On April 3, 2024, the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) and Realtor.com® celebrated Fair Housing Month by awarding three individuals the Fair Housing Champion Award at the event titled “Many Rivers to Cross: America’s Ongoing Fair Housing Journey.” The recipients were recognized for their exceptional contributions to promoting fair housing and increasing homeownership in their communities.
The award honors Realtors® who have excelled in combating housing discrimination, advocating for equitable and affordable housing, and educating both consumers and professionals about fair housing practices. Sponsored by Realtor.com®, each winner received a $5,000 prize to donate to a housing-related charity of their choosing.
NAR President Kevin Sears expressed pride in the awardees, highlighting their role in fostering diverse, inclusive, and thriving communities across America. He emphasized that affordability and fair housing are critical challenges in today’s real estate sector.
The 2024 awardees are notable for their longstanding commitment to housing equality:
- Eve B. Lee from Lake County, Illinois, recognized for over 45 years of work in expanding housing access.
- Shadrick Bogany of Houston, who has championed homeownership as empowerment, especially within underrepresented groups.
- Paul Yorkis, president of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors®, lauded for his advocacy in making real estate forms accessible in multiple languages.
Realtor.com® Chief Marketing Officer Mickey Neuberger praised the awardees’ efforts in improving housing opportunities, while Alexia Smokler, NAR’s director of fair housing policy & programs, and Patrice Ficklin, director of the CFPB’s office of fair lending & equal opportunity, discussed the impact of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) on its 50th anniversary. Their conversation covered the transformative effects of ECOA on expanding women’s access to credit and highlighted ongoing challenges in lending discrimination.
The event also featured a discussion on civil rights history with Thomas Sugrue, focusing on the legacy of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and its failure to address private housing discrimination, which was only rectified with the 1968 Fair Housing Act. This discussion stressed the importance of continuing to fight against systemic barriers in housing due to racial discrimination.
For more information, read the original press release from: https://www.nar.realtor/newsroom/nar-honors-fair-housing-month-announces-2024-fair-housing-champion-award-winners