “DEI training …
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage in the Real Estate Industry
By: Dr. Lee Davenport Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 through October 15 this year. The Latino community plays a huge role in the real estate world—on the business and the client side—and deserves its recognition. In a new episode of the Atlanta REALTORS® Rundown, guest host Manny Recinos interviews the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) …
An Interview with Karen Hatcher: The Atlanta REALTOR® Association’s First Black Female, Millennial President
By: Lee Davenport, Ph.D Watching movies like The Guardians of the Galaxy with mythical characters that save the Marvel universe can be entertaining. In those movies, we see a diverse group of characters join forces. These characters may have different back stories and very little in common, but their diversity in strengths is precisely what saves their lives. I do …
A Look at the Realities of Fair Housing
By: Kayla Johnson In April, we commemorate the Fair Housing Act of 1968. It’s imperative that we understand the history of decisions that still affect generations and those within the communities that we serve as real estate professionals. It’s also important that we understand and are aware of our own unconscious bias, which can be an eye-opening experience. Only then …
Writing Our Discriminatory History
By Brian Copeland I grew up in a hometown notorious for its horrible discriminatory history. In 1956, the high school was bombed when 12 students of color were desegregated into the school. Today, I look back on such acts and honestly cannot believe they happened. It seems like some goofy urban myth that someone would want to discriminate. Today, from …