By David Nichols, 2026 KCRAR President
When you think about Washington, D.C., you probably think about politics. I think about people. REALTORS® like you and me who take time away from their businesses, who step away from their families, who volunteer on committees and boards and who care enough about this profession to invest their time trying to make it better.
Later this month, our KCRAR and Heartland MLS leadership teams will head to Washington, D.C., for the National Association of REALTORS® Legislative Meetings. Why? Because the decisions made in Washington eventually find their way into the transactions we handle every day. The REALTORS® gathering in Washington aren’t there for themselves. They’re there to advocate for homeowners, private property rights and housing opportunities.
The families and individuals we serve may never attend a legislative meeting. They may never meet with a member of Congress. But they absolutely feel the impact of housing policy, tax policy, financing regulations and the countless other decisions that shape the housing market. And that’s why it’s so important that REALTORS® have a voice in the conversations that shape the future of our industry.
One of the most important things we’ll do while we’re there is spend time meeting directly with members of Congress and their staffs. Those conversations give REALTORS® the opportunity to share what’s actually happening on the ground in our communities and explain how public policy impacts homeownership, affordability, housing supply and the consumers we serve every day.
That is why REALTOR® advocacy matters.
But when it comes to the people representing KCRAR and Heartland MLS in Washington, here’s what I’ve learned over the years: none of them started there. Most started by attending a meeting, volunteering for a committee or saying yes when someone asked for help. Over time, those small decisions added up.
That is one reason I am excited about the continued growth of the UMKC REALTOR® Leadership Academy.
Programs like this one help REALTORS® better understand not only how to build successful businesses, but also how organized real estate works behind the scenes. Participants gain exposure to advocacy, leadership, regional issues and the responsibilities that come with helping guide our profession forward.
If you’ve ever wondered how REALTOR® leaders get started, this is an outstanding opportunity to learn, grow and become more engaged in our profession.
KCRAR offers scholarship opportunities through the Leadership Academy application process, and the Young Professionals Network has established additional scholarships specifically designed to help emerging leaders participate in the program.
For members interested in learning more, KCRAR will also host a Leadership Academy Informational Luncheon on June 9.
Programs like this one help develop future leaders. The future of organized real estate will not be determined by a handful of elected officers or committee chairs. It will be shaped by REALTORS® who choose to get involved, choose to learn and choose to lead.
Leadership doesn’t start with a title. Most leaders I know didn’t start by running for office. They started by showing up.
It starts with engagement. It starts with a willingness to learn. It starts with a willingness to contribute to something bigger than yourself. Our profession has always depended on people willing to do exactly that.
And I believe its future depends on them as well.
