GWCAR Quarterly: Fall 2002 - GWCAR Member Companies Help Support Mentoring Program

CBQ >> Fall 2002 Issue

GWCAR Member Companies Help Support Mentoring Program
Project REAP Encourages Minority Involvement in Commercial Real Estate

Real Estate Apprentice Program (REAP) is an innovative, successful, and market-driven program to recruit and train minorities for professional careers in the commercial real estate industry. In addition to educational programs, the program relies on networking and internships with leading real estate firms to help students enter commercial real estate careers.

Senior executives at these firms volunteer as instructors, mentor the top graduates who win internships, and organize networking receptions where the students meet industry leaders.

The Washington, DC program graduated its fourth class in March 2002 and a program in Atlanta graduated its first class in April.

REAP is currently recruiting Industry Sponsors for the Class of 2003, which graduates next summer. A Mentors' Pilot program kicked off in Washington under the leadership of CB/Richard Ellis, Atlantic Real Estate Group, and Cushman & Wakefield.

Two dozen successful veterans will help REAP graduates to navigate in the world of corporate commercial real estate.

More than 25 companies in Washington, DC and nine companies in Atlanta have participated in REAP's first three years, representing both retail and office sectors, and another 20 will be brought in over the next two to three years. These firms are hiring REAP graduates to manage their office buildings, shopping centers, and industrial parks.

REAP's three-pronged approach - education, internship and networking - has created apprenticeships for talented minorities in property management, which is historically the network entry point for higher-level jobs in the industry, including brokerage, financing and development.

For more information about REAP, visit www.projectreap.org or call the program office at (202) 806-1521.