From left: Cynthia Glover, Tamisha Darling-Roberson, and Keiran Madgwick during Realtist Week 2026. Darling-Roberson organized the events as founder and president of the Pinellas County Association of Realtists (PCAR). Photo courtesy of PCAR.
The strain of organizing seven events in as many days – while running a business -couldn’t stifle Tamisha Darling-Roberson’s enthusiasm as she discussed her mission to mitigate housing disparities.
The owner of St. Petersburg-based Darling Roberson Realty is also the founder and president of the Pinellas County Association of Realtists (PCAR), the local board of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB). Founded in 1947 to promote equal housing opportunities at a time when discriminatory ownership practices prevailed, NAREB is now the oldest minority trade association in the country.
NAREB was born in Tampa; however, Pinellas County lacked a local affiliate until Darling-Roberson and a few community partners stepped up to the plate in April 2024. PCAR has since grown exponentially and completed its second annual Realtist Week on Saturday.
“We know that the best way to build wealth is through real estate, and so our marginalized communities are still falling short,” Darling-Roberson said. “The statistics still show that there are a lot of different discriminatory practices. So, it’s being able to truly identify what those issues are, where they lie, and then fighting and rallying for change.”
Darling-Roberson explained that African Americans could not use the trademarked term “realtor” when NAREB launched in the aftermath of World War II. Black professionals, left without a seat at the establishment’s table, decided to create their own “realtist” network.
The organization’s overarching goal is to help Black households create generational wealth through property ownership and investments and promote democracy in housing. Nationwide affiliates operate under NAREB’s umbrella and simultaneously host a Realtist Week to bolster community engagement.
Darling-Roberson founded PCAR after realizing what NAREB stood for, “and how that fight still exists today.” She said African Americans currently account for “less than 45% of homeownership in this nation, and so we own less real estate today than we did in the 1960s.”
“Honestly, this has been a labor of love for me,” Darling-Roberson added. “This has been something that I feel so passionately about that in the beginning, I was all-in, out of pocket.”
Tamisha Darling-Roberson, founder and president of the Pinellas County Association of Realtists. Photo courtesy of Tamisha Darling-Roberson.
PCAR has added new members who are helping advance the local nonprofit’s vision. Darling-Roberson emphasized that the group encompasses more than just real estate agents and brokers.
She said builders, attorneys, inspectors, title professionals, and people representing various allied fields are also part of PCAR. “Anybody who touches real estate and believes in democracy in housing – we want them as part of this coalition.”
“This is a joint collaboration, and I have some great people around me,” Darling-Roberson said. “And when they hear exactly what the vision is, and what we’re hoping to do, they jump in.”
Realtist Week kicked off on April 12 with a day of worship, followed by a day of service at the St. Petersburg Youth Farm. PCAR also hosted a free, four-hour continuing education course for real estate professionals, and advocated for equitable housing policies at City Hall.
A “Credit to Keys” forum featured local experts who helped guide attendees through the homebuying process and highlighted various resources. Black Leaf Cigar & Wine Lounge hosted the Women in Real Estate (WIRE) panel on Friday night.
The week culminated on Saturday with a five-hour Impact Community Day, which featured “powerful conversations, valuable resources, and direct access to experts who care about the community,” according to the announcement.
One highlight was a Men Investing in Real Estate panel. Darling-Roberson said participants were self-made millionaires.
Mark Oliver, a real estate investor, entrepreneur, and affordable housing advocate, returned to his hometown of St. Petersburg as a key panelist. Darling-Roberson recalled a time when Oliver, who now boasts a $10 million real estate portfolio, struggled to close on a $200,000 home.
“Instead of trying to figure it out on our own, it’s important for us to talk to people who are doing it,” said Darling-Roberson. “I believe that until you see someone who looks like you doing it, it may be difficult for you to imagine yourself as someone like a Mark Oliver.”
There are “real needs” in the community outside of building generational wealth, Darling-Roberson said. PCAR also advocates for affordable housing, provides resources to address homelessness, and ensures local real estate professionals have the tools they need to succeed.
A fifth-generation St. Petersburg native, Darling-Roberson wants to ensure the next five generations can purchase a home. “That was absolutely my vision for the community,” she said.
“There are just so many different avenues and resources that people are not even aware of – that they can tap into,” Darling-Roberson concluded. “That is why it’s imperative for us to make sure we all have the same information.”
Former Gov. Charlie Crist with members of the Pinellas County Association of Realtists (PCAR). Photo courtesy of PCAR.
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