Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØReal Estate Center
The Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØReal Estate Center offers students insight into the latest trends and technologies that are shaping the dynamic real estate industry. In 2020, Leeds graduated its first class of undergraduates with a real estate emphasis, and nearly 450 students have already identified real estate as an area of emphasis this year. The creation of this program reflects an expanding need for trained professionals in the fields of real estate finance, development, investment and planning, areas that play a major role in the global economy. The center also offers co-curricular programming, such as international business treks, advanced software training, industry networking events and global case competitions, through industry support.
Exploring the Intersection of Social Equity and Real Estate
In December, the Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØReal Estate Center, in collaboration with Leeds’ Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility and Deming Center for Entrepreneurship, hosted a professional event for students and community members on social equity and the future of real estate development. The symposium featured a diverse panel of local real estate experts (three who are Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØalumni) for a discussion on changes in traditional real estate development, locally and nationwide, underscored by historical discrimination and redlining—and the systemic inequalities that still occur in the industry.
Panelists explored what may be involved in creating a genuinely inclusive city and how residents and business owners in low-income communities can generate wealth as private capital flows into their neighborhoods. The speakers also shared how they incorporate social responsibility into their projects and the need for more avenues for women and persons of color to enter the industry. The key takeaway: We all share a civic responsibility to advocate for meaningful change in our own communities.