Tag: nonbinarypdxrealtor

If you know me, you’d know that I always ask my clients what their Zodiac signs are. I love it! Not because I’m super woo or anything. It’s more so a quick fun conversation. Some are really into it, others not so much. I see horoscopes all the time and thought I’d take a stab at it. So, without further ado. Here’s what shopping for a homes with each Zodiac sign might like.

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.