DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
The Greater Providence Board of REALTOR® is committed to fostering and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion within our organization and fully supports Fair Housing for all.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee
Formed in 2020, this group of REALTOR® volunteer members dedicate their time to advocating for diversity within our community by cultivating awareness and inclusiveness through representation, education and outreach.
They do this by:
- Expanding the knowledge and sensitivity of our REALTOR® members to diversity and inclusiveness.
- Promoting equal opportunity in housing and diversity in real estate.
- Developing and recommending actions that will identify, engage and recruit volunteers and future leaders to represent the diversity of our marketplace and our membership.
- Building vibrant places to live, work and play.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Video Series
The Greater Providence Board of REALTORS® in coordination with the Northern Rhode Island Board of REALTORS® has developed a 3-part video series on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. The series focuses on how we can all combat housing discrimination, celebrate differences, and be more inclusive as a profession. Videos are available in English and Spanish.
Diversity Scholarship
Beginning 1/1/2024, the Greater Providence Board of REALTORS® will once again offer 3 (three) new Diversity REALTOR® Scholarships through 11/15/2024 to assist under-represented individuals in the Rhode Island Community begin a career in real estate. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis or until funding expires. Applicants must be residents of Rhode Island, must provide evidence of a high school or GED diploma, 2 written letters of recommendation, and complete the application in its entirety, including an essay.
New! DEI Award
The Greater Providence Board of REALTORS® announces a new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award in 2024. This prestigious award aims to recognize an outstanding individual or team or member firm within our community that has demonstrated innovative initiatives in the areas of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, leaving a lasting impact on both the community and the public. The application period was 3/1/24 – 5/1/24. We look forward to announcing the recipient at our 9/5/24 annual meeting.
National Multicultural Real Estate Organizations
Use the directory linked below to reach out to the local chapters or boards of the four national multicultural real estate organizations.
Fairhaven
Click here to access Fairhaven. New members must complete this program within their first 120 days of membership. NAR launched this fair housing simulation training for REALTORS®, which uses the power of storytelling to help members identify, prevent, and address discriminatory practices in real estate. Inspired by real stories, this innovative online experience has agents work against the clock to sell homes in the fictional town of Fairhaven, while confronting discrimination in the homebuying process. The training provides customized feedback that learners can apply to daily business interactions.
The Color of Law
To better understand past policies and actions that contributed to segregation, the task force highly recommends that real estate practitioners read THE COLOR OF LAW. In this groundbreaking history of the modern American metropolis, Richard Rothstein, a leading authority on housing policy, explodes the myth that America’s cities came to be racially divided through de facto segregation-that is, through individual prejudices, income differences, or the actions of private institutions like banks and real estate agencies. Rather, The Color of Law incontrovertibly makes clear that it was de jure segregation-the laws and policy decisions passed by local, state, and federal governments-that actually promoted the discriminatory patterns that continue to this day.