ULI Boston is pleased to introduce Michael Fergus and Marty Jones as our new Pathways to Inclusion Initiative Leaders. The Pathways to Inclusion Initiative was developed as a partnership between the Builders of Color Coalition and African-American Real Estate Professionals New England (AAREP) and is designed to broaden ULI membership and expand the professional networks of mid-career and senior-level minority developers and land use professionals in the Boston metro area.

Learn why Michael and Marty are committed to PI and their desires for the program’s future.

Michael Fergus, Senior Project Manager, CBRE

Why this program is important for ULI?

For many years I wanted to join ULI! I knew of the organization but did not have access to its community due to the prohibitive costs at that time. The ULI Pathway Cohorts Scholarship is significant because, in its mission statement, the Urban Land Institute is committed to providing leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Through the Pathway Cohorts Scholarship, ULI is seizing the opportunity to identify and introduce professionals who’s professions intersect while investing and preparing a path of projection for professional women and people of color into leadership positions within ULI. ULI provides access to a wealth of internal resources, an opportunity to meet practitioners from varying fields while gaining a broader perspective of the world they build and create. The year you spend as a ULI Pathway Cohort can equip you with the tools to take territory within your profession, community or potentially on a national platform. It is with the greatest hope, optimism, and excitement that I share my experiences, newfound associations while being placed in a position to host and usher the next group of talented professionals into the organization. It is of the utmost importance that I work to leverage the opportunities that I have been afforded to help and assist others especially in industries where the representation of people of color is advancing but still have a ways to go.

What are your desires for Pathways as the initiative leader?

It is my desire that each year we build on the previous year and tailor an exciting introduction to ULI with the intent of providing exposure and developing leaders. Creating metrics by which we will be able to measure the success of ULI Pathways as well as preparation for leadership within ULI. Develop a strategy to fund and expand ULI Pathways into other select major cities within the next 5 years. Existing ULI Pathway Cohorts will be selected to be ambassadors and liaisons for the new chapters startup. Increase the numbers of people of color within ULI.

Marty Jones, Principal, MLJ Insights

Why is this program important for ULI?

As real estate professionals, all of us know it’s important to watch market trends and we know the growing diversity of our country’s population has been clear for some time. What many of us have not actively focused on is the impact of land use policies and personal racial bias(conscious or not) on real access to places to live and work for all. There is much work to be done on these issues. The Pathways Program is one tangible way ULI Boston is taking action to move the organization’s membership and leadership to be more inclusive and reflective of the diversity of our communities. And to help us stay in touch with the market and movements in demand, as well. Our District Council has supported this program beyond its launch as part of the 2018 Boston Fall Meeting – great to be entering our third year of Pathways to Inclusion.

What are your desires for Pathways as the initiative leader?

First of all, I am looking forward to working with Michael on this initiative and getting to know him as well. ULI is about building relationships through our work together!

My biggest desire is to make sure Pathways participants understand the value of ULI and become passionate, active local ULI members. We want to also introduce Pathways participants to opportunities for engagement on the national level.

As Pathways enters its third year, we hope to strengthen the value of the program by facilitating more connections between Pathways participants and ULI Boston members. This will definitely be more challenging in this COVID world. Please reach out to me or Michael if have ideas about ways we can creatively do this or if you would like to join us in this effort.

For questions about the upcoming Pathways to Inclusion program, please contact Manikka Bowman ([email protected]). If you would like to apply to the 2021 Pathways Cohort, click the link here.