Apr 19, 2009

CREW Detroit Announces Second Annual CREW Careers: Introducing Detroit High School Girls to Commercial Real Estate Industry Fundamentals

The Detroit chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women Detroit (CREW Detroit) announces its second annual CREW Careers Building Opportunities event to be held Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at the Detroit Opera House.

CREW CareersTM is an interactive, educational program designed to introduce high school age girls to the fundamentals of commercial real estate and career opportunities within the industry.

It is a national program developed by CREW Foundation, the charitable arm of CREW Network, a professional organization of more than 8,000 commercial real estate women in the U.S. and Canada.

CREW Detroit is again partnering with the Randolph Career & Technical Education High School of the Detroit Public School system for this year’s event. The theme is sustainability, technology, and self empowerment, with an emphasis on retail in downtown Detroit.

Prior to event day, CREW members will have hosted three in-school career modules, each featuring presentations by CREW Detroit members on their careers, career opportunities within their profession and how each career incorporates the use of sustainability and "green" concepts.

The students obtain six hours of instruction through the modules and also keep a notebook on relevant discussion points. The modules are designed as part of an educational process leading to CREW Careers™ and focus on teaching the students responsibility and goal setting both as individuals and as a team. They also serve to help build support and understanding for the opportunities that exist for women in commercial real estate and the business world in general.

One student commented after the first module, “I always thought real estate was a man’s world. I was amazed to see so many successful women, and some even own their own business and have others working for them! I am looking forward to the final project and have never felt so professional!”

On event day, April 28th, an anticipated 50 young women participants will enjoy a walking tour and commercial real estate ‘scavenger hunt’ in the historic area near the Detroit Opera House, along with a hard hat tour of the subject building, an actual vacant retail space located across the street from the Opera House that will be the subject of the “Design Challenge”.
>The students will compete for individual and team prizes, as they form project teams and plan the redevelopment of the site. Ultimately, the students not only become ‘professionals for a day’, but gain confidence and learn teamwork, responsibility, leadership, and business skill that can be applied long after CREW Careers™ is over.

According to CREW Detroit Outreach Director Alicia Buisst, Detroit’s CREW Careers™ has great significance for both the young women from Randolph Career & Technical Education High School and the 50 CREW Detroit members who serve as volunteers.

“We learned from our inaugural event last year that this is one day that can make ‘the’ difference in the life of a young woman,” says Ms. Buisst. “It couldn’t be possible without the commitment of our CREW Detroit members, who serve as module presenters, ambassadors, walking tour guides, team advisors, and instructors and are devoted to educating young women, especially those with underprivileged backgrounds, about the challenging and economically sustaining careers in commercial real estate. Our members, and the employers who support their efforts, empower the young women who participate in CREW Careers™. It is an outstanding volunteer contribution that has meaning far beyond the day of the event.”

CREW Detroit, through its own resources and with the support of its sponsors, including lead sponsors Key Bank and NORR, contributes nearly $12,000 to make CREW Careers™ a reality. CREW Careers™ is only one of the outreach efforts led by CREW Detroit members.

The organization is also involved with Alternatives for Girls (AFG) and First Step of Wayne County.

About CREW

Detroit CREW Detroit, founded in 1986, is a member-focused professional organization dedicated to advancing the success of women in commercial real estate by promoting networking and business opportunities among its more than 140 members. It is a founding chapter, and one of the largest local chapters, of CREW Network, a professional organization of more than 8,000 commercial real estate women in the U.S. and Canada celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2009.
at

1 comment:

  1. Barbara FornasieroApril 20, 2009 at 7:33 AM

    Erin- thanks for continuing to write about the good things happening in Detroit! Barbara Fornasiero

    ReplyDelete