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ULIDFW Celebrates Black History Month
February 9, 2021
Today, Black History Month is officially celebrated during February in the United States and Canada and during October in Ireland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
The 2021 theme for Black History Month is “The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity.” This theme is meant to highlight the Black family experience.
As we consider Black History Month and its 2021 theme, let us also remember our work and how equitable development shapes the communities in which Black families live.
While we are not able to gather in person in honor of this occasion this year, we will highlight the contributions of several ULI members as well as feature one of his or her recommended books or podcasts that relates to Black history and real estate.
So far, we have highlighted the following members and guests:
Terrence Maiden, CEO of Russell Glen Company, a real estate development and investment company based in Dallas. Terrence serves as the ULI Dallas-Fort Worth Vice Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and is an active member of the ULIDFW Education Committee. Learn more about Terrence on the ULI Membership Page. Terrence recommends, Tulsa 1921: Reporting a Massacre, by Randy Krembiel. Click here for more on this book.
Gianna Pigford, Program Manager at Stantec. Gianna has 21 years of experience in architecture and adds her retail and workplace experience to the Plano, Texas and Phoenix, Arizona offices to foster new client relationships and project opportunities while managing existing projects.
Gianna champions mentorship and advocates for architecture licensure and the advancement of women and other minorities in architecture, design, and construction professions. Her commitment to excellence, strength in professional leadership, and passion for mentorship all contributed to her being named one of Dallas Business Journal’s 40 under 40 in 2015. She is a member of ULI’s Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Council, both at the National and District Council (DFW) levels, ULI National’s Women’s Leadership Initiative’s Executive Committee, and Chair of ULIDFW’s Women’s Leadership Initiative.
Gianna’s recommends The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee: 9780525509561 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
And since we started our featured guests late into Black History Month, we will conclude after this first week in March, and call attention to Leander Johnson.
Leander is an investment sales and brokerage professional in Dallas. A longtime ULI Member, Leander serves on the ULI Dallas-Fort Worth Advisory Board, is Co-Chair of the NEXT Group, and active member on both ULIDFW’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and Education Committee. Leander was also appointed by Mayor of Dallas, Eric Johnson, to Chair the South Dallas/Fair Park Opportunity Fund to help facilitate economic development projects in neighborhoods surrounding the South Dallas / Fair Park community.
Leander calls our attention to Mr. Ernie Jarvis (pictured below) whose story is a positive portrayal of black history and real estate.
A 35-year D.C. real estate veteran, Jarvis spent 22 years with CBRE, where he rose to the position of D.C. market leader. He then left to lead the D.C. market for First Potomac Realty Trust, a REIT that was acquired by Government Properties Income Trust in 2017 for $1.4B. In 2016, he launched his own firm, Jarvis Commercial Real Estate. He created a 10-point plan to address diversity which was featured in Bisnow last year (please see below). Additionally, please view this (free) podcast, hosted by Garland Fuller last December. This content is relevant and actionable today for young African American’s trying to break into or navigate the CRE industry.
Podcast hosted by Garland Fuller: 015 // Ernie Jarvis // Legacy Building | Full Circle with Garland | Podcasts on Audible | Audible.com
We challenge YOU to be proactive and take advantage of opportunities to learn more about Black History Month as part of your own personal learning plan. Please visit the following links for additional information about Black History Month: