Catalyst’s Action Plan

For the past two weeks, our family and those within our company have experienced emotions ranging from anger, disgust and sadness, to guilt, shame and confusion.

One certainty we’re left with is an absolute obligation to develop a specific action plan to address systemic racism within our society, and related inequalities within our industry.

Catalyst Housing Group is immediately committing to the following, which we are hopeful will result in tangible positive social change:

• Donating 5% of all Catalyst revenues to charitable organizations committed to protecting, advancing and uplifting the Black community.
• Encouraging our business partners to make similar contributions.
• Naming a charitable advisor to ensure we’re meeting our stated goals and maximizing our efforts.
• Posting an open Google document to track our philanthropic efforts and provide transparency into our giving.
• Expanding the core mission of our non-profit, the Essential Housing Fund, to provide direct rental subsidies to Black essential workers, and to cultivate employment opportunities for Black professionals within the multifamily industry.
• Requiring anti-racism and racial-equity training for all Catalyst employees and for all third parties employed by Catalyst properties.
• Making Election Day a paid holiday for Catalyst employees and for all third parties employed by Catalyst properties.
• Volunteering Catalyst properties as registered polling locations and encouraging our employees to volunteer as poll workers.
• Partnering with leading executive search firms to build and maintain an easily accessible database of Black multifamily professionals.
• Expanding our current work with UC Davis to build multifamily education, internship, job placement and mentorship programs for Black student athletes.
• Organizing quarterly meetings with multifamily CEOs similarly committed to affecting social change and advancing opportunities for Black multifamily professionals.

This is just the beginning, and we acknowledge that much more needs to be done. The above are initial steps we can confidently address immediately.

We will make mistakes. We will encounter difficulties. But we will listen, we will learn, and we will grow. Most importantly, we will continue to show up, to do this work and to hold ourselves accountable.

If you are interested in supporting our efforts, here are a few ways you can assist:

• Create similar policies within your organization.
• Give to the Essential Housing Fund at www.EssentialHousing.org.
• Give to other charitable organizations supporting anti-racism, inclusion and racial justice.
• Provide us with constructive criticism and ideas around additional focus areas.
• Volunteer your time and/or your social network to assist us in meeting these goals.
• Email me at Jordan@CatalystHousing.com if you’re a multifamily CEO interested in making a similar pledge and fighting to reverse systemic racism within our industry and beyond.

Thank you for your time. We will report back with updates on our efforts.