Featuring Keynote Speaker:
James Caar from the Fannie Mae Foundation

James H. Carr is senior vice president of Research for the Fannie Mae Foundation, which is the largest foundation in the country devoted to increasing the supply of homes for those who need them the most, and a visiting professor of urban planning at Columbia University. Mr. Carr is responsible for the Foundation’s housing finance and neighborhood strategies consulting unit, the Office of Housing Research and the development of technology tools to promote effective community investment. Mr. Carr has published and lectured extensively on housing and urban policy, housing finance, community reinvestment, personal financial services and state and local finance. He has also written and presented on issues of technological innovation and workforce diversity. He is widely recognized for his leadership in developing innovative financial instruments, devising strategies to promote affordable lending, encouraging inner-city development and promoting wealth creation for lower-income households.

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THE WORKSHOPS: 8:45 – 11:45 a.m.
FAIR HOUSING + EDUCATION = LEARNING TOGETHER
The challenges in understanding the relationship between housing and education have resulted in increasing disparities in school quality, as well as a lack of policies and practices that address the situation. This workshop will address that relationship, the role of fair housing and the impact of racial segregation on schools. Panelists will share information on national testing projects, innovative approaches to the issue and what is happening locally in our community. Participants will learn about and discuss the impact of neighborhood segregation on local school quality as well as challenges and solutions.

FAIR HOUSING + EMPLOYMENT = WORKING TOGETHER
To compete in the global market, our community must provide a skilled and diverse workforce. Ensuring that the workforce necessary to meet that need is available is key. This workshop will focus on the linkage between fair housing and employment in west Michigan; specifically the role of residential segregation as a contributing factor. Panelists will share national data and information on persistent inequality in employment across racial and ethnic groups, the importance of building a culture that condemns discrimination and segregation, and the impact on the current and future workforces of west Michigan. Participants will discuss the isolation of minority neighborhoods from centers of employment opportunity, what the region can do through fair housing, inclusionary zoning and other means of expanding opportunity to address these issues.

FAIR HOUSING + HEALTH CARE = THRIVING TOGETHER
In order for our communities to thrive, all residents need access to consistent, high quality health care. The severity of health care disparities along racial and ethnic lines has lead experts to research the factors driving the disparities where individuals and families live, including housing and neighborhoods in metropolitan areas. This workshop will focus on the connection between disparities in housing and the ensuing disparities in health. Panelists will share information on national trends, local data on health disparities as well as the impact and what is being done locally to address the issues. Participants will discuss potential policy solutions, fair housing perspectives on reducing disparities and the impact of segregation on individual health and the wealth gap.

FAIR HOUSING + TRANSPORTATION = GOING PLACES TOGETHER
According to recent reports, the demand for transit-oriented housing is projected to soar over the next twenty years. The benefits of locating mixed-income, mixed-race housing near transportation is becoming clear in a struggling economy where families are looking for ways to budget and save money. This workshop will discuss the policies and practices of fair housing in creating economically and racially diverse neighborhoods that are served by transit. Panelists will share national data and practical applications across the state and region as well as information on how transportation decisions are made and what factors are taken into consideration. Participants will discuss the role the public plays in these decisions and fair housing perspectives.

LUNCHEON KEYNOTE: 11:45 - 1:30 p.m.
James Caar, Senior Vice President of Research at the Fannie Mae Foundation

Click HERE for Highlights from 2006's Event

Click HERE for Highlights from 2005's Event

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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