The Opportunity to Participate in Something Amazing by Allan Fonseca

I Was Given the Opportunity to Participate in Something Amazing

Written by Allan Fonseca, 2022 DEI Scholarship Recipient

I learned early on in life that opportunities are not always given equally. Many of us have to work harder to reach our goals and dreams due to years of systemic oppression. Even though we have made long strides on the fight for equality, modern day society still struggles with the changes that came with the fight for civil rights. I view DE&I as a necessary and important movement that can no longer be ignored.  This concept has given a voice to many diverse professionals that had previously been excluded from pursuing their career goals. It has allowed someone like me (Latino & Gay) to be given a chance to work in a profession where historically Latino’s and openly LGBTQ members were excluded.

As a recipient of the BOMA Seattle King County DE&I Scholarship, I was awarded a chance to participate on the 2022 BOMA International Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. I had heard great things about this conference and was eager for the experience.  To my surprise, the conference was above and beyond what I had initially expected.  As I walked through the stunning Music City Center in Nashville, a culmination of emotions hit me.  Thoughts of where I started on my career and where I am presently overfilled me with a sense of pride.  I had every right to be a part of something so great, and my endeavors and hard work had finally come to fruition. I quickly realized that by being present at this conference, I was representing a bigger movement in our society.  I am a small piece of a puzzle much greater than me, and as humbling that may be, it is also empowering and moving.  

My first forum at the conference was the “Diversity, Education and Inclusion Forum”.  I cannot express the sense of pride of felt when I saw Sandrena Robinson speak about the mission and vision this group had for the future of DE&I.  Representation has always been important, and seeing someone who is BIPOC sitting as Chair was empowering and motivating.  I got glimpse into how other market leaders are working on DE&I and how they are creating programs that are helping this mission for equality.  I was even able to snag a few ideas to bring to my own market in Seattle. This forum was a great start to the conference and set the tone for how the rest of the days would be.  The closing notes made by Sandrena hit close to home for me.  Gay Pride Nashville was occurring during the same time as the conference.  Tennessee is known for not being the most LGBTQ friendly, and I personally had my reservations on traveling to this place. Sandrena mentioned that gay pride was happening just a couple of blocks away from the convention center.  She urged everyone in the forum to participate and support their LGBTQ allies.  I cannot describe the feelings that surged through me when I heard that.  I felt a sense of belonging and also felt like 10000 pounds had been lifted from me.  I was no longer just the gay Latino guy in the room, I was a colleague and an equal. With confidence comes power, and I quickly ditched my shy tendencies and began to make connections with other professionals trying to make a difference in our industry.

As I navigated through different forums at the conference, I was able to connect with a multitude of individuals from different professions.  My LinkedIn grew astronomically.  Networking is so important in my line of business and having an opportunity to connect with other professional individuals made this experience all the more purposeful.  Connecting with the local market opened doors for me to explore the city.  I was able to experience what Nashville had to offer in food, art, and music.  I was able to make a friend at every forum I attended, and it was nice to grab a snack in between each session and unpack the information we had learned. It was also nice to learn about what other markets are doing to improve production and the importance of “Life Work” balance. I will also like to mention that Nashville grew on me.  I am definitely a country music fan now, and I will be coming back for my hot chicken fix!

The last event was the 2022 TOBY Awards. I was fortunate to be present and support a colleague and good friend who’s building had been nominated for a TOBY!  We did not bring back an award, but the experience and the honor that came with being nominated was a win in itself, and it is a memory that I will hold dearly.  The Seattle team represented eloquently in Nashville, and I was proud to be part of the comradery as we supported two amazing speakers, a TOBY nominee, and an Emerging Professional who will now be on the BOMA International Executive Committee. I could not be prouder of the Seattle market, and am excited for all the great things to come in our industry.

The 2022 BOMA International Conference was an experience that I will not soon forget.  It was educational, inspiring, and at times heartfelt.  The realization that we have the ability to mold the future, and make changes in our market to benefit our teams and our clients is something that is equally empowering as it is motivating.  We get stuck on our day to day sometimes that we forget that we have the ability to make a difference.  My key takeaway from this conference is the power of networking and the ability we have to create a better future in our industry when we connect as people and when we bring our abilities and talents together.  I am truly grateful for this opportunity.  I can’t wait to utilize what I have learned and share with others.  Great things are to come, and I am excited for the future.  

Keep a look out for me.

You won’t want to miss what’s to come!