December IForum: Pathways to Achieving Race Equity in Housing and Homelessness

Join us for our Final IForum of 2021!

December IForum: Pathways to Achieving Race Equity in Housing and Homelessness

Thursday, December 16th, 2021
9:30am-11:00am

Our December Iforum is the last of 2021 and registration is now open!

As we work to dismantle systemic racism in the housing and homelessness system, it requires applying a racial equity lens at all levels including organizational, policy, advocacy, research, and community engagement. Partners continually ask, "How do I get started?" and "How do my agency and community partners work to center race equity in our work?" This IForum will explore both the policies and practices that have created inequities in housing in communities of color and highlight best practices to support organizations in creating a culture that embeds racial equity at its center.

Speakers include:

Peggy Bailey, Senior Advisor, Rental Assistance, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Peggy Bailey is the Senior Advisor on Rental Assistance in the Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Her responsibilities include improving policy and practices related to the Department's rental subsidy and supply programs. This includes the Housing Choice Voucher and Public Housing programs, which help over 3 million people afford housing. Read full bio--click here.

Susan Thomas, Executive Director, Melville Charitable Trust

Susan K. Thomas is President of the Melville Charitable Trust where she oversees the Trust's grantmaking strategy, philanthropic partnerships and administration. Formerly the Trust's Program Director, Susan led the foundation's housing and racial equity efforts for five years, while managing a state and national portfolio of grants supporting solutions to homelessness. Susan has been instrumental in the creation of Funders for Housing and Opportunity, a national non-partisan, cross-sector funder collaborative focused on tackling the housing affordability crisis by supporting advocacy, narrative change work, and efforts to scale effective practices at the intersection of housing, health, economic mobility, and education. Read full bio--click here.

Abby Anderson, Founder, The Justice Walk, LLC

Abby supports nonprofit leaders at all levels through one-on-one coaching rooted in equity and justice. The definition and responsibilities of leadership are changing as organizations and institutions from every sector experience a long-overdue reckoning with racism and other forms of inequity. Developing equity-focused strategic and implementation plans with experts in those fields is critical. Organizational transitions are invigorating and often challenging, sometimes isolating or lonely for leaders. Learning and implementing new ways of thinking about leadership, power, and decision-making is critical and often takes longer than we want. Abby's role is to walk alongside you, providing space dedicated to processing, incorporating, and implementing those new skills and mindsets. Read full bio--click here.

Amanda Misiko Andere, Executive Director, Funders Together

Amanda Misiko Andere has spent over fifteen years working in the nonprofit and public sector as a leader committed to racial and housing justice through advocacy for systemic change. Prior to joining Funders Together to End Homelessness as their CEO, she served as the CEO of Wider Opportunities for Women, a national advocacy organization. Currently, she serves as a board member of the United Philanthropy Forum and Equity in the Center. For full bio--click here.

Jenita Hayes, Equity Manager, Supportive Housing Works/co-Founder of the Connecticut Race Equity Network

Jenita Hayes is the Equity Manager at Supportive Housing Works (SHW). Jenita joined SHW in 2014 as a Public Ally, a national AmeriCorps program where the motto is "Everyone Leads", and has since provided key leadership in training, technical assistance, data management, and program design and development to SHW and its partners in various capacities. As Equity Manager, she supports the advancement of equity for SHW, Opening Doors Fairfield County (ODFC) & Fairfield County's Center for Housing Opportunities (FCCHO). For full bio--click here.

Steven Hernandez, Executive Director, Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity, CT General Assembly

Steven Hernández, Esq. is the Executive Director for the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity. Prior to serving as Executive Director, he served the CT state legislature as Director of Public Policy and Research for the Connecticut Commission on Children. Mr. Hernandez served seven years as legislative and budget director in the office of Washington, D.C., Council member Jim Graham. For full bio--click here.

Produced with the support of our 2021 IForum Series Sponsors: