ULI Real Estate Diversity Initiative (REDI)

The ULI Real Estate Diversity Initiative (REDI) is a comprehensive real estate development training and mentorship program intended to increase the number of women and people of color in ULI and in the real estate industry. The curriculum goes step-by-step through the real estate development process with presentations by ULI volunteers. Outside of the classroom, ULI REDI participants apply what they learn as they work in teams to create a development proposal for a real, local site. ULI REDI began at ULI Colorado in 2009, and ULI Minnesota began offering the program in 2016. ULI continues to expand the ULI REDI program across the District Council network.

REDI participants not only have access to ULI members who serve as session speakers and team mentors, but they also can receive a free ULI membership upon completion of the program, giving participants access to an expanded network that can propel them in their personal and professional lives.

Through a 2018 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the program has expanded to ULI Indiana, ULI Kansas City, ULI Memphis, ULI Minnesota, and ULI St. Louis, and ULI is hoping for further expansions.

Core program components of the ULI Real Estate Diversity Initiative include:

• The program is an exclusive opportunity for women and people of color.
• The curriculum is based on samples developed originally by ULI Colorado and Minnesota and adapted according to local District Council needs, local market specifics, member input, and speakers’ input.
• Participants gain an experiential, project-based opportunity to learn about the development process using a real, local study and what it takes to put together a successful development.
• 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.

Each District Council has its own application process and may charge a modest program fee that participants agree to pay to cover the bare minimum of staff time devoted to managing REDI. Many District Councils depend on sponsors and grants to cover the cost of offering REDI, making it more accessible to more people. For more information on a specific District Council REDI program, please see the individual District Council’s website.