As the new year approaches, we have to start thinking about what we can do to move our industry forward, and one of the best ways to do that is by creating a more inclusive environment.


Everyone deserves to feel welcome in real estate, and we all have a role to play in fostering greater diversity in the business. The only problem is, many of us just don’t know where to begin. 


How can we make more space for people of color in our industry? What can we do to ensure everyone gets a seat at the table?


In this episode, National Associations Of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) Western Regional Vice-President, Shanta Patton shares the steps we can take to build a more diverse real estate industry. To find out more about NAREB visit: http://www.NAREB.com 
 
This podcast was originally recorded on Michael LaFido’s Luxury Lunch & Learn series.

"We’ve still got a long way to go, but by building up everyone in the business, we can raise the bar." -Michael LaFido
 
Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode:
 
The importance of joining minority associations: 
We don’t need to be Asian to join the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA), Hispanic to join the National Association for Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP), or Black to join NAREB. However, by becoming members of these associations, we can become allies and bring awareness to their missions.
 
Why we need to seek first to understand: 
It’s not always easy talking about race, and that’s why we need to approach conversations about it with the intention of understanding. We don’t need first-hand experience to listen and be empathetic.
 
How to gain a greater understanding of the people in our business: 
It can be tough relating to people with different backgrounds to our own, and that’s why it’s so important to be open to having conversations. Simply asking people about their experiences is the first step to bridging the gap.
 
Guest Bio:
Shanta Patton is a regional Vice President at the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB). Passionate about everything the association stands for, she also serves as the National Education Chair for NAREB. Shanta is also a Nevada Realtors Director and serves as the Diversity and Inclusion Chair. In addition to serving her community in whatever way she can, Shanta is also a Las Vegas real estate expert at ERA Brokers Consolidated.
 
To find out more about Shanta, visit:
https://www.nareb.com/profile/spatton/ 
https://www.era.com/ERA-Brokers-Consolidated-387c/Shanta-Patton-5123007a 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shantapatton
 
And for more about NAREB and their initiatives, go to:
https://www.nareb.com/
https://www.nareb.com/nareb8/
https://housethenthecar.com/ 
 
Other associations mentioned in this episode:
NAHREP- https://nahrep.org/
AREAA- https://areaa.org/