Columbia Law School student Michael Martin was simply trying to study in the library when she found herself in the middle of an uncomfortable and unfair experience. She uses this example to illustrate why institutions and companies need to do more around DEI. She offers five simple ways to create a more inclusive community for African Americans and other people of color. Michael is a rising young leader whose career and passion lies at the very intersection of law, business, and real estate. Michael is a current J.D./M.B.A. student at Columbia Law and Business Schools respectively, with an emphasis on leadership and real estate. Michael seeks to utilize her experiences and positions within these industries to accomplish more inclusive and equitable outcomes for underserved communities. She is particularly focused on the following: increasing access to legal processes and addressing housing disparities. Michael has years of both prior legal and business experience working in her family enterprise, Martin & Martin, LLP. Martin & Martin is one of the largest African American and female-owned law firms in Los Angeles. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx