The Diversity Equity and Inclusion Council of Coldwell Banker Realty in Atlanta awarded scholarships to local residents seeking to become agents and sponsored membership of existing agents to join diversity initiatives in the region.

 

Six Atlanta-area residents will receive scholarships to Barney Fletcher Schools’ pre-license salesperson courses in 2022. The scholarships, valued at approximately $2,700, grant each recipient the 75 hours of classroom instruction necessary to become a licensed real estate sales associate. The recipients were nominated by local Coldwell Banker agents. 

 

“We are very excited that we could sponsor six local Atlanta residents to attend real estate classes and potentially obtain their license at the end of the coursework,” said Rhonda Morgan, council co-chair and branch office manager of Coldwell Banker’s Alpharetta/North Point location. “Additionally, we are grateful to the Barney Fletcher School for working with us to make this a dream come true for the recipients. For some of the recipients, this is a life-changing opportunity that allows them to be in control of their own professional destiny with a career in real estate sales.”

 

The council also sponsored four affiliated agents’ membership dues — valued at roughly $1,000 — for local chapters of national real estate organizations focused on diversity.

LaVonda Gilchrest will join the Atlanta chapter of the Asian Real Estate Association of America, Ashley Mandowa will join the Atlanta LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance and Jillian Jenkins and Stephanie Rogers will join the Women’s Council of REALTORS® Atlanta. Gilchrest, Jenkins and Rogers are affiliated with Coldwell Banker’s Alpharetta/North Point office, while Mandowa is affiliated with its Intown office.

 

“We wanted to encourage Coldwell Banker Realty affiliated agents in the Atlanta region to be more active in local organizations that promote diversity and inclusion in the real estate market,” Atlanta Coldwell Banker President Laura Rittenberg said. “LaVonda, Ashley, Jillian and Stephanie will be able to use this opportunity to have a bigger voice and join the organization of their choice. Our hope is that they are better able to support the communities we serve with their commitment to these organizations.”

 

Sherry Noles, the branch office manager of Coldwell Banker’s Cobb and Marietta/West Cobb locations, is the other co-chair of the DEI Council.