Strengthening our communities by ensuring everyone is empowered to access and own property.
Our commitment to a more inclusive future
The Upstate Alliance of REALTORS® (UPSTAR)—a proud local affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS®—has served the real estate professionals of northeast Indiana since 1913. Founded at a time when women couldn’t vote and it was still legal to deny housing based on race, religion, or national origin, UPSTAR has evolved alongside our country’s progress. Today, we serve more than 1,800 REALTOR® members across the region, each committed to upholding a strict Code of Ethics.
A cornerstone of that Code is Article 10, which states that REALTORS® shall not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. But for UPSTAR, compliance isn’t the ceiling—it’s the starting point.
We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are essential to fulfilling our mission:
“To be the leading force for real estate and property rights in our communities.”
When all people are empowered to access and own property, our industry—and our communities—are stronger.
Putting it into action
UPSTAR’s DEI efforts are rooted in action, not just intention. Here are some of the steps we’ve taken to build a more inclusive industry:
Diversity Committee
Established in 2021, the Diversity Committee is tasked with developing strategies to promote DEI within UPSTAR and foster a culture that celebrates and embraces differences.
Board Representation
A seat is guaranteed for a Diversity Committee member on the UPSTAR Board of Directors to ensure DEI perspectives are integrated at the highest level.
Leadership Development
We continuously invest in diversifying our leadership through events, networking, and educational opportunities.
United Front Training Series
Members participated in this social justice initiative to deepen understanding of race, equity, and systemic barriers.
Fair Housing Summit Sponsorship
We proudly support this annual event and similar forums to stay informed about current issues and best practices.
Free At Home With Diversity® Certification
We offered this NAR course at no cost to members to equip them to serve an increasingly multicultural market and uphold fair housing laws.
Monthly Cultural Spotlights
We highlight the experiences and contributions of diverse cultures to the real estate profession each month.
Why it matters
Despite decades of progress, housing inequality remains a reality in many communities. Historical practices—such as redlining and exclusionary zoning—still echo in today’s market, shaping who has access to homeownership and wealth-building opportunities.
We acknowledge this history and are committed to being part of the solution. Every REALTOR® has a role to play in creating a more just and inclusive housing market. Together, we can build a better future—home by home, client by client.
Key moments in housing equity
1913
UPSTAR is founded—decades before key civil rights protections are in place.
1916
The Great Migration: over 6 million African Americans relocated from the segregationist South. They are confronted with discrimination as they seek new homes, resulting in widespread housing discrimination.
1933 – 1934
New Deal Initiatives- initiatives like the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation boost homeownership for white Americans during the Great Depression. But the federal government’s refusal to insure mortgages in and near Black neighborhoods, known as “redlining” because of the federal maps color-coding “neighborhood quality”, severely limits the ability of Black Americans to own homes or invest in their neighborhoods and fosters widespread housing segregation.
1948
In Shelley v. Kraemer, the United States Supreme Court strikes down the racially restrictive covenants that prevent selling or renting of homes to “non-Caucasians.” However, in many places, they remain in effect for decades.
1965
Indiana Civil Rights Act includes housing discrimination protections—the first such law in the state.
1968
The federal Fair Housing Act is passed in the wake of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, prohibiting discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, and national origin.
1978
The Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 outlaws discrimination in lending.
These milestones laid the foundation, but the journey continues.
Statistics & Resources
Understanding the Disparity
This excerpt from The Ever-Growing Gap illustrates the wealth disparity between the average Black, White, and Latino families and the staggering amount of time it would take to amass similar levels of wealth:
If average Black family wealth continues to grow at the same pace it has over the past three decades, it would take Black families 228 years to amass the same amount of wealth White families have today. That’s just 17 years shorter than the 245-year span of slavery in this country. For the average Latino family, it would take 84 years to amass the same amount of wealth White families have today—that’s the year 2097.
The Ever-Growing Gap; Prosperity Now & Institute for Policy Studies; 2016
Homeownership Rates by Race & Ethnicity
Source: FHCCI analysis of U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5- year estimates, 2023
