John L. Scott, a full-service residential real estate company serving the Western U.S., celebrates 90 years of business. What began in 1931 with a young, Scottish immigrant named John L. Scott setting up a shop in the burgeoning city of Seattle has since evolved into over 100 offices with more than 3,000 agents throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho and California.

While this past Labor Day marked the official 90-year milestone, John L. Scott has been celebrating all year long with a myriad of community-focused initiatives.

In an effort to support diverse students and educators in the communities that need it most, John L. Scott announced it has committed to funding four scholarships for diverse candidates, totaling $90,000, through the University of Washington’s College of Education. These scholarships will provide candidates with necessary funding for obtaining teacher’s certificates to teach into the school system.

“For 90 years now, our higher purpose has been devoted to ‘Living Life as a Contribution,’ and I can’t think of a more worthy cause than creating opportunities for diverse teaching candidates,” said J. Lennox Scott, chairman and CEO of John L. Scott, in a statement. “The need for more diversity in education is at an all-time high, and research shows that if a youth of diversity has even a few teachers of diversity, there is a 38% greater chance of individuals graduating high school and a 32% chance of them moving on to obtain higher education. We have high hopes that this initiative will assist in creating a quality education experience for more youth of diverse backgrounds, which in turn will lead to the creation of more jobs, inclusion, advancement and equity.”

The company also committed to funding an additional two scholarships in the Portland Metro area and one in the Spokane Metro area. These two markets, alongside Seattle, are the three major segregated areas in the Northwest due to the tragic, former government and societal practice of redlining limiting where people of color could live— which we are still dealing with the ramifications of today.

In attempts to further diversity, equity and inclusion in real estate, John L. Scott is also advocating for mandating diversity education for brokers and associates, as well as removing racist and discriminatory language from all property titles. John L. Scott chairman and CEO J. Lennox Scott is also joining the leadership of the National Association of REALTORS® Diversity Committee. With all of these efforts combined, John L. Scott aims to inspire and spur change within other companies across the country that will produce a lasting impact and greater equity for all.

For more information, please visit www.johnlscott.com.