Underscoring Accordia’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the commercial real estate industry, Managing Partners Kirk Sykes and Dick Galvin joined rising scholars at this year’s Real Estate Exchange (REEX) Jumpstart Program.
Held at MIT, Sykes and Galvin spoke to students about some of the core competencies within the REEX initiative, including leadership development, entrepreneurship, and social justice.
Sykes was one of the founders of REEX in 2016. The program currently reaches about 650 students, connecting African American and Latino students to a variety of colleges and universities, and educating them about career opportunities in commercial real estate.
“REEX is about creating an ecosystem for diverse, young minds who would like to pursue a career in the commercial real estate industry,” said Sykes.
This year marks the reemergence of a hybrid/in-person program. The event had to go virtual the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The virtual program had the unexpected benefit of helping REEX reach out to more rising students across the country. But according to Sykes, the exposure for students being face-to-face with industry professionals is beyond compare.
“You can’t replicate the uniqueness of an in-person event,” said Sykes. “Students were ‘Zoomed-out’ by the pandemic. This hybrid model gives kids a more hands on approach and an opportunity to create significant connections with some of the best in real estate.”
REEX has an eye on expansion, hoping to expose 1,000 scholars to careers in commercial real estate by 2023.