This April, the REACH initiative, a subcommittee of DEI2, celebrated its first anniversary with a finale for its inaugural cohort. Established with the mission to increase the representation of diverse professionals in commercial real estate and provide the resources and network to aid in advancing the career trajectory for underrepresented early career professionals, REACH stands for Recruit, Empower, Access, Connect, and Hustle. During the last year, the first cohort of Fellows learned and grew by participating in one-to-one mentorship, professional development workshops, Fellow-led quarterly programs and engaging in peer networking opportunities. Many Fellows took on leadership roles to champion events such as Financing Affordable Housing, Development 101, Access to Capital for Minority Developers, and a tour of the Arts District focused on Adaptive Reuse and Innovation. The first cohort ended with long-lasting connections and exciting achievements, from changing new positions to starting new ventures. The Fellows are ready and eager to take the skillset with them to the next chapter of their careers as well as in leadership roles of ULI committees.

 Fellow quotes:

“REACH was the highlight of my ULI experience. It allowed me to access a network of like-mind people who support and uplift each other.” – Scarlett Jia, Acquisitions Associate, Clear Capital, LLC

“The REACH program provided me the opportunity to not only learn about the real estate industry but to create connections with other young professionals. Through the program, I received great mentorship that has helped me navigate the start of my career in Urban Planning. I am looking forward to continuing my engagement in ULI!”  – Isabelle Garvanne, UCLA Graduate Student

Mentor quote:

“REACH is the real deal – where DEI talk becomes action, and real people lift real people. It was my absolute privilege and pleasure to be involved as a mentor in this program, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.” – Dafna Kalplan, CEO, Cassette Systems

If you’re interested in being a Fellow or Mentor, please reach out to REACH co-chairs, Emma Loos ([email protected]) and Tiffany Mok ([email protected]).

By: Scarlett Jia and Isabelle Garvanne