Committee Report
Equal Opportunity Committee
Mentoring Sessions off
to a Great Start!
Juanita Daniel, Chair
Equal Opportunity Committee
The Equal Opportunity Committee is charged with keeping members abreast of fair housing issues, developing and enhancing opportunities for multi-cultural buyers, sellers and agents and cultivating partnerships with outside agencies and organizations involved in fair housing. Last year, the committee developed a four-point focal point project that incorporates all aspects of the committee charge. Increasing diversity through recruitment and retention of multi-cultural Realtors® is the centerpiece of this project.
The four-point focal point project consist of the following:
1) Mentoring program where newly licensed agents can chat about the business with seasoned agents and brokers
2) Fundraising activities for CBR's Grant program (raffles held at various board events)
3) Career night/job fair programs to be held quarterly at various locations throughout the city
4) Community partners to co-sponsor and help with promotion of the career night program in their particular area
Since our introduction of the four-point focal point project last year, I am pleased to announce that we have held our first two mentoring sessions this year and the response have been overwhelmingly positive. The attendance from the first to the second session tripled. It's anticipated that with each session our attendance will continue to grow.
The purpose of the Mentoring Program is to give newly licensed Realtors® an opportunity to chat with seasoned agents and brokers about sales, marketing and problem-solving tips. All mentoring sessions are held the third Thursday of the month from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at CBR.
Topics, thus far, have been Effective Prospecting. Balancing Work, Family and the Rest of Life and Overcoming Fear of Success and Failure. On Thursday, April 18, our topic will be Differentiating Yourself in a Competitive World. We have also had a wonderful response from brokers and agents who have volunteered to serve as mentors and to share their expertise, experiences and successes in the business.
To-date, our mentors include Valleri Crabtree, Onyx Real Estate Services, Inc.; Elvah Donald, The Donald Co., Realtors®; Sue Lusk-Gleich, RE/MAX Capital Centre, Inc., Realtors®; Bob McCarthy, HER, Realtors®; L Ann Salyer, Key Properties, Realtors®; Sandy Schupp, HER, Realtors®; Don Shaffer, Coldwell Banker King Thompson; Beverly Woodford, Woodford Contemporary Real Estate and myself.
We welcome the participation of other brokers and agents in to the mentoring program. Applications are available at the board.
Other committee projects include the Multi-Cultural Grant program that provides financial assistance for newly licensed real estate agents to help with start-up cost. Thus far this year, the committee has awarded Michael Johnson and Armand Tatum grants in the amount of $500. The committee is also is working on identifying sponsors and locations for its quarterly Multi-Cultural Real Estate Career Nights and Job Fairs.
The committee is always looking to CBR members for support of our committee projects. I am looking forward to having as many of you as possible, brokers and agents alike, sign up to participate in our programming, particularly the mentoring program. “Remember, we get by giving.” Questions about the committee's projects can be directed to me at 614-876-1800 or to Lynn Hackworth at 614-475-4000 ext. 248.
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