Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion News

ULI is committed to diversifying our membership, our member leadership, and our staff. The member leaders on the Americas Executive Committee (AEC) are more diverse, and this past year ULI created the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee within the AEC.

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of the Americas Executive Committee was formed in 2020 with the purpose of providing insight and guidance for the execution of the Urban Land Institute’s DEI strategy. The committee’s role is to bring intention, thoughtfulness, and a structured approach to ULI’s strategy where the organization’s DEI-related efforts can be scaled and maximized across the Americas region. Also, members of the committee serve as spokespersons representing the Institute’s perspective on DEI at key industry and ULI events.

ULI’s unwavering commitment to DEI is to Pursue unrelenting efforts to shape the built environment toward diverse, equitable, inclusive communities.

Following are members of the Americas Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee:

Our district councils continue to find new ways to reach their communities. And ULI is creating more partnerships focused on inviting underrepresented individuals to the Institute and its offerings. To share ideas about what is working and what is not, ULI created the DEI Community.

The DEI Community was created in August 2020 as an opportunity for more real-time communication around DEI efforts between ULI staff and our members. More than 650 members and staff opted into this community, generating over 70 discussion posts. Through knowledge sharing, we can all strengthen our understanding of the multifaceted issues involved with diversity, equity, and inclusion broadly and, specifically, within the real estate industry. This content is moderated by ULI and contains articles, upcoming and recent DEI events, resources, and more from ULI and members. The District Council DEI Exchange, and ULI’s DEI Newsletter, are also posted here to ensure that members can easily find these resources.

To help foster a culture of inclusion for our staff, ULI focused this past year on celebrating different ethnicities and diverse backgrounds. ULI hosted a discussion with staff on allyship during Black History Month, celebrated Women’s History month by highlighting some of our members in a fireside chat with our staff, and celebrated Gay Pride month in June. Furthermore, a review of the Institute’s internal human resources policies and procedures continues with Korn Ferry to ensure that ULI is a welcoming and desirable place to work.

We have a DEI email address ([email protected]) and encourage you to send us your thoughts and share best practices so that, together, we can all help improve the real estate industry to become more welcoming for all.