Summary
calabash real estate believes in volunteering as a way to give back to the community, develop new friends and relationships, and through growing that network be available to more people as a realtor.
When I first started doing real estate I got the message from a few of my peers and mentors that I needed to go out and meet people with similar interests: that I should add value to the lives around me, and that if I do these things then I will find my market. I figured that local volunteering builds community, and I could connect with like minded people in the process.
Soon after I joined Keller Williams we went on “Red Day” which is one of those corporate days of giving. We went and volunteered at the ReBuilding Center in Portland up on Mississippi. What a cool place. I explain it like if GoodWill is to Macys, the local ReBuilding Center is to HomeDepot. I’m not sure any of those businesses would appreciate those comparisons, but they seem to work.
I have spent a few days volunteering at the ReBuilding Center so far. Tasks have been everything from sort tile to help set up some classes. RBC offers a variety of classes to help folks in the community DIY things as best they can. They offer electical, mosaics, plumbing, …. etc.
I’ve also been trying to get involved in the Ka ‘Aha Lāhui O ‘Olekona Hawaiian Civic Club (KALO HCC). They’re a local group that looks out for AAPI, especially Hawaiian, interests on the mainland. They overlap with PDX Climate Warriors who do food distribution and fight climate change.
I haven’t had very much time or opportunity to help out anybody, just an hour or two here and there. But I’m hopeful when I can control my daily schedule I’ll be able to get more rhythm going. I’ve learned a lot from my limited involvement, and I’ve definitely enjoyed meeting the folks involved.
And maybe, some day, someone will know someone that wants to do a transaction, and my real estate friends’ and mentors’ advice will ‘pay off’, and I will see how local volunteering builds community. Until then I’ll just keep enjoying my new friends.
Mahalo for reading!
