Real Estate Diversity Initiative (REDi)
REDi is a 15-session curriculum for women and professionals of color working in real estate industries. The program aims to advance participants’ careers and expand their professional networks.
ULI Real Estate Diversity Initiative
The REDi program was an incredible professional development opportunity. It increased my proficiency, confidence, and passion for real estate development.
Kolu Wilson
Director, Minnesota DEED Office of Economic Equity and Opportunity and REDi Participant
The ULI MN Real Estate Diversity Initiative (REDi) Program helps participants learn more about what it takes to put together a successful development. Participants will receive a comprehensive curriculum and will gain experience working together on a real-world case study. Participants can further their careers by learning directly from real estate mentors about the challenges and opportunities in the local industry and apply lessons to a project as their group devises plans for development on a specific site. Each team will produce a development plan, pro-forma, and marketing plan. Chosen participants will engage in both large group and small group mentoring sessions. The ideal participant will be working in the field, have an undergraduate degree or equivalent experience and a strong entrepreneurial spirit.
This program gave me the opportunity to explore, learn new things and meet extraordinary people. We studied some areas I had feared in the past, but this program allowed us an insider’s view to the process while providing information right at our fingertips and the best people across industries to walk us through and teach us along the way. You never know what you are fully made of until you start doing and understanding those things you feared the most.
Summer Cline
Property and Leasing Manager, U of M Foundation Real Estate Advisors and REDi Participant
2020 Schedule
15 SESSIONS – 3 HOURS EACH, 1:30 – 4:30 PM.
January 6th – June 15th, 2020
2020 REDi Volunteer Leadership
Alex Frank, REDi Co-Chair; Owner & CEO, Magnolia Homes LLC
Kara Frank, REDi Co-Chair & Group Advisor; Owner, Twin Realty Investment Company
Merrie Sjogren, REDi Group Advisor and Content Specialist Coordinator; Principal, ASSEMBLY MN
Miranda Walker, REDi Group Advisor; Senior Loan Officer, Greater Minnesota Housing Fund
2020 REDi Graduates
Adrienne Bockheim, Principal City Planner, City of Minneapolis (CPED);
Amber Turnquest, Principal City Planner, City of Minneapolis (CPED);
Asher Michels-Allen, Housing Development Associate, CommonBond Communities;
Ashley Burdine, Property Administrator, Wellington Management;
Cerena Vang, Development Associate, JB Vang
Cherie Shoquist, Analyst, City of Bloomington Housing and Redevelopment Authority;
Denetrick Powers, Director of Real Estate Development, NEOO Partners, Inc.
Domonique Jones, Program Director, City of Lakes Community Land Trust;
Eric Jacques, Owner and CEO, Jacques Properties LLC;
Erika Byrd, Development Project Coordinator, City of Brooklyn Park;
Ivan Alvarado, Asset Manager, Ackerberg Group;
Jackie Funk, Broker/Owner & Real Estate Advisor, BrBaGa Real Estate;
Jama Adam, Property Manager, Aeon;
Jason Moore, Realtor, Realty Group, Inc.;
Jen Small, Housing Development Associate, Aeon;
Jude Nnadi, CEO, HomSavvy Inc.;
Julie Siegert, Housing Director, Scott County Community Development Agency;
Martha Faust, Redevelopment Program Manager, Ramsey County;
McKenzie Erickson, Founder and Chief Experience Designer, Caleidoscope;
Meg English, Real Estate Specialist at Capital City Property Management;
Merritt Clapp-Smith, Owner and Principal, Moxie Consulting LLC;
Molly Dalsin, Project Architect, AWH Architects;
Nichole Klonowski, Business Development Director, Pope Architects;
Nikki Mohs, Program and Loan Officer, Greater Minnesota Housing Fund;
Oliver Smith, Senior Project Coordinator, City of Minneapolis (CPED);
Ra’eesa Motala, Vice President, Lee & Associates;
Robin MaGee, CEO, RKM Diversified Industries;
Tara Roberts, Project Coordinator & Loan Originator, City of Minneapolis (CPED);
Zer Khang, Director of Construction Training, Asian Economic Development Association
Eligibility and Cost
- People of color and women are eligible to apply for the program.
- 100% attendance is required.
- Registration is $300 payable upon acceptance to the program.
Participant Benefits
- Free one-year membership to ULI Minnesota, with access to more than 500 members working in many different areas of the real estate industry.
- Certificate of completion.
- Professional Real Estate Development: The ULI Guide to the Business textbook, By Richard Peiser and David Hamilton ($99.95 value).
- One-on-one mentoring and education worth more than $15,000.
- A new network of allied professionals.
2020 REDi Sponsors
Urban Visionary
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please keep in touch .