FAQ.

Who can apply? Do I need to be AAPI to participate?

EDGE is open to active AREAA members. AREAA — the Asian Real Estate Association of America — is an AAPI-focused trade organization, but membership and EDGE participation are open to allies who share AREAA's mission of advancing AAPI representation in real estate. Identity is not the gate; AREAA membership and mission alignment are.

If you're not yet an AREAA member, the first step is joining your local chapter — areaa.org has the chapter directory.

How long is the program?

EDGE is a year-long program, with nested engagement windows depending on which role you're in:

• Mentees commit to ~6 months of active 1:1 mentorship (April pairing reveal → late September capstone). Graduation follows at National Convention in October. Alumni status is for life.
• Mentors commit to ~9 months (December onboarding → September capstone), of which ~6 months are active 1:1 mentorship with mentees. The first 3 months are mentor orientation, training, and pairing prep.
• Committee members serve a 12-month volunteer term (National Convention → next National Convention) — running applications, Relationship Counselor cadence, workshops, and capstone production.

All three numbers are correct depending on which role you're describing. The program-as-a-whole runs a 12-month cohort year, NC to NC.

Do I need to be on my chapter board to apply?

No. The mentee application is open to all AREAA members. Internal review weighting favors candidates with demonstrated leadership signals (chapter board service, prior AREAA program participation, growth trajectory), but the application surface itself is open. Active AREAA membership is the baseline.

Is there a fee to participate?

No fee for mentees, mentors, or committee members. The program is supported by an anchor-sponsor model that funds the end-of-year National Convention mentor dinner and recognition pins. AREAA membership itself has its own dues structure — see AREAA national for that.

What's the time commitment if I'm accepted as a mentee?

Roughly 2–4 hours per month with your mentor (1:1 and group sessions, depending on your mentor's preferred cadence), plus attendance at EDGEucation workshops (3–5 throughout the year, most 2–4 hours each), plus meaningful capstone preparation time in Q3. It's a real commitment — meant to be focused, not casual.

How are mentors selected?

The mentor cohort defaults to 10 seats — signal-driven flex some years when mentee demand + qualified pipeline + mentor availability all align. Current mentors get first-right-of-refusal on next-year continuation. Open seats are filled through chair-led headhunting at National Convention each October, and occasionally through sponsor-to-mentor conversion. Mentors are not selected by open application — the on-ramp is relationship-based.

Can I apply if my chapter doesn't have Local EDGE?

Yes. National EDGE is open to all AREAA members regardless of chapter. Local EDGE is the chapter-tier version — useful if you want to bring the EDGE model home — but it isn't a prerequisite.

What happens after I'm accepted into the cohort?

Pairing reveal in early April assigns you to a mentor. Monthly mentor meetings begin in April. EDGEucation workshops begin in May. Mid-year all-hands in June. Capstone presentations late September. Graduation at National Convention in October. Then you're alumni — for life.

How long am I in the alumni community?

Indefinitely. Once you've earned alumni status — as a mentor, mentee, or committee member — you remain in the EDGE alumni community as long as you want to. EDGEucation workshop access, alumni events, and network introductions carry forward year-over-year.

What is EDGEucation, and how is it different from EDGE?

EDGEucation is the alumni-gated workshop series — the educational arm of EDGE. The cohort program (EDGE) is the on-ramp; EDGEucation is the catalog of workshops, classes, and learning sessions that alumni continue to access for life. Three on-ramps to alumni status: become a mentee, mentor, or committee member.

What's the difference between Local EDGE and National EDGE?

National EDGE is the 10-default, signal-driven cohort run nationally — interview-vetted at every level, retention and leadership-cementing focus. Local EDGE is the chapter-level program — recruitment and growth focus, friendlier on-ramp, feeds standout participants into National EDGE over time. They're complementary tiers in one pipeline.

What if I want to mentor but don't have an existing AREAA leadership track record?

The mentor cohort skews toward past or current AREAA national leadership and senior chapter leaders — that's how the 10-default holds its value. If you're building toward that level of contribution, the right path is committee service first: serve a year as a Relationship Counselor or interviewer, and your mentor candidacy strengthens over time.