#United States #Atlanta #SEAM #Accredited Professionals #social equity

Introduction to SEAM's New Initiative

In a significant move to enhance social equity in the commercial real estate sector, SEAM, Inc. has announced the launch of its SEAM Accredited Professionals (AP) program. This initiative aims to empower real estate professionals with the tools and knowledge necessary to foster people-focused practices within their projects. By guiding developers, property owners, and occupiers through a comprehensive certification framework, SEAM strives to promote dignity, community well-being, and enhanced economic opportunities.

Background of SEAM, Inc.

Established in 2018, SEAM, Inc. was co-founded by Rainey Shane and Alex Demestihas, both of whom have extensive backgrounds in the global real estate services firm JLL. They recognized the urgent necessity to tackle social injustices and inequalities within the real estate sector, inspired in part by Shane’s experiences working with organizations dedicated to combatting child trafficking and forced labor in construction materials. Their commitment to embedding socially responsible practices into the real estate industry laid the groundwork for SEAM’s inception.

The Need for Ethical Practices in Real Estate

The landscape of commercial real estate is changing. The industry is increasingly acknowledging the critical role it plays in addressing social challenges. Shane explains, “There is a need for a people-focused framework that embeds equity into real estate using clear principles rather than relying on proxy metrics that may not achieve the intended results.” The goal of the newly introduced SEAM AP program is to provide specialized consultants who can help integrate ethical considerations into commercial projects.

Overview of the SEAM Accredited Professionals Program

The SEAM Accredited Professionals program offers a self-paced online curriculum supported by a credential exam to certify professionals in ethical real estate development. This certification equips participants to apply SEAM's principles globally, ensuring that projects align with the certification framework that prioritizes people and communities.

The course content has been developed in collaboration with Raccoon Gang, a reputable instructional design team known for creating educational material for prestigious entities such as Harvard and Stanford. The training modules are available on the OpenEdx platform, ensuring accessibility and familiarity for learners.

Credential Exam and Delivery

To secure the credibility of the program, the credential exam has been developed by Caveon’s award-winning team, leveraging their expertise in psychometric soundness. The administration of the exam on the Scorpion platform offers a secure and seamless testing experience, allowing professionals from around the world to validate their knowledge and commitment to social equity in real estate practices.

The Impact of SEAM's Certification Framework

Through the SEAM AP program, the organization aims to bridge the gap between commercial objectives and social responsibilities. SEAM empowers professionals to champion equitable practices, offering a roadmap that promotes inclusive planning and execution within their projects.

“With our people-centered certification framework, we can drive real change in commercial real estate,” stated Shane confidently. The initiative not only focuses on advancing local communities but also emphasizes the importance of creating sustainable economic opportunities that benefit wide-ranging stakeholders, including those in the supply chain.

Conclusion and Future Directions

The launch of the SEAM Accredited Professionals program marks a thoughtful step towards transforming the commercial real estate industry by embedding social equity at its core. As more professionals engage in this certification, the hope is to witness a broader cultural shift that prioritizes ethical practices in development projects.

For those interested in learning more about SEAM and pursuing accreditation, additional information is available at seamcertification.org/accreditation.

SEAM, Inc. is committed to guiding the commercial real estate sector towards a more ethical future. By establishing this dedicated accreditation program, SEAM not only enhances professional competencies but also contributes to building a more equitable society through informed real estate practices.