Ohio Realtors announced on April 1 that the 2026 Culture & Impact Summit: A Path to Fair Housing will take place on April 14 in Columbus. The event aims to bring together speakers and attendees to discuss the ongoing influence of fair housing on communities.
The summit is important because it addresses real-world challenges related to fair housing, a topic that continues to shape neighborhoods and opportunities for residents. It also provides education for real estate professionals, including one hour of Continuing Education credit through a mock trial focused on a service animal scenario. This interactive session is designed to help participants better understand practical issues related to fair housing.
Keynote speakers at the summit include Roy Hall Jr., who will share personal stories about his family’s experiences with housing discrimination and redlining, and Derreck Kayongo, a former refugee from Uganda who became a CEO and human rights advocate. Dan Doepke, Director of Member Policy at the National Association of Realtors, and Matt Difanis, an Illinois broker/owner, are also scheduled to provide insights tied to Article 10 of the REALTOR Code of Ethics.
The legal team from Ohio Realtors will present updates about a new Fair Housing Disclosure form that will soon be required for all Ohio licensees. They plan to explain what the form entails, why it matters, and how licensees can comply with updated licensing requirements.
According to the official website, Ohio Realtors supports its community through charitable efforts such as scholarships provided by the Ohio REALTORS Foundation. The organization represents more than 40,000 real estate professionals across all 88 counties in Ohio via 30 local boards. It is directed by elected leaders from within the sector and advocates for policies supporting property rights and homeownership at both state and federal levels.
Ohio Realtors says it aims “to empower real estate professionals by offering advocacy, education, resources and support” while upholding high ethical standards according to their official website.
