RE/MAX Affiliates Share Personal Experiences During AREAA Diversity & Fair Housing Summit

The 2021 Asian American Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) Diversity & Fair Housing Summit featured deeply personal stories, uplifting sessions, and the ability to tackle tough subjects within a safe community. The virtual event, held in late April 2021, came at a time of heightened fear and insecurity within the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community as crimes committed against the AAPI population continue to rise.

“I know you’re frustrated,” said Amy Kong, the 2021 AREAA National President, during the Opening General Session. “This is the time we have to be empathetic to others and their feelings. It is so needed now.”

May marks Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month in the U.S. and Asian Heritage Month in Canada. While celebrating a rich and extensive history – Asian heritage in the U.S. can be traced as far back as the 1700s to a Filipino settlement in Louisiana, according to AREAA – it’s also important to acknowledge the history being made in real time.

“When you look at what’s happening to our community right now, there is hate,” Kong said. “We were doing well in school. We were doing well at work. We were getting homes. We were doing OK, right? Then the pandemic hit. And now all this underlying racism has bubbled up.”

Kong said it made her question how she could better support other minority groups – like the Black, LGBTQ and Hispanic communities – and how she could address the fear she was seeing in the homebuyers and sellers she was working with.

“It’s not about the dollar sign. [Clients are] scared to a point you cannot even believe,” she said. “There are times we will question ourselves. We have to make quick decisions on what is the right thing to do immediately, with no regret.”

Empowered industry voices

Sessions throughout the two-day event provided answers on what action can be taken now. A variety of voices, including NBC and MSNBC news anchor Richard Lui and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Acting Director Dave Uejio, offered insights.

Some of the most impactful perspectives came from RE/MAX affiliates. Lisa Nguyen, a Chairman’s Club Team Leader with RE/MAX Professionals in Lakewood, Colorado, co-chaired the event, lending her viewpoints to several panels and sessions. Also speaking at the event were RE/MAX affiliates Tiffany Kawata with RE/MAX Estate Properties in Rancho Palos Verdes, California; Amanda Tong with RE/MAX Professionals in Lakewood, Colorado; and Mike Reagan, RE/MAX Senior Vice President of Industry Relations and Global Growth & Development.

For real estate professionals looking to do more, here are some of the top takeaways:

1. Don’t shrug off discrimination

Amanda Tong spoke from the heart during the “Fetishizing Race” breakout session as she related her family’s experience owning a nail salon and the dangerous situations created by aggressive clients, who sometimes assign stereotypes to Asian women. “Before, [my family] wouldn’t discuss it until someone brought it up. You kind of shrug it off because it happens so often,” she said. “Speaking about it definitely makes a difference.”

2. Be the first to speak up

Lisa Nguyen participated in the “Reporting – Knowing How to and Where to Go” breakout session and addressed the discrimination she faced from the HOA within her own luxury condo building. Having taken her complaints to HUD, the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, the mayor’s office, local news and more, she advised attendees to overcome fear when taking action. “I didn’t know the process, so I was scared,” she said. “Nobody wants to be the first to speak up, but that would be my advice to everybody: Be the first person to start that pattern of behavior. Then there’s a starting point. Things don’t go away after they’re documented. The next time [someone complains about something similar] to HUD, they’ll look it up and see anything that has been reported.”

3. Stay focused on the mission

Mike Reagan helped cap the Diversity & Fair Housing Summit by speaking at the closing session. Citing nearly 140,000 RE/MAX affiliates in more than 110 countries and territories, he stressed understanding the value of being part of a diverse and inclusive global network. “Our mission is to deliver the best experience in real estate, both for professionals and consumers,” he said. “We stand with AREAA on the mission to serve the AAPI community and create strong alliances to build sustainable homeownership for all.”

To learn more about supporting the AAPI community and the mission of fair housing, visit areaa.org.

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