Each February, Black History Month serves as both a celebration of Black Culture in America and a time to recognize and honor the rich and diverse history and important contributions and achievements of Black Americans. This year, we are proud to embrace the theme set by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH): “African Americans and the Arts.” This theme recognizes the paramount influence of African Americans in literature, fashion, folklore, language, film, music, architecture, culinary arts, and various other forms of cultural expression.
As we explore this theme during Black History Month, it is also crucial to reflect on the challenges that African Americans have faced in achieving homeownership in this country. Orange County REALTORS® is dedicated to honoring the diversity of our association membership and recognizing the rich heritage and notable figures in the fight for Fair Housing.
Join Our Community in Celebrating Black History Month Locally!
Show support and educate yourself this month and beyond:
42nd Black History Parade and Unity Festival
Sat, Feb 5 • 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
200 S. Anaheim Blvd, Anaheim
Black History Month Panel
Thu, Feb 8 • 6:00 PM
1470 Jamboree Rd., Irvine
African-American Festival at Aquarium of the Pacific
Sat, Feb 24 • 9:00 AM – Sun, Feb 25 • 5:00 PM
Aquarium of the Pacific
100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach
Timeless Melodies: Black Artists in Popular Music
Thurs, Feb 22 • 10:00 AM
Bowers Museum
2002 N Main St, Santa Ana
Diversity and Inclusion Training:
Bias Override: Overcoming Barriers to Fair Housing
The program helps real estate professionals learn tactics to interrupt stereotypical thinking so they can provide equal professional service to every prospect or client.
Participants will examine their ideas about people from various identity groups, explore the assumptions they may not know they’re making, and learn how to be more comfortable working across lines of difference. By engaging participants in exercises to build new habits of equitable behavior, “Bias Override” helps REALTORS® overcome barriers to working with clients of diverse backgrounds and avoid fair housing pitfalls.
Upcoming Sessions:
February 8 Online Webinar: 9:00AM - 12:00PM
At Home With Diversity (AHWD)
The coursework for the At Home with Diversity® certification is designed to enable you to work successfully with and within a rapidly changing multicultural market. It will help you to learn diversity sensitivity, how it applies to U.S. fair housing laws in your business, and ways to develop professional guidelines for working with people in the increasingly multicultural real estate market.
What You Gain
- Knowledge of the subtleties of U.S. fair housing laws
- Business etiquette for specific cultures
- An edge in expanding your business to include international clientele
- Credit towards the ABR®, CIPS, and PMN designations
Upcoming Sessions:
February 26 in Laguna Hills: 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Fairhaven: A Fair Housing Simulation
Fairhaven is a town every REALTOR® should visit. Online, that is.
NAR launched Fairhaven, a fair housing simulation training for REALTORS® that uses the power of storytelling to help members identify, prevent, and address discriminatory practices in real estate. Inspired by real stories, this innovative online experience has agents work against the clock to sell homes in the fictional town of Fairhaven, while confronting discrimination in the homebuying process. Learners will also walk in the shoes of a homebuyer facing discrimination. The training provides customized feedback that learners can apply to daily business interactions.
This innovative training platform is available to all 1.4 million NAR members at no additional cost. Be an advocate for fair housing and the future of our industry. Commit to combating discrimination in real estate.
Get started exploring the fictional town of Fairhaven and assess how well you are adhering to fair housing principles.