FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Dan Wunder, Director of Marketing & Communications
St. Louis REALTORS®
Phone: 314.590.2317
Email: [email protected]
St. Louis REALTORS® Issue Apology and Unveil Equity Plan for the Region
St. Louis, Mo. (September 19, 2022) – St. Louis REALTORS®, one of the largest real estate associations in the United States and the fifth oldest still in existence, issued an apology today for its role in a discriminatory system that created tangible barriers to homeownership for African Americans. St. Louis REALTORS® also introduced its “Reimagining St. Louis” plan for the purpose of providing guidance on home ownership, financial literacy, and preserving assets. The initiative also includes promoting and supporting a mentorship program for African Americans interested in all aspects of the real estate industry. “The legacy of racism and discrimination is evident, and it needs to be addressed,” said Katie Berry, president of St. Louis REALTORS®. “Our apology is not an indictment against an individual; rather, we as an organization understand that the region cannot move forward until there is an acknowledgment and understanding of the oppression and inequality within the real estate industry that has adversely affected people of color for generations.”
One of the goals of St. Louis REALTORS® and its “Reimagining St. Louis” plan is to increase African American homeownership in the St. Louis region. “St. Louis REALTORS®’ apology and “Reimagining St. Louis” plan are an important first step toward bridging the economic gap created by racist and restrictive real estate policies over the years,” said Will Jordan, executive director of the Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing & Opportunity Council (EHOC), which works to ensure equal access to housing for all people through education, counseling, investigation, and enforcement. “Property is often the most valuable asset a person has. We are talking about generational wealth that African Americans never had the chance to build through no fault of their own. I applaud St. Louis REALTORS® for their efforts. Still, it’s important to realize that the only way we will make true progress toward equity and fairness in real estate is through strategic partnerships with financial institutions, among others, and a willingness to promote equal opportunity for all in the real estate industry.
St. Louis REALTORS®’ commitment to doing business with a racial equity lens became more focused when the organization hired its first Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Felicia Crawford-Randle, in April of 2022 to implement their “Reimagining St. Louis” plan. “What St. Louis REALTORS® is doing is historic in terms of accountability and proactivity,” said Nate Johnson, president of the board of directors for the Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing and Opportunity Council and past president of St. Louis REALTORS®. “For an organization that represents more than 9,000 members from across the real estate industry to publicly acknowledge past racial injustices while presenting a plan for solutions will hopefully serve as a wake-up call to others in the St. Louis region,” Johnson said. “Racism in all forms is a complex topic, and mitigating its effects is a daunting task. But the work must be done, and I’m looking forward to working with St. Louis REALTORS® to make real progress in bridging economic gaps that have existed far too long.”
St. Louis REALTORS® is the voice of real estate in the Greater St. Louis area representing 9,000 real estate professionals. St. Louis REALTORS® provides knowledge, guidance, and resources that enhance members’ professionalism and success, support growth in our diverse communities, protect private property rights, and enforce professional standards through the REALTOR® code of ethics.
View the St. Louis REALTORS® official apology.
View the St. Louis REALTORS® Reimagining St. Louis plan.
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Watch the full Commemorating the Fair Housing Act presentation: