During Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, Illinois REALTORS® is celebrating the accomplishments and contributions of the Asian Real Estate Association of America and our AAPI members and providing tips for how to celebrate. In addition to celebrating, Illinois REALTORS must pause and recognize the rise in hate-based incidents targeting members of the AAPI community. As reported in the media, these incidents have hit close to home with hateful acts targeted at Asian REALTORS®.  

Safety must be a priority for all REALTORS® but in times when AAPI members of our REALTOR® family are being targeted we must all be extra vigilant. The National Association of REALTORS® provides best practices to create a safety strategy in the form of tips, images, graphics, and guides on their safety page. NAR also releases the annual Member Safety Report and offers an interactive online quiz to test your REALTOR® safety knowledge. Illinois REALTORS® has incorporated REALTOR® safety into many CE courses. 

In addition to REALTOR® Safety Resources, many reputable organizations have created toolkits to help stop violence against the AAPI community. The Asian American Resource and Cultural Center at the University of Illinois Chicago has created a list of resources to address anti-Asian bias, hate, harassment, and violence. Asian Americans Advancing Justice Chicago is conducting bystander intervention trainings and New York’s Asian American Federation created downloadable/printable Anti-Hate Safety Resources available in Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Japanese, Korean, Tagalog and Vietnamese.  

REALTORS® in Illinois can have a meaningful impact by celebrating cultural heritage and proactively working to promote safety, best-practices and kindness.