Download a Registration Form Here!

Featuring Keynote Speakers:
Shanna Smith and Cat Cloud of the National Fair Housing Alliance

The fair housing movement escalated in the 1960’s with marches and demonstrations in the streets, overt denials and blatant signs of discrimination in housing. As the times have changed, so have the movement and its advocates, integrating fair housing principles in every community conversation. In celebration of these gains and the 40th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, Ms. Smith and Ms. Cloud will discuss the progress of the national fair housing movement over the last 40 years as well as the challenges ahead. They will also share local fair housing efforts and cases that have resulted in broad systemic change with national implications as well as the importance of communities – and each resident – continuing to work together to further fair housing.

Ms. Smith serves as the national voice for fair housing and is responsible for all National Fair Housing Alliance program activities in addition to directly supervising the enforcement and resource development programs. Ms. Cloud currently supervises multiple programs in addition to being responsible for supervision of national testing and investigation programs in the areas of homeowners insurance and mortgage lending.

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THE WORKSHOPS: 8:45 – 11:45 a.m.
Seniors at Risk: Housing Discrimination Limits Options for Senior Citizens
National and local fair housing testing has shown that local senior citizens are at a heightened risk for becoming victims of predatory housing practices based upon their age, disability status, race and national origin. This workshop will provide information from recent research and reports, including Senior Housing Research Project: Findings and Conclusions and Selective Marketing: Advertising for Senior Housing in the St. Louis Metropolitan Area, which investigate the impact of housing discrimination upon seniors. Data and information on local efforts to raise awareness and prevent discrimination within the senior community will also be provided. Panelists include Mira Tanna (Assistant Director, Equal Housing Opportunity Council of St. Louis), Professor Michael Seng (Co-Executive Director, John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Legal Support Center and Fair Housing Legal Clinic), and Regina M. Davis (Director of Enforcement, Fair Housing Center of West Michigan). Download a registration form here.

Why Fair Housing Matters: The High Costs of Housing Discrimination
This workshop will build on the conversations started at last year’s event, which highlighted the devastating impact of segregation and housing discrimination upon education, employment, health care and transportation but with a particular focus on the foreclosure crisis. Gregory Squires (Professor, George Washington University Department of Sociology) will share information on the economic impact of discrimination, including surging income and wealth inequalities and the rise in predatory lending. Cat Cloud (Senior Vice President, National Fair Housing Alliance) will frame the issues from the national perspective. Dennis Angner (President, IBT Bancorp Inc.) will provide an industry perspective and Lee Nelson Weber (Neighborhood Initiative Director, Dyer-Ives Foundation) will share data and information on local challenges and efforts underway to lessen the impact of housing discrimination on our communities. Download a registration form here.

Causes & Effects: Current Fair Housing Cases & Implications for Our Community
Fair housing law has been built case by case and story by story. This workshop will use these cases and stories to mark our progress towards achieving housing choice and note the challenges in making housing choice a reality in the future. New information will be provided on local and national fair housing cases as well as the impact these cases and trends have on our communities in west Michigan. Panelists include national fair housing attorney Steve Dane (Relman & Dane), Shanna Smith (National Fair Housing Alliance), local attorney Fred Mackraz (Kuiper Orlebeke PC) and Sylvia Elliot (Michigan Department of Civil Rights). Mr. Dane practices civil rights law primarily in the areas of fair housing, insurance redlining, mortgage lending discrimination, equal credit opportunity, and employment discrimination. Ms. Smith has been an expert witness in several fair housing cases and has testified before Senate and House Banking committees about policies and practices that violate the Fair Housing Act involving lending, private mortgage insurance, and homeowners insurance. Mr. Mackraz is a Fair Housing Center cooperating attorney who has handled local fair housing cases, including rental, advertising and disability status cases. Ms. Elliott is the Director of the Office of Legal Affairs and a Mediator and Arbitrator for the National Center for Dispute Settlement. Download a registration form here.

Fair Housing Best Practices: Applications for Housing Industry Partners
Do you want to increase your knowledge of fair housing law and have the confidence and understanding to apply it in the fast-paced, high stress environment of the housing industry? This workshop, a brand new fair housing training developed in partnership with the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan, the Michigan Association of Realtors and the National Fair Housing Alliance, will provide information on the nature and extent of housing discrimination and key features of fair housing laws. This training, presented by Anne Houghtaling (Director of Investigations & Enforcement, National Fair Housing Alliance) and Brian Westrin (Manager of Legal Affairs, Michigan Association of REALTORS), will empower participants with a better understanding of fair housing law, including practical application and risk management strategies, in order to prevent violations. Fair Housing Center Board President Doretha Ardoin (Coldwell Banker – AJS Schmidt) will also participate. Note this workshop is approved for Michigan Real Estate Continuing Education Credits. Download a registration form here.

Call (616) 451-2980 to register.

LUNCHEON KEYNOTE: 11:45 - 1:30 p.m.
Shanna Smith (President & CEO) with Cat Cloud (Senior Vice President) of the National Fair Housing Alliance.

Click HERE for Highlights from 2007's Event

Click HERE for Highlights from 2006's Event

Click HERE for Highlights from 2005's Event

PLEASE CHECK BACK
for more information
from Our FHCWM Events Reporter:

COMING SOON!

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20 Hall Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507
Tel: (616) 451-2980, Toll Free: 1-866-389-FAIR
Fax: (616) 451-2657 email: contact-us@fhcwm.org