WASHINGTON, D.C., April 15, 2013– On Thursday, April 18, the District of Columbia Office of Human Rights (OHR), Equal Rights Center (ERC) and the District of Columbia Department of Housing and Community Development will host the 12^th Annual D.C. Fair Housing Symposium. 

The 12^th Annual Fair Housing Symposium will move beyond experts talking to experts in an effort to build awareness and incite action on fair housing issues often ignored or unknown to social justice organizations and advocates. For the first time, the day-long symposium aims to attract those who work on behalf of marginalized populations but currently do not incorporate fair housing knowledge or issues into their work. The conference will provide attendees with a better understanding of housing discrimination, and how it affects the lives of the populations they serve. Conference workshops will focus on how participants can easily incorporate fair housing information and programs into their existing work.

This year’s symposium is sponsored in part by the D.C. Developmental Disabilities Council.

The event is currently sold out, but members of the media that wish to attend can RSVP to Elliot Imse at (202) 481-3773 or [email protected]. 

WHAT:                   

12^th Annual DC Fair Housing Symposium

WHO:                    

Vincent Gray, Mayor of the District

John D. Trasviña, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Marian Siegel, Executive Director, Housing Counseling Services,

Patrick Pontius, Special Policy Advisor in the Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Robert Strupp, Executive Director, Baltimore Neighbors Incorporated

Mathew McCollough, Director, D.C. Developmental Disabilities Council

Victoria Lanteigne, Corporate Partnerships and Training Program Manager, Equal Rights Center

Donald Kahl, Executive Director, Equal Rights Center

Gustavo Velasquez, Director, D.C. Office of Human Rights

Michael Kelly, Director, D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development

WHEN:                  

April 18, 2013, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (check-in begins at 8:30 am)

9:00- Welcome remarks                  

9:50-11:00- Session #1: Blueprint for Fair Housing Advocacy

11:15-12:45- Session #2: Framework for Fair Housing

- Neighborhood Tour #1: What Does Your Neighborhood Look Like?

2:00-3:20- Session #3: Fair Housing Toolbox

- Neighborhood Tour #2: What Does Your Neighborhood Look Like?

3:25- Closing remarks

WHERE:                

Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church

900 Massachusetts Ave NW

Washington, DC 20009

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