An Edmonton-based program that introduces racialized high school students to the world of commercial real estate has expanded its reach to Calgary.
Andrel Wisdom, co-founder of REET Institute, says his goal is to create more diversity in the commercial real estate space, which is why he helps lead a program that connects students with mentors and education. .
“What we're trying to do is create this program that provides an immersive experience into commercial real estate so that people can plan and strategically engage with that space from a young age. ” Wisdom said in an interview. CBC radio program, Calgary's eye-openers.
Wisdom said the program opens the door for young people to “intentionally find a space” and introduces them to new career paths they may not have explored before.
“I think the bottom line for a lot of commercial real estate professionals is that they end up in this industry.”
The free, eight-week program is dedicated to “introducing commercial real estate to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) high school students in Edmonton and Calgary,” according to the REET Institute.
Participants will participate in both virtual and in-person classes and workshops, as well as network with experts in the field.
There will also be opportunities for students to compete for prizes. Upon completion of the course, students will have the opportunity to showcase what they have learned by pitching commercial real estate to a panel of industry experts.
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REET Institute launched the first iteration of the program in Edmonton about two years ago. The program is currently expanding, with a third group of Calgary students participating over the weekend.
Yorgi Ingabire is a Grade 12 student from Edmonton who recently joined the program.
“I always knew I wanted to be in business, but I didn’t know exactly what field of business I wanted to go into.” [to go] “Once I joined the REET Institute, I thought, 'Okay, real estate might be a good opportunity,'” Ingabire said.
He plans to graduate this year and move on to a post-secondary business program along with several other friends who also took REET Institute's two-month course.
Year 12 student Yorgi Ingabire, who recently attended the REET Institute, said he now plans to pursue a career in business. (Kyle Risk)
Ingabire added that students also had the opportunity to learn more about the financial elements of real estate.
“I talked to the banker and he said, 'We can lend you this much, you need this much money,'” he says. “It became more real and a lot of fun.”
“What we are trying to achieve”
For Wisdom and his co-founders, watching students evolve is “surreal.”
“It's just an incredible feeling,” he said.
“When we attend a lot of these events, we see them actively participating in the industry outside of the eight-week program that we put together for them. That’s exactly what we were trying to achieve.”
Wisdom says it's an experience she wishes she had had when she was a teenager.
“It’s kind of tear-jerking to see them progress and it’s so cool that we just keep rooting for them and trying to support them in any way we can. ”
For Ingabire, the program stood out because it wasn't stressful or intimidating.
“It felt like I was talking to a friend. They teach me things and it felt natural,” he said.
So what's the next step for the program?
Wisdom says there is more room for growth and expansion.
Wisdom and his REET Institute team members hope to offer the program in “more remote locations” for high school students who can't travel to Alberta's largest city.
“We are interested in implementing this program in different regions of the country,” he said.
“We are actively looking at how we can do that in a way that is sustainable and continues to maintain quality.”
