Future Forward 2026 is fast approaching, and the one deadline you can’t miss is closer than the conference itself: our exclusive Alliance room block at the Voco hotel closes September 24 at 5:00 PM CT. So this month puts first things first and lock in your room and your registration before the block closes! Then, take a look at the full speaker lineup, 35% off your continuing education, a note from President Tommie Wehrle, a warm welcome to our newest members, chapter events across the country, and the latest from around the community. |
- Last call: reserve your room before the block closes Sept 24
- A note from President Tommie Wehrle
- Future Forward 2026: the full schedule and pricing
- Meet the speakers: the full Future Forward lineup
- Save 35% on continuing education with The CE Shop
- Welcome our newest Alliance members
- Chapter events across the country
- News from around the LGBTQ+ community
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  A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT WEHRLE |
Recently, I had the opportunity to attend an AREAA (Asian Real Estate Association of America) event in New York City, with people traveling from across the country—including Hawaii—to be part of this two-day gathering. Thanks to the generosity of a dear friend and Alliance member, Roderick Logan, I was introduced to some extraordinary people. But what struck me most was something deeper: I felt connected. I felt a strong sense of belonging and community. As an Ally, I was welcomed and included in a way that reminded me of the power of coming together around a shared purpose. The conversations were relevant, sometimes challenging and even controversial, but they were handled with professionalism, curiosity and respect. I witnessed people disagree while still honoring one another. Many of the people I met already knew the Alliance. Some were aware of the challenges our organization has faced over the past year, and I appreciated that their questions were direct. They weren't asked with judgment, but with genuine interest in our organization, our mission and our future. Last year in Washington, D.C., some AREAA and Alliance leaders talked about finding more opportunities to attend one another's events and collaborate. Our communities face many of the same challenges—from discrimination and rising hate crimes to laws that threaten the ability of people to fully participate in the American dream of homeownership. Being together in New York reminded me how important those relationships are. And, honestly, it made me think about Chicago. I found myself imagining what our conference could feel like when we finally come together again. Other than two incredibly successful Housing Symposiums in 2025 and June of this year, we haven't had this kind of opportunity to reconnect as an Alliance since our 2024 conference. We need that time together. We need the conversations, the laughter, the ideas, the relationships and the reminder that none of us is doing this work alone. Being in the same room has a way of rejuvenating us, reconnecting us and reminding us why we are still here—and why we still believe in the purpose of the Alliance and our vision: to create a world free of housing discrimination. So, I hope you'll join us in Chicago on October 13–14. This isn't simply a networking event, although there will be plenty of opportunities to build relationships and reconnect with people from across the country. It is also a business event, with an enormous amount of content designed to help you take your business to the next level. At AREAA, I came home with pages of notes—from current luxury design and staging trends to what today's luxury buyers are looking for and what to avoid. I even received permission to share a luxury brands report with those in my breakout room. That is the kind of value and exchange we can create when we put great people in a room together. Come to Chicago ready to learn, grow, reconnect and be reminded of why what we do matters. I hope to see you there. |
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| Tommie Wehrle
2026 National President
LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance |
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      RESERVE YOUR ROOM BEFORE THE BLOCK CLOSES |
  This is the deadline that matters most this month. Our exclusive Alliance room block at the voco Chicago Downtown – Riverwalk, the conference hotel, closes September 24 at 5:00 PM CT, and rooms are limited. Once the block is gone, downtown rates climb fast, so booking now is the surest way to stay right where the conference happens, at the best rate: from $289/night for the nights of October 12–15. Booking is simple: register for Future Forward first, then use the exclusive hotel link in your registration confirmation to reserve at the Alliance rate. Already registered? Check your confirmation email! Your booking link is waiting. |
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  THE FUTURE FORWARD LINEUP |
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With 30+ years across real estate, title, and mortgage lending, Courtney — known to many as “Keeping Up with CoCo” — is one of the Alliance’s highest-rated speakers. She’ll bring her infectious energy to every moment, from opening session to closing remarks. |
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| Jamie Zapata and Kasandra Alicea, the viral South Texas duo whose luxury home tours have captured millions of views, are redefining visibility and representation in real estate — and bringing that energy to Chicago. |
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Keynote speaker, certified high-performance coach, and best-selling author of Top of Heart®, Grant shares science-backed strategies for building the real, meaningful relationships that move business — and lives — forward. |
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| Army veteran and Manager of ONE eXp at eXp Realty, Camryn leads a global portfolio of 16 affinity networks serving 50,000+ agents across 20+ countries — growing eXp’s Pride Network from under 1,000 to 20,000+ members. |
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Tony Award-winning Broadway producer and founder of Henry Street Creative, Tyler has elevated nearly 1,000 real estate professionals across 14 countries through transformative branding and storytelling — bringing Broadway-caliber engagement and practical marketing strategy to the stage. |
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| The REALTOR® who replaced selling with training, Middy brings 30+ years of athletics, coaching, and real estate expertise to redefine how agents build authentic relationships — and to challenge conventional thinking at Future Forward. |
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Nationally recognized REALTOR®, speaker, and coach, Kristine is a three-time Inman Community Leader and host of Superpower with Kristine Milkovich, bringing her authentic, purpose-driven approach to leadership and community. |
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| Vice President of Sales at Purlin, consultant, and speaker, Katey — known to many as "Coach Katey" — has spent over two decades helping professionals unlock growth through authentic relationships. She'll bring her dynamic energy and practical insights to every moment of Future Forward. |
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Co-owner of The JFKLiving Team and one of South Jersey’s top REALTORS® with over 1,200 homes sold since 2018, Pip pairs creative video marketing with authentic relationship-building — bringing his high-converting strategies straight to Future Forward. |
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    SAVE 35% ON EVERY COURSE FROM THE CE SHOP |
Need to knock out your continuing education? Through the Alliance’s partnership with The CE Shop, you get 35% off all courses — online, self-paced, and available 24/7, with state-specific CE and engaging electives covering everything from fair housing and ethics to AI in real estate, personal safety, and social media compliance. Use code ALLIANCE at checkout to claim your 35% off. No membership required — the discount is open to everyone, so pass it along to your network, too. |
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    FROM AROUND THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY |
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| CHAPTER ACTIVITIES IN SEPTEMBER |
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The LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance is a 501(c)6 non-profit organization dedicated to empowering the LGBTQ+ community on their path toward - and the enjoyment of - homeownership. |
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