FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2023

Staten Island’s Realtors Encourage Fair Housing Through Continuing Education

Online class July 6 for members of the Staten Island Board of Realtors® to focus on ‘Redlining: A Historical Perspective’

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Staten Island’s Realtors are reconfirming their commitment to the Fair Housing Act through a series of continuing education classes focusing on issues of discrimination in the housing market and ways to combat inequities.

The first of three sessions offered to all members of the Staten Island Board of Realtors® (SIBOR) will be held Thursday, July 6, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., via Zoom, with a focus on “Redlining: A Historical Perspective.”

SIBOR members may register for the educational session on the MLS Education Calendar.

The “Redlining” class will discuss how policies came into being, factors real estate agents need to be aware of, and guidelines for compliance.

“Students should leave the class with a clear understanding of the history of housing discrimination, redlining, and segregation,” said Dorothy Botsoe, vice chair of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Fair Housing Policy Committee, and creator/facilitator of the July 6 class and fair housing classes scheduled for August and October.

Real estate agents must be able to discuss effective solutions to implement in their business practices, so they can continue to “provide access to housing for all equally, and treat everyone fairly,” Botsoe said.

Botsoe has announced that attorney and civil rights advocate Mayo Bartlett will join the presentation as guest speaker. Bartlett is the principal attorney at the Law Offices of Mayo Bartlett, PLLC, in White Plains, N.Y.

FAIR HOUSING SIMULATION

As part of SIBOR’S ongoing commitment to fair housing, the latest continuing education classes were preceded by Staten Island’s real estate professionals having participated in Fairhaven, a fair housing simulation training-experience for Realtors provided by NAR. The platform uses the power of storytelling to help members identify, prevent, and address discriminatory practices in real estate.

Inspired by real stories, this innovative online experience has agents work against the clock to sell homes in the fictional town of Fairhaven, while confronting discrimination in the homebuying process.

During their Fairhaven interaction, SIBOR members also walked in the shoes of a homebuyer facing discrimination. The training provided customized feedback that the Island REALTORS® can apply to daily business interactions.

About the Staten Island Board of Realtors® (SIBOR)
And Staten Island Multiple Listing Service (SIMLS)

Established in 1915, the Staten Island Board of Realtors® (SIBOR) is the largest professional association in Staten Island, N.Y.

SIBOR exists to enhance the ability and opportunity of its members to conduct their business successfully and ethically, and promote the preservation of the public’s right to own, transfer and use real property.

Comprised of approximately 2,500 members, SIBOR serves real estate agents, brokers and affiliated professionals throughout the borough and surrounding areas.

SIBOR is the provider of the Staten Island Multiple Listing Service Inc. (SIMLS), which works as a clearinghouse through which more than 275 local real estate firms exchange information on properties they have listed for sale. Together, its members participate in over 5,000 real estate transactions every year.

All SIBOR Realtors belong to the New York State Association of REALTORS® (NYSAR) and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).

SIBOR and the SIMLS may be reached at 718-928-3220 and viewed online at MLSsiny.com. SIBOR may also be visited on Facebook at Staten Island Board of Realtors, Twitter via @SIBOR and Instagram at SIBOR REALTORS (siborrealtors).

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Media Contact: Barton Horowitz
Relevant Public Relations, LLC
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