Welcome to the Center for REALTOR® Development podcast, the podcast for REALTORS®, all about real estate. I'm Monica Neubauer, your host.

 

Many REALTORS® are hugely engaged in our communities. Others are looking for opportunities to engage. Christine Wendell, our guest, has been teaching us about ways that we can engage in the community and help communities elaborate opportunity, create more beautiful and functional spaces, and expand our education. And if you didn't listen to Episode 1, please go listen to Episode 1, where Christine very eloquently describes these grant programs that are available through NAR.

 

Christine serves as the Director of Community Outreach at the National Association of REALTORS®, where she leads the community outreach team and oversees the implementation of a suite, and that's what we talked about in episode one, a suite of programs, grants, and services, things designed to strengthen state and local REALTOR® Association advocacy on public policy issues and public spaces and housing. Christine has so much experience, over 35 years of experience in advocacy, communications, organizational leadership, and PAC fundraising. She previously served as the CEO and Public Policy Director of the Dulles Area Association of REALTORS® in Loudoun County, Virginia.

 

[2:30 ] Christine says the NAR grant programs are designed to help state and local REALTOR® associations advocate, engage, and educate on community development and Fair Housing issues and initiatives.

[3:02 ] Christine says Community Outreach has a suite of five grant programs designed to help you engage in community development and fair housing, along with a number of resources that help ignite progress, economic development, and revitalization in communities.

[3:22 ] You can find more information about the Community Outreach programs on the NAR REALTOR® Party Community Outreach landing page. Monica adds, We're going to put the links to these NAR pages and to some videos into the show notes.

[4:35 ] Christine receives 50 to 60 placemaking grant applications a year. The program has been in place since 2010. There are many inspirational stories on the Spaces to Places Blog.

[4:57 ] Hannah Dannenfelser, the team's manager of grants and resources, created with the production team a placemaking video that showcases recent stories and projects that can help provide inspiration.

[5:15 ] One of Christine's favorite stories was a project by the Fredericksburg Area Association of REALTORS® (FAAR) in Virginia. They worked with the town of Orange to create a needed community park space in a once-vibrant African American business district that was disrupted by a highway project.

[5:39 ] The African American Commemorative Park is now a catalyst for renewal. The NAR Placemaking Grant that Fredericksburg applied for helped offset the cost of benches and interpretive panels that share the area's history and offer a place for reflection.

[5:59 ] The FAAR hopes the community gathering space will attract businesses and help keep the historic character. It was inspirational. It's in the placemaking video; it is a great example of committee engagement and how the REALTORS® brought the project to the table.

[6:25 ] The FAAR Public Policy Director, Kim McClellan, applied for the grant in partnership with the REALTOR®  leadership and worked with everyone toward the completion of the project. Be sure to check it out in the video and see what Christine is talking about.

[6:43 ] Monica has been in some of these places with historical markers, just by happening upon them. The community where Monica lives has done that with a statue, markers, and a story. Now people can see the history right there. If we can be a part of that, how awesome it is to remind people of history!

[7:22 ] Monica loves seeing the history. It reminds her that the community has been there. There are roots and stories, and there's the future.

[7:32 ] Christine says to be sure, when thinking about these projects, to let the community know how involved and engaged you are.

[7:40 ] Grants can fund a plaque that includes all of the contributors to the park. Add your name on it. Christine wants to demonstrate how these funds are working in communities and to ensure that the community knows that the REALTORS® are front-and-center in these projects and issues.

[8:31 ] When REALTORS® come together with the community and the parks or public works team or municipal leaders, to build something tangible, it could take a year, it could take two years, but trust grows pretty quickly when you are working with a community.

[8:58 ] The elected officials and municipal staff will see REALTORS® as problem-solvers. Not just advocates but neighbors who show up bringing their tools and their sweat to the table, not just talking points. REALTORS® are bringing value, interest, and energy to these projects.

[9:22 ] Christine says, We see credibility, as a result, that pays off later. When we weigh in on things that hurt the community, REALTORS® will be seen as trusted advisors. The community will want to have REALTORS® at the table on future projects with smart growth and affordable housing.

[9:56 ] That's the end game. These projects help the relationships grow as a result.

[10:05 ] Monica reviews the uses of Housing Opportunity Grants from Episode 1. They can be used for events like Housing Fairs, Financial Literacy Programs, Education for the public on Down Payment Assistance, and Education for the REALTORS®.

[10:27 ] Christine says a lot of the funding goes toward Housing Fairs. Christine feels inspired by a model that comes from the Sacramento Association of REALTORS®. Jessica Coates, the AE, and her DEI Committee put together the Find Your Path to Home Ownership Expo.

[11:03 ] This Expo draws hundreds of people with the support of the Housing Opportunity Level 2 Grant of up to $7,500 to support the venue rental, the workshop speakers, marketing materials, and the food that brings in the community.

[11:23 ] This effort is led by their DEI and Fair Housing Committee. The event combines their affiliate vendors. They put in exhibits and expert-led sessions. Then they do panels of first-time buyers to showcase the journey that they've gone through.

[11:40 ] In addition, they leverage strategic partnerships, their multicultural real estate groups, and also their outside business folks, like Home Depot, to provide support. Home Depot came in and did this little activity for the kids, so the parents could attend the workshops.

[12:01 ] The response was so positive that they're committed to doing this as an annual event. That's what we like to see. And the grants can be used over and over and over again for the same initiative. Go to the REALTOR® Party success story on this.

[12:24 ] Search for REALTOR® Party Success Story Sacramento Housing Fair, and see the images, see the pictures of the REALTORS® involved, wearing their REALTOR® shirts. Jessica was interviewed by the media. REALTORS® are out there teaching and building partnerships. That's the standout example.

[12:52 ] You can go it alone, but there's no I in team. When we leverage partnerships and build relationships, we're telling the community, We are the source for real estate; we are the source for this information, and they begin to rely on it.

[13:42 ] Christine says the partnerships are driven by the type of initiative. In the previous Housing Fair example, those partners were multicultural partner organizations and business leaders. We've also seen partnerships for Homebuyer Education with Housing Counseling entities.

[14:00 ] If there's an issue on housing affordability, where an association wants to work to change the Zoning ordinance to encourage more mixed-use and units that are affordable for the workforce, they may want to partner with the municipality, chambers of commerce, and business improvement districts.

[14:22 ] They may want to partner with business leaders individually who are having a hard time finding workers to staff their business. Those are stakeholders, along with community foundations; those who serve the underserved, who want to ensure there is housing on every step of the ladder.

[14:42 ] Universities in the area can be key partners in terms of data and support for student needs. Economic Development entities in the area are key partners. They represent business. They ensure community progress, bringing key business sectors in. The business community needs housing.

[15:11 ] Lean on those folks. Associations don't always need partners. Some quick-build Placemaking or REALTOR® Education Events can be Association-led. The highest-impact efforts that we see bring together public, private, and non-profit strengths. The Level 2 Grants require a partnership for initiatives.

[16:07 ] For a REALTOR® to advocate for affordable housing, the first step is to learn about all the Down Payment Assistance Programs in your local area and with your state Housing Finance Agency. [16:25 ] Monica refers you to the episodes with Skyler Lemons (Episode 114) and Kameron Kang (Episode 115). Monica says to look back in the library for those episodes. You have buyer help options.

[16:39 ] Christine says the second step is to be a community advocate. Advocate for a diverse number of unit t