If you read my bio intro, you will see I noted that I am both a Realtor and Educator. In my endeavors in the area of education, I am have the ability to attend receptions and events at a local university that extend beyond the field of real estate.
This week, I participated in a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Celebration. A wonderful evening that included the history of civil rights enhanced with song and spoken word. I can honestly say that my awareness was raised as to the progress that has been made and the work that is still at hand.
I started my career in Real Estate in Asbury Park, NJ, and although I have changed offices, I am still proud to work with buyers and sellers in Asbury - if you are familiar with Asbury, you know that Asbury is truly a diverse community.
In the course of various daily interactions with clients/colleagues I am still surprised that there are individuals that are uneasy when dealing with people that are different. Maybe I am naive, but I do not understand why one would limit their potential client base by remaining in a personal comfort zone. I do realize that if a person has not had life experiences that provided the opportunity to interact with diverse populations, expanding your own comfort zone could be challenging or even frightening.
Tomorrow is the start of Black History Month, a perfect time for all of us to look at our own commitment and comfort level with respect to diversity. So, if you are not comfortable with this topic, take a small step - look in your local paper and attend an event that celebrates diversity in February. Take a moment and realize that Mike Carey will become the first black referee in Super Bowl history this Sunday. Google Search: ‘ways to celebrate diversity and read about the topic. Look at NAR's At Home with Diversity- I plan on taking the on-line course to expand my own knowledge base this month.
Do anything - big or small!
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