As we grapple with the nation’s fight against racial injustice, we are hurting—both as individuals and as a collective community. We recognize the fear, agony and outrage caused by George Floyd’s tragic murder and the systemic racism that far too many experience.
Our industry is interlocked with the principles of the Fair Housing Act, which is based on the concept that all people should be treated equally. It was best expressed by Maya Angelou in an article commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act: “We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.”
Equity in the treatment and service to all of our residents has been and continues to be the cornerstone of NAA’s mission and that of our affiliates and members. We are committed to fighting against racism and discrimination in the rental housing industry, and equipping our members to have conversations about diversity, inclusion and unconscious bias. We acknowledge that much more work needs to be done, and we will continue to listen and learn. We encourage each of you to do so as well. You can find information on our Diversity Leadership Program, our Innovation in Diversity and Inclusion Grant, Diversity Best Practices and other resources on the Diversity and Inclusion page.
Robert Pinnegar, CAE
President and CEO