Last week, Mr. Mohammedi was a guest speaker at an event for NYSAR, the New York State Association of Realtors. He gave a presentation about his experiences as a Civil Rights Lawyer in New York City titled “Stories From the Streets.”
Panelists included Joanne Poole, a REALTOR® and 2020 NAR Chairperson of the Multicultural Real Estate Leadership Advisory Group; Dr. Danette O’Neal, Professor, Author-LEED educator, HGTV alumna, entrepreneur, and REALTOR®; Sarah L. Ware, the principal and managing broker of the Ware Realty Group, LLC; Zeke Morris, past president of the Chicago Association of REALTORS®, and REALTORS® Arthur and Marlon Briscoe from Queens.
Far more than the law, [Mr. Mohammedi] spoke to human rights as a person and the audience of Realtors understood.
Susan L. Sommers, SRES Chairperson of the Fair Housing and Cultural Diversity Committee
Mr. Mohammedi’s presentation received overwhelmingly positive feedback as Mr. Mohammedi spoke about his own personal experiences, including times where he went above and beyond his duties as a civil rights attorney.
In her email to Mr. Mohammedi, Susan L. Sommers, SRES Chairperson of the Fair Housing and Cultural Diversity Committee (sommershomes.com), said “The feedback we received from Attendees was they really appreciated the honest conversation and learned much. Many felt enlightened and everyone said it was great. You spoke from your heart not just as a Civil Rights Lawyer which would have been enough but far more. Far more than the law, you spoke to human rights as a person and the audience of Realtors understood.”
In another email, Hind Hatoum, from the NYSAR Board of Directors (2019-2020), said that Mr. Mohammedi’s presentation reminded her of her own experiences with clients who felt discriminated in their housing opportunities due to their wearing of the hijab or headscarf. She said, “It felt as if no matter how many times I reminded the agents in a most respectful way, that they were violating the Fair Housing rules and that needed to educate their homeowners on the importance and seriousness of fair housing, there was no regard or accountability for their behaviours. It hurts, and it deprives any consumer from their rights to equal and fair treatment.”
It felt as if no matter how many times I reminded the agents in a most respectful way, that they were violating the Fair Housing rules and that needed to educate their homeowners on the importance and seriousness of fair housing, there was no regard or accountability for their behaviours. It hurts, and it deprives any consumer from their rights to equal and fair treatment.
Hind Hatoum, NYSAR Board of Directors (2019-2020)
Mr. Mohammedi’s presentation was critical in reminding real estate professionals and members of the community that our country’s policy on discrimination is simple- there is zero-tolerance for discrimination.