According to the Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Diversity Report, CRE lags behind other industries in hiring and promoting diverse talent and has been called the least diverse industry in the country. While ethnic minorities make-up approximately 33% of the US population, data from the EEOC shows that they make-up approximately 19% of the industry.
As many of you know, in addition to my daily consulting work at FERZANCOMPANY, I am an Executive Board Member for The Council of Urban Real Estate (C.U.R.E.), a non-profit organization. This group tirelessly advocates for those generally underrepresented within commercial real estate.
For those that are unfamiliar with C.U.R.E., for 29 years, the organization has championed the growth of diversity within New York’s Commercial Real Estate Industry. Whether a recent grad, mid-level associate, entrepreneur or c-suite executive, C.U.R.E. is currently home to the most diverse professionals in real estate law, finance, brokerage, consultancy, development and construction. C.U.R.E. continues to provide high-impact programming, offering educational & mentorship platforms, while promoting community & economic development.
On behalf of CURE, I participated in the Relocation and Employment Assistance Program (REAP) NYC ’19 Trade Association Night & Networking Reception hosted by RXR Realty. As ambassador, my goal was to share with others the benefits of C.U.R.E. and opportunities for membership with other emerging leaders. Due to our signature programming, several annual memberships were enrolled on the spot. The event’s agenda included panel and group discussions as well as break-out sessions from representatives at Building Owners & Managers Association (BOMA), Urban Land Institute (ULI), National Association for Industrial and Office Parks (NAIOP), International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), REAP Program candidates, instructors and alumni, who are all in support of real estate diversity initiatives.
Provided opening remarks & commentary for our second annual Leading Women in Real Estate breakfast panel hosted by Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler (KPMG LLC). The event’s agenda included a panel discussion with a moderator and speakers from USAA Real Estate Company, BlackRock, Thatcher Duncan Group, Green Oak Real Estate, Christie’s International and the NYC Comptroller’s Office, all of whom support on-going real estate diversity initiatives.
The diversity of C.U.R.E.’s programming includes outdoor and physical activities, as witnessed at our early summer fundraiser hosted at The Gulf Club – Chelsea Piers. The Golf “Happy Hour” was an old tradition with a slight new spin.
This year, for our annual golf outing, we traded the one-hour commute to the local Country Club for virtual and interactive gaming with views of the Hudson. The “after-work” event included good food, drinks and competitive gaming with key clients, supporters and members of C.U.R.E. Through the generosity of our sponsors and the efforts of our Board, we were able to reach and exceed target funding goals.
The highlight of this summer was the Avant-Garde Network’s Diversity in Commercial Real Estate Conference, which focused on diversifying the commercial real estate industry from the executive leadership and entrepreneurial perspectives.
I was an active listener for this two-day conference, which took place at Columbia University and featured workshops, panel discussions, and seminars by my peers on current issues affecting commercial real estate, real estate investing, technology, opportunity zones, those impacting minority communities and more! Throughout the day, attendees participated in informal networking; broke bread over lunches and dinners; and celebrated with a formal ending gala. The over 50 speakers had backgrounds in design, development, law, finance, policy and other real estate initiatives.
Each year CURE honors individuals & organizations whose contributions to the community champion and propel our mission of diversifying the real estate industry and strengthening mentorship of emerging leaders in the profession. This year’s annual gala, hosted at Taj Lounge on Wednesday, November 6, 2019, will mark our 29th celebration of the industry’s most influential contributors. C.U.R.E. is thrilled to have arrived at this milestone.
Past honorees include executives from Goldman Sachs, Newmark Knight Frank, ICSC, New York University (NYU), and L+M. This year’s honorees include: Mariana Circiumaru (President’s Service Award); Peter Ferzan (Vanguard Leader Of The Year Award); and Community Preservation Corporation (Founder’s Award).
As I am looking to increase sponsorship opportunities, please inquire further regarding Sponsorship Packages.
DeVon Prioleau
244 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2607
New York, NY 10001
Office: (212) 561-6707
devon@prioleaudevgroup.com
