Here at The Blackstone Team, we pride ourselves on being an economically, culturally, and socially diverse workplace. A workplace that is free from gender, age and sexual orientation biases. We strive to make decisions that not only impact our business in a growing way, but our communities as well. We are an equal opportunity network that believes in diversity in the workforce.

The real estate industry, historically, is no stranger to racism. But did you know that Black home ownership is at an all-time low?  Lower than pre-Civil Rights numbers? And there is a direct correlation between these numbers and the lack of Black real estate brokers both nationally and here at home in Rhode Island. Fewer than 6% of active real estate agents/brokers in this country identify as Black, though Black Americans constitute 11% of the population.  Conversely, 74% of active real estate brokers in this country identify as White, though the number of White Americans in this country is 62%.

In response to these alarming numbers, we at The Blackstone Team are proud to announce The Black Real Estate Agent Scholarship & Mentoring Program. Our goal is simple, more Black real estate agents in the top real estate markets in Rhode Island and bordering Massachusetts. We pledge to be more ethnically diverse and with the launch of this scholarship and mentoring program, we hope to open the doors to Black real estate agents looking to be a part of this growing market.

Included in the program are: $2500 of initial start-up education and licensing fees; $7500 of initial living expenses; and six-month’s worth of business mentoring. Candidates are required to work with The Blackstone Team for six months, approach this as a professional opportunity and to be dedicated to building a career in real estate. After the initial six months of mentoring, awardees are free to work for whomever and wherever they choose.

Stay tuned for more updates as we plan to launch the official start date of The Blackstone Team’s Black Real Estate Agent Scholarship & Mentoring Program in 2023 with the application process beginning in the fourth quarter of 2022.

For more information, please reach out to us at blackstone.team@mottandchace.com.