Pandemic @ The Disco!

Oh Hi. Hello.
Catchy Title huh?

Full transparency:
I was a community organizer before I was a real estate agent and damn if I’m not grateful for that perspective.
Community Organizer to Real Estate Agent during a Global Pandemic.
During an Uprising. What a twist.
I love to organize behind the scenes, strategy based.
Some have reached out and wondered?
What can they actually do?
I don’t know baby, but it better be something, and quick.

If you didn’t already know me, my politics are VERY BEYONCE.
To the left to the left.
But, you’re in luck.
This will not be a linguistically dense, judgey, guilt invoking, pointing of the finger kinda list.
Just some things I’m thinking about or doing.
Things you may be thinking about, doing, or want to consider doing, too.

To be fair, I’m clear that we currently all live in contradiction.
Real Estate and Capitalism will continue on for the foreseeable future.
We need a cell phone and computer to do our jobs. Clothes to leave the house, cars to take us there. And while we all have variations of what we chose to recognize that gets these resources to our homes, bodies, and bellies, deep down, even with the cognitive dissonance of a mountain, we know that in order to capitalize on most opportunities, it’s likely at the expense of someone else’s loss, low wage labor, safety, and place in society. We can choose not to talk about it, be complicit in it, and be business as usual.
Or, we can make strides to acknowledge it and work actively towards change and justice. In Real Estate we tend to be long term goal orientated. We know how equity is built. That will help you greatly.

Do be warned, Creating real change takes effort, is an inconvenience to YOU, YOUR time, money, and your energy. It’s more than a FB post. It lasts longer than a riot.
It’s going to your local mom and pop shops, finding alternatives to Amazon and waiting days to get your order delivered, demanding big businesses to pay taxes, engaging in dialogue with family members when racism comes up at the turkey day table, actually researching elected officials policies, supporting people other than what’s in your sphere of contacts. It means supporting people even if there is no return in value.

So
What have I been doing whilst the world is on fire?
Taking action, educating myself, and asking questions.
Here’s about 30 of um.

1. I’m wondering how I can bring equity to real estate.
2. I’m enjoying watching folks Leverage their Privilege & Power.
3. I’m making lists of Black, Indigenous, POC businesses, services, contractors and programs I can use/contribute to.
They don’t have a website? Use your resources to help them build one. They don’t have equipment that’s necessary to do the job? Fundraise for that equipment on their behalf.
4. I’m asking others to ask themselves if their company not only has diverse representation, but more importantly, does it also have retention of BIPOC. Are you prioritizing and supporting those people when they reach out. Let’s take it one step further, are you helping them BEFORE they need to reach out?. How are you inviting them to work with you? Providing resources? Sharing knowledge?
5. I’m voting in accordance with benefiting people vs benefiting my pockets.
6. I’m enjoying the enjoyment of enjoying whatever I can find to enjoy.
7. I’m thinking critically. How much does it take to fund the blue angels to fly over hospitals vs PPE costs for our doctors and nurses. How do police officers casually have tanks but we can’t seem to get clean water in Flint, Michigan.
8. I’m noting that the government decided to bail out businesses before bailing out its people.
9. I’m reminding myself to be MY OWN moral compass, in a world that tells you laws should be. You wouldn’t believe it, but my existence was once against the law.
10. I’m Understanding my impact as a Real Estate Agent on gentrification, how I am complicit, and how I can counter that in an effective way.
11.I’m realizing how germaphobic my partner is and still having the audacity to wear my Coachella wristband from Beyonces’ 2018 Homecoming performance (Front Row NEVER FORGET)
12. I’m Recognizing that this land originally belonged to the Multnomah tribe of Chinookan. This was not MY land to sell and thus I contribute a percentage of my sales to. https://nayapdx.org/ or another Native tribe of choice.
13. I’m being clear and impeccable with my word.
14. I’m rejoicing in seeing socialist actions in an anti-socialist country.
15. I’m reading history that says the Boston Tea Party, Stonewall, the Civil Rights riots lead to historic human rights.
Remembering that MLK was one of the MOST hated men in the America at one time.
16. I’m reminding others that PROFITS ARE NOT more important than PEOPLE. I repeat PROFITS WILL NEVER BE more important than people.
17. I’m recognizing that Target & Banks have ample insurance money to rebuild their million dollar industry.
18. I’m connecting the dots.
17. I’m recognizing that the folks who wrote the history books were also the folks in power.
18. I’m enjoying my kick ass therapist partner for “seeing” clients in need, distress, sadness, and depression.
19. I’m giving props to the often “invisible” and forgotten workers that deserve to earn a living wage : Hey Migrate Farmers and JANITORS. We see you.
20, I’m Community Organizing and Strategizing.
21. I’m wondering how some people can identify a plant and recite its scientific name, tell me who won the world series game in 1982, but still can’t understand systematic racism and this history of injustice in America.
22. I’m Focusing on creating Structural Change. Band-aids do not work.
23. I’m thinking about why someone would be more upset at looting than a life stolen.
24. I’m recognizing that Hate Speech is not the same as Freedom of Speech.
25. I’m thinking about how many white friends’ young kiddos still think I’m an actual biological relative of their parent sans questions asked.
26. I’m wondering how the Lakers qualified as a small business and got a PPP loan.
27. I’m regretting the fact that I didn’t invest in Zoom 2 year prior to Covid-19.
28. I’m recognizing that grief looks different for different people.
29. I’m actively Googling the requirements to immigrate to Cuba, Ireland, and or New Zealand.
30. I’m standing up for Black Lives, because they Matter.

There are things we can and cannot change in these times.
Can is the word that I am holding onto.
Be well my friends.
Love on each other, just from a little further away.

Jamis Minnis

Broker | OR

She/They

I'm just out here trying to be the Simon Biles of Real Estate. I'm a BIPOC Realtor. A QTPOC Realtor. A Foodie. A Concert/Music Festival Enthusiast. A Community Organizer.  Double Majored in Psychology and Business.  And now I'm AN AWARD WINNING REAL ESTATE AGENT YA'LL! I've had consistent Top Notch Sales & Stellar Client Reviews while helping buyers and sellers navigate the rigorous real estate market. I consider myself to be achievement/detail oriented, proactive, and financially savvy. I enjoy taking complicated ideas/info and making them accessible to others. Get ready to learn everything you didn't think you needed to know about real estate. I'm nerdy about numbers and homes, but also fun. Like, a fun nerd, if you will. I bought and restored my home, a 1917 craftsman and my 1951 rehab home with perseverance, creativity, resourceful thinking, NERDing out on Real Estate stats, being strategic in negotiating, and having integrity, I plan to do the same for you. I've been able to help countless clients with their home buying process. I run a fully transparent, encouraging, fun, but tight ship that's ready to educate you and advocate on your behalf! Housing has always been important to me. It's more than where the heart is, it's where we feel secure, build connection, Gather, Giggle, Grow. Over the years, I have managed a 350 bed International Hostel in downtown San Francisco, worked for Habitat for Humanity with Americorps NCCC, volunteered on the Katrina mass home rebuild in New Orleans, and provided landlord tenant advocacy in the non-profit sector. All roads leading to finally being a Real Estate Agent. Being an agent at Living Room Realty affords me the opportunity of being a home matchmaker. Meeting awesome clients that will soon have a home that meets their needs, their livelihood, and their dreams. Planning on selling your home? Great, I can help you with that too. I am especially excited to work with first time home buyers, folks with marginalized identities (Queer/LGBTQIA, BIPOC, QTPOC), and any folx that would like to have a fun supportive agent throughout their home buying process. I want to make sure you not only buy a home that's cute, but make sure that cute home has GOOD BONES TOO! When I'm not scouting new properties, I'm generally with my favorite person, my partner Camille. Together we are goofy cute and treat each other with sweetness. You should see us y'all. *Camille is also a therapist, so if the process gets overwhelming or stressful, don't worry, we've got you. Others reasons to contact me:

• You Need A Spotify Playlist for the Occasion.
• Gender Ideology Convos.
• Sappy Rom-Com Recs.
• Creating A Better World.
• Dad Jokes!
• You Want To Talk About My Awesome Reviews! https://www.zillow.com/profile/jamisminnis/
• You Want To Support A Queer Black Business!

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• T: 503-756-0005
• jamis@livingroomre.com