By Steven Meyer, CEO of Intend Indiana
Community development goes beyond creating programs and community outreach. True
community development is about connecting people to opportunity and improving quality of life—whether that be homeownership, creating a new business, or having access to affordable lending.
Trent Garrett, a community development and real estate leader, connected many people to
opportunities. He quietly brought people together, lifted people up, and mentored those around him—never focusing on what was in it for him. In his passing, countless people shared they considered Trent a brother. He served as the Board Chair that hired me, and he advocated on my behalf many times afterward.
Shortly before he passed away, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to share with Trent how he had influenced me. Of course, Trent redirected the conversation to real estate, a topic in which he was endlessly interested. I shared that, because of his commitment and impact in the community, we established a fellowship program in his name to give more minority professionals access to careers in real estate and community development.
Although successful, Trent wondered aloud how much different his career may have been if he had encountered more people who looked like him along the way. The mission of the Trent L. Garrett Fellowship is to support diverse professionals in developing a career in real estate and community development.
The two-year fellowship program enables recipients to develop real estate experience, learn about the development sector, and build leadership skills. Every year, we aim to provide opportunities to at least two fellows so that they can start their journeys. The program expedites their opportunities in the field. Kevin Brown II, after just seven months as a fellow, was offered a position with a local development company.
My conversations with Trent made me realize that creating opportunity isn’t enough.
Representation is essential to connecting people to opportunities. Being able to see yourself as a homeowner, a business owner, or having a career in community development helps to turn an opportunity into a reality.
The Trent L. Garrett Fellowship is a fitting legacy for our friend and continues his commitment to opening doors for others. We hope you join us in this work and connect those you know with this opportunity. Applications are now open until March 31, 2023. Apply for your opportunity here.
