It's already Tuesday, and we're just now getting around to blogging about an important milestone that was reached this week, but we couldn't let this one get by us. Here's the news:
The Michigan Conference on Affordable Housing celebrates its tenth year and is now the largest conference of its kind in the country.
What started as an informal meeting between representatives from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) and other key players within the affordable housing industry evolved into an annual conference attracting more than one thousand participants from across the country.
"I never could have imagined the growth and power of this annual conference 11 years ago," said Mark McDaniel, President and CEO of Great Lakes Capital Fund, and one of the original thought-leaders behind the conference. McDaniel continued, "It started with an impromptu meeting where industry advocates gathered to discuss how to continue building communication, training and coalition strength between the affordable housing and economic development sectors."
This morning, conference-goers heard from Ed Gramlich, Director of Outreach for the National Low Income Housing Coalition, about recent developments with the National Housing Trust Fund, which we've written about before here on the blog.
As always, the Trust Fund staff has been on-hand for the conference and will be attending Advocacy Day at the State Capitol tomorrow, so keep an eye out for us in the crowd of 1,700 people. Remember, housing = jobs!
April 30, 2008
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - free lunch
12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. - program, Dan Kildee emcee
Come join the advocates of housing and community development at the second Advocacy Day: Lunch on the Lawn. This event will take place Wednesday, April 30 on the lawn of the Capitol in downtown Lansing, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Your participation is vital toward making a lasting impression on elected officials by educating them on the important role of housing and community development in their home districts.
The goal for 2008 is to reach $4.4 million as a funding amount in the 2009 budget (up from $2.2 million in the 2008 budget).
If you are registered for the 2008 Michigan Conference on Affordable Housing, a lunch has already been ordered for you. We look forward to seeing you there.
If you are not coming to the conference but are able to attend the free lunch on Wednesday, please click here to download the registration PDF. Be sure to print and fill out the attendee information and the section titled "Wednesday Legislative Luncheon." You may then fax that page to 734-677-2407.
This year's Borrower's & Burners' Luncheon is
Time: Registration starts at 12:00 p.m., lunch will be served at 12:30
Where: Kellogg Center
55 South Harrison Road
East Lansing, MI 48824
Click here for map and driving directions
Who's Invited: Anyone reading this blog post!
RSVP: The deadline to RSVP was April 4, but if you'd still like to attend please call Melodie Balzer Sanford at 517-372-6001.
Cost: $55/person
This Year's Borrowers:
Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit
Avalon Nonprofit Housing Corporation
Cass Corridor Neighborhood Development Corp.
Dawn, Inc.
Detroit Midtown Micro-Enterprise Fund
Grandmont Rosedale Development Corp.
H.OM.E. of Mackinac County
Shep's Beauty and Barber Shop
Liberty Hill Housing Corporation
Michigan Avenue Business Association
U-SNAP-BAC Nonprofit Housing Corp.
Williamston Theatre Project
This Year's Mortgage Burners:
Avalon Nonprofit Housing Corp.
Benzie Housing Council, Inc.
Dawn, Inc.
Harmony Face & Body Care
Homestretch Nonprofit Housing Corp.
Lighthouse Communities
Mcgraw/West Grand L.D.H.A.L.P.
Michigan Ability Partners
Northern homes Community Development Corp.
St. Francis Episcopal Church
Today we received the following email update about this year's conference from Jess Sobel that we wanted to share with our readers:
Monday: Come and meet Keith Molin, appointed as the MSHDA Acting Executive Director effective March 31. He'll be giving a brief welcome at the Monday kickoff. As former director of the Michigan Departments of Labor and Commerce under Governor William G. Milliken, he is no stranger to state government. He also served at one time as a member of the MSHDA board during the Milliken administration. Keith has been involved in public policy issues, including economic development, housing, and urban redevelopment – all invaluable experience to bring to the housing and community development industry in Michigan.
The Monday keynote address will be given by Jim Wallis. For those of you interested, he has a new book out.
Wednesday: The Wednesday morning opening plenary will feature Daniel Kildee, Genesee County Treasurer since 1997. Before his election as Treasurer, Mr. Kildee served for 12 years as a Genesee County Commissioner, including 5 years as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners. Kildee initiated the use of Michigan’s new tax foreclosure law as a tool for community development and neighborhood stabilization. He founded the Genesee Land Bank - Michigan’s first land bank - and serves as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. He is President of the Genesee Institute, a research and training institute focusing on Smart Growth, urban land reform, and land banking.
Two additional sessions have added to the Creating and Preserving Multifamily track, both on Wednesday. They are as follows:
Opportunities for Preservation (9:15am – 10:45am)
Preserving and rehabilitating existing affordable housing is the most cost effective method available in meeting the affordable housing needs of Michigan’s lowest income families and elderly citizens. MSHDA, HUD and USDA Rural Housing have coordinated resources to preserve the greatest possible portion of Michigan’s affordable housing stock. Find out about “MI PIE” - the new Michigan Preservation Information Exchange, a comprehensive internet based inventory of affordable housing in Michigan. Also hear from agency representatives about current preservation incentives and meet interagency teams assigned to assist developers in completing due diligence and understanding agency programs and tenant based subsidy contract renewals.
Panelists: Paul Bursley, MSHDA, James Smith, MSHDA, Mark Dominick, HUD, Jackie Fultz, HUD, Julie Putnam, USDA Rural Housing
Federal Subsidy Contract Renewals and Rental Increases (1:30pm – 3:00pm)
Interested in preserving a Section 8 property? You need to understand the federal subsidy contract. Learn about Section 8 Project Based Rental Assistance directly from HUD staff and HUD’s contract administrators. Understand the remaining length of an existing Section 8 contract and options for renewal. Learn how rent increases are applied and when a rent comparability studies are required. Find out how Section 8 funds are appropriated on a national level and the current status of that funding.
Panelists: Susie Sapilewski, HUD, Kyle Barber, Michigan Multi-Family Asset Managers, Kathy French, MSHDA
As this is the 10th annual conference, we will be closing the conference with a special performance by Michigan’s own Jeff Daniels. Please come and help us close out this conference with a bang!
For more information about the conference or to register online, be sure to visit www.housingconference.org.
We wanted to share the following letter from Jess Sobel with our readers about the upcoming 2008 Michigan Conference on Affordable Housing:
Over ten years ago a group of Michigan organizations involved in community development came together to plan the first ever Michigan Conference on Affordable Housing. We came together with a common vision. A vision of bringing together in one place at one time everyone in Michigan involved in housing, homelessness, and other community development issues. A vision of providing training, sharing best practices, and learning from each other. A vision of breaking down barriers between different segments of the industry and building enduring partnerships across those segments: partnerships between those concerned with homelessness and those concerned with housing development; partnerships between the for-profit sector and the nonprofit sector; partnerships between local units of government and local nonprofit organizations; partnerships between people and organizations from urban areas and rural areas.
We understood then, and still believe now, that the partnerships and friendships built at each conference are the essential and critical ingredients needed for any and all of us to have any lasting success at what we do every day - insuring that everyone in Michigan has a roof over their head and a great place to call home. Whether we're trying to build new housing, rehabilitate existing housing, provide shelter or permanent supportive housing, or prevent homes and families from bring foreclosed upon - whether we're trying to tackle individual needs or rebuild neighborhoods - we can only do this together.
Since the first conference, our theme has been Partners Building Communities. As we come back together this year, let’s rededicate ourselves to working together as one community, sharing a common vision and working towards a common goal. As quoted below from members of the planning committee:
“Where others see dilapidated houses...we envision homes restored to provide shelter for generations of families.”
“Where others see empty, broken storefronts...we envision the realization of the entrepreneurial dreams of successful small businesses which will create jobs..."
“We have a vision of communities without homelessness - not because homeless individuals and families have been moved out of sight and mind, but because the community came together to eliminate homelessness."
“A community is only as strong as its ability to build bridges and welcome diverse partners with various perspectives, talents, wisdom, and resources to the table."
“We have a vision of communities of choice - diverse, healthy, vibrant communities where people choose to live, work, and play."
Come join us at the annual conference, and share the vision!
The registration brochure is available at www.housingconference.org. Note the early bird registration deadline is Monday, April 7.
Jess Sobel
Chairperson, Planning Committee
Michigan Conference on Affordable Housing
This year's Borrower's & Burners' Luncheon is right around the corner, so mark your calendars! The event is a great opportunity for us to honor our new borrowers over the past year, and those organizations who repaid their mortgages in full and on time. Our B&B Luncheon will take place on Wednesday, April 16, 2008. Here are the details:
Time: Registration starts at 12:00 p.m., lunch will be served at 12:30
Where: Kellogg Center
55 South Harrison Road
East Lansing, MI 48824
Click here for map and driving directions
Who's Invited: Anyone reading this blog post!
RSVP: Please register online or call Melodie Balzer Sanford at 517-372-6001 by April 4, 2008.
Cost: $55/person
This Year's Borrowers:
Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit
Avalon Nonprofit Housing Corporation
Cass Corridor Neighborhood Development Corp.
Dawn, Inc.
Detroit Midtown Micro-Enterprise Fund
Grandmont Rosedale Development Corp.
H.OM.E. of Mackinac County
Shep's Beauty and Barber Shop
Liberty Hill Housing Corporation
Michigan Avenue Business Association
U-SNAP-BAC Nonprofit Housing Corp.
Williamston Theatre Project
This Year's Mortgage Burners:
Architectural Salvage warehouse of Detroit
Avalon Nonprofit Housing Corp.
Benzie Housing Council, Inc.
Dawn, Inc.
Harmony Face & Body Care
Homestretch Nonprofit Housing Corp.
Lighthouse Communities
Mcgraw/West Grand L.D.H.A.L.P.
Michigan Ability Partners
Northern homes Community Development Corp.
St. Francis Episcopal Church
The 2008 Michigan Conference on Affordable Housing is right around the corner –– you can check out the registration brochure here (PDF).
This is the tenth year of the conference, and as a member of the planning committee and a returning sponsor, the Trust Fund will once again be out in full force at the Lansing Center next month.
For the second year in a row we will also be joining our fellow attendees for Advocacy Day at the State Capitol to call for additional funding for the Michigan Housing and Community Development Fund. In case you missed last year's event, check out this brief video featuring Trust Fund President/CEO Christine Coady:
We're excited about this year's conference, and look forward to seeing you there: April 28-30!
Tomorrow is the day of the Michigan presidential primary. For an in-depth Q&A about the election – which covers everything from names on the ballots, to polling locations, the need for photo ID, etc. – be sure to check out this post from Michigan Messenger. While the Democratic primary is by all accounts more confusing this year, Kevin Shopshire does a nice job of clearing up any misconceptions about who is and who is not on the ballot.
The Trust Fund is neutral in this election, as all others, however we'd like to take a moment to point our readers back to a post we wrote in September of last year, "Put affordable housing into the election":
Affordable housing is literally the foundation of the American economy. While all levels of government are constantly preoccupied with short-term budgetary issues, the ability of consumers to afford a home is something that affects all other aspects of economic activity. This is not an issue that we can simply ignore.
If you get a chance, go read the whole editorial. It's great to see that an important paper like the Star Tribune in Minneapolis-St. Paul (which is playing host to the 2008 Republican National Convention) is putting this issue front and center. Hopefully we'll see affordable housing get the attention it deserves over the next fourteen months, but you're an important part of making sure that happens.
On the campaign trail next year, be sure to ask political candidates and the local, state, and federal levels what their plan is for affordable housing.
Without turning this blog into a forum for media criticism today, we'll just say that reporters have been much more concerned with the horse race aspect of the election rather than letting the candidates debate substantive issues this year. Which is to say that affordable housing really hasn't gotten the attention it deserves so far.
Michigan voters clearly won't get much of a chance to interact with the presidential candidates of either party this year – particularly the Democrats, who have mostly pledged not to campaign here. While that is unfortunate, there is still time to make affordable housing and economic development issues a factor in this year's local, state and federal elections. To learn more about candidates' positions on the issues, visit the nonpartisan website, Project Vote Smart.
In the meantime, happy voting!
Well, it took us a little while, but we're finally ready to share the pictures from the 2007 Evening for Economic Justice. You can check out the photo album here (the album will be available permanently on our photo page).
In case you missed it, this year's dinner was another big success. Many thanks to everyone who was able to join us that night, and a special nod to Jim Wildermuth of ArTech Photography for generously donating his services.
Our Evening for Economic Justice dinner is exactly
For more information on attending, please contact Melodie Balzer Sanford at (517) 372-6001 or Jane Carpenter at (313) 964-7300.
Our Evening for Economic Justice dinner is exactly one week away. There's still time to register online. Just hope over to this page, fill out the form, and submit your information.
“We are delighted to be honoring Susan and John at this year’s dinner,” said Coady. “I’m proud to say that we recently made our first loan from the Naimark Fund to the Williamston Theatre. This is a wonderful project that Norm would have loved.” (See related story.)
At the dinner, the Trust Fund will also honor equity contributors Joe and Luella Bassett. Longtime humanitarians and Trust Fund investors, the Bassetts are prime examples of how investments and equity contributors can help fuel our work. This summer, the Bassetts announced a $100,000.00 challenge investment, where they will match new individual investments with the Trust Fund dollar-for-dollar up to $100,000.
“We feel a responsibility to make a large commitment in our time, talents, and treasures to (organizations like) the Trust Fund,” said Mr. Bassett. “We see a need to educate people, to engage them—particularly faith groups. That’s supposed to be part of their commitment, to look out for others.”
Along with the Naimark family and the Bassetts, Sisters of Mary Reparatrix will also be recognized at this year’s dinner. The Riverview, Michigan-based congregation became investors in 1991, and they are committed to working with groups that fight for justice and the dignity of the human person.
“The Sisters of Mary Reparatrix have supported our work for many years, and we are truly grateful for their commitment to our mission of fostering economic justice,” said Coady. “The support of groups like these is what helps our vision become reality here in Michigan.
For more information on attending, please contact Melodie Balzer Sanford at (517) 372-6001 or Jane Carpenter at (313) 964-7300.
Today, tomorrow and Thursday, the Rev. Jesse Jackson will be in Michigan to examine and discuss various solutions to Michigan's foreclosure crisis. Here are the details from CEDAM's email update:
Jackson will be in Flint tomorrow, Lansing on Wednesday morning, Saginaw at Wednesday lunchtime, and back in Lansing Wednesday evening and Thursday at noon for a legislative engagement rally at noon at the Capitol Building. Please read over the list of events and if you have questions, please contact Joan Jackson Johnson of the City of Lansing.
Here are some more details:
Rev. Jesse Jackson has teamed with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) and several state agencies committed to "Saving Our Homes, Building Healthy Communities (SOHBHC)." SOHBHC is part of the Save the Dream Campaign, which kicked off Friday by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm.
"There is a national crisis as it relates to the number of foreclosures across this country and Michigan is at the forefront largely due to lenders who take advantage of those who are already struggling," said Rev. Jackson. "We want to put the power back into the hands of the every day citizen who is simply trying to hold on to his or her part of the American Dream."
To learn more about MHDA's "Save the Dream" foreclosure prevention program, click here.
You can now register for the dinner online! Just go to this page, fill out the form, and submit your information.
The dinner celebrates the Trust Fund's economic justice mission and the accomplishments of the many non-profit organizations that are working to rebuild our communities.
It is also a time to honor the generosity of the investors and contributors that make our work possible. The resources channeled through these relationships make a remarkable difference in the lives of those in need, and the dinner is a great opportunity for the Trust Fund’s partners to gather and celebrate their collective achievements over the past year.
We'll have more details on the specifics of this year's dinner to share soon, but for now be sure to mark Thursday, November 8 on your calendars.
The dinner celebrates the Trust Fund's economic justice mission and the accomplishments of the many non-profit organizations that are working to rebuild our communities.
It is also a time to honor the generosity of the investors and contributors that make our work possible. The resources channeled through these relationships make a remarkable difference in the lives of those in need, and the dinner is a great opportunity for the Trust Fund’s partners to gather and celebrate their collective achievements over the past year.
We'll have more details on the specifics of this year's dinner to share next month, but for now be sure to mark Thursday, November 8 on your calendars.
NOTE: Date corrected.
Okay, so we're technically a few days late on this one (the city's 306th "birthday" was on July 27), but we still wanted to mark the occasion by giving a shout out to the great City of Detroit.
While this week also marks the 40th anniversary of the 1967 riots -- which undeniably drove people away from the city, and left Detroit with numerous scars which have yet to fully heal -- we really appreciated this editorial from the Detroit Free Press:
I did not live here before the riot, so I cannot say what was true then. But I do know that a generation or more of suburban kids afterward grew up being warned not to go into Detroit. As a result, the city was not part of their existence. I know this because people my age are always asking me where things are in Detroit when they venture into the city. I know, too, that some of the folks who came down for the first Red Wings parade in 1997 or the Super Bowl or a Tigers game had not set foot in the city for decades.
The riot, seems to me, cost Detroit dearly in this regard. It diminished the city as the regional gathering place, put a major crimp in interaction between city folks and suburbanites, and further damaged the city's economy as money followed people to the east, north and west. Maybe the lines were pretty clear around Detroit before 1967, but afterward they became walls. And, of course, Detroit became a worse place as fewer people felt invested in it. It was just easier to avoid.
Don't worry, it's not all gloomy...
There is change now. A new generation has begun exploring Detroit again. They come for the music, the gambling, the sports and the riverfront. Some are even staying, in the city's new lofts and condos. They were born without the baggage from older generations. But it took a long time to shed it.
And some people still think they are nuts. The city, after all, still has a serious crime problem.
But crime feeds on fear -- and if you've been downtown any nights this summer, you don't feel that in the air. Most of the people around here now weren't born in 1967. That city of fear is not the Detroit they know.
More important, it's not the one they want.
Seeing as how I was born seventeen years after the riot (and grew up in Lansing), my experiences with the City of Detroit were limited to a few hockey games at Joe Louis Arena during my childhood.
It's not like my family was afraid of the city or anything... we just didn't have any reason to go to Detroit. But that's different now.
Aside from the times I've traveled into town in recent years for business with the Trust Fund (at our headquarters on 2nd Avenue), I find myself going into downtown Detroit several times a month nowadays. Whether it's for a Tigers game at Comerica Park, dinner at one of the cool new restaurants, or a concert at one of the many theaters, there's just a great energy about town... especially during the summer.
Don't get me wrong, Detroit still has some serious problems to deal with –– with poverty, crime, segregation, and homelessness at the top of the list –– but the key difference is that there's a renewed sense of optimism. A sense that little by little, things are getting better.
Of course, it's our hope that we can be a part of that change. That's why we have dual headquarters in Lansing and Detroit. That's why our pre-development loan programs for affordable housing and economic development only fund projects within the City of Detroit. That's why we underwrite programming on Detroit public radio. That's why our annual dinner is held Focus: Hope in the City of Detroit.
We're just one non-profit, but we're proud of our commitment to Detroit, and if we can play even a small part in the city's revitalization, then that's good enough for us.
Happy 306th Birthday, Detroit!
We just wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a happy and safe 4th of July holiday.
If you're looking for fireworks in your local community, be sure to check out MichiganFireworks.com for more information.
Anyway, you click here to see the entire photo slideshow from our recent Borrowers' & Burners' Luncheon, or just hop over to the photo page to check out some pics from past events.
We think folks had a pretty good time at this year's event. If anything, we thought the Survivor game was one of our biggest hits yet, so thanks to everyone who made it so much fun!
Again, special thanks to Jim Wildermuth of ArTech Photography for donating his time and talents to come shoot these beautiful photos. Remember, if you're looking for a photographer to shoot your wedding, senior pictures, or family portrait, Jim's the man you want to talk to.
Jim has been graciously photographing our major events for the past several years, including last week's Borrowers' & Burners' Luncheon. (FYI: we will be posting these pictures later in the week.)
The entire Trust Fund team is exceedingly grateful for Jim's generous services. If you live in the Greater Lansing area and ever need a photographer for weddings, senior photos, or family portraits, we highly recommend ArTech Photography, which you can reach at 517-625-5177. To see samples of Jim's photos, and learn more about ArTech's services, be sure to visit artechphoto.com.
Whoops... we almost forgot to post something about this!
A few weeks ago, our President Christine Coady and Executive Assistant Melodie Balzer Sanford participated in the Fifth Annual Osman Hope Golf Outing.
Osman Hope is a Brighton-based non-profit that helps poor children throughout Honduras. By establishing shelters, the organization hopes "to provide children with protection from the elements, nourishment for the body, enrichment for the spirit and educational opportunities for the mind. All children are eligible and will be admitted on the basis of need as determined by the host church or agency."
The Golf Outing was held at the Whispering Pines Golf Course in Pinckney, Michigan. This shotgun-start, scramble-format event helps raise funds to support the programs and services of Osman Hope.
Anna Beningo, Executive Director of Michigan Habitat, has gone on numerous trips to Honduras, and has been affiliated with Osman Hope for some time. In 2005, Christi Coady went with Anna and a group of volunteers on a trip to Honduras through the Habitat Global Village program to build three houses for local families. Christi wrote about her experiences from the trip in an article for our newsletter, which you can read here.
To learn more about Osman Hope, and what you can do to support their work, be sure to visit their website.
We should have pictures from yesterday's luncheon up by
Remember, our Borrowers' & Burners' Luncheon is
If you haven't had a chance to send in your RSVP yet, hop over to our online registration page and sign up. The process is fast and easy, so check it out!
If you have any questions, feel free to give Melodie Balzer Sanford a call at 517-372-6001.
Also, don't forget that this year's game is an old favorite... Survivor.
Anyway, we're expecting another great event, so we'll see you at the Kellogg Center next week!
The workshops were great, the speakers were great. But the people were the highlight. Sometimes we get all caught up in the business of the work and we don’t take time to notice the folks doing it. Our sector is filled with some amazing individuals! All you have to do is sit quietly at a lunch table and listen to the stories, or see the furious scribbling when a presenter suggests a new approach that might help more people…
My daughter reminds me of the people I work with. There are two sides to every story, and you get to choose the one you hone in on. Instead of blocking out and running away from a world of poverty, inequality, violence, hunger and stuff-ism, I am surrounded with people who choose to jump in and make good of it. Lemons and lemonade, to be sure.
In our very first Emerging Leaders class, one of our participants made a bold announcement. Towards the end of the session, she proclaimed “These are my people.” We laughed a bit, but all took the sentiment to heart. (Somehow I still envision Maria in a Moses robe, raising her hands to the masses in a grand pronouncement of unity. If I remember correctly, she was actually in khakis and a sweater.)
I am happy to say, after 10 years with MNA and several conferences under our collective belts, I still feel like this sector is where I belong and I am ever grateful to have found my people.
You guys ROCK.
Sounds like it was another great event!
Remember, our Borrowers' & Burners' Luncheon is
If you haven't RSVP'd yet, you can save yourself a stamp by submitting your registration online. The process is fast and easy, so feel free to check it out.
Also, don't forget that this year's game is an old favorite... Survivor.
Anyway, we're expecting another great event, so we'll see you there!
Hmm. Don't know how we missed this, but the Living in Michigan website has a small gallery of pictures from Advocacy Day. If you haven't had a chance yet, head over and check it out.
Okay, so for folks who come to our Borrowers' & Burners' Luncheon every year, you might remember that we played Survivor a few years ago.
Well, it was one of our most popular games, so we decided to bring it back for another go-around.
We don't want to spill the beans about the various challenges within the game just yet, but suffice it to say, we think folks will have a lot of fun with this one... again.
See? That's the beauty of our spring luncheon. The weather is finally starting to get really nice, everyone's in a good mood... it's the perfect setting for a fun game like this, and a great opportunity to show your support for the Trust Fund!
Remember, if you haven't had a chance yet, you can register for the luncheon online. It's fast and easy.
We'll see you at the Kellogg Center on June 6...
if you think you can survive.
- Lou Gossett, Jr., Actor and Advocate
- Susan Kenny Stevens, author of Nonprofit
Lifecycles: Stage-based Wisdom for Nonprofit
Capacity
- Rip Rapson, President & CEO, The Kresge
Foundation
- Over 40 workshop in nine targeted tracks
- Exhibit Hall and Exhibitor Reception
- On-site Bookstore
To learn more about the event, be sure to check out the full conference brochure (PDF). It sounds like the folks over at the MNA have another great event in store for us. We'll see you there!
Remember, our Borrowers' & Burners' Luncheon is less than a month away, so don't forget to mark June 6 down on your calendars if you haven't done so already.
Formal invitations to the luncheon went out last Friday, but you can save yourself a stamp by submitting your registration online. The process is fast and easy, so feel free to check it out.
We've been dropping some cryptic clues about this year's game. We're still putting the finishing touches on the rules right now, but we'll let you know what it is within the next week or so, so be sure to keep an eye here on the blog...
First off, Michigan can still proudly say that it has the largest affordable housing conference in the country. We hosted more than 1,800 attendees over three days at the Lansing Center last week, so give yourself a pat on the back for another record-breaking year!
Also, the Lunch on the Lawn was "one of the biggest crowds since the 60s," according to Senator Mark Jansen. The Capitol Police estimated that there were over 1,500 people at last Wednesday's rally! Thanks to everyone who joined us for this historic event!
We'll have a full photo series from the conference a little later in the week, so stay tuned...
There were a number of legislators at the rally, which is exactly what we were all hoping for.
Sen. Mark Jansen kicked things off with a rousing speech, and called on the legislature to fund the Michigan Housing and Community Development Fund. Senate Minority Leader Buzz Thomas was up next, and delivered another passionate speech. Rep. Bill Huizenga was the third speaker, and he reminded folks that the Living In Michigan campaign is also being supported by a number of business groups, including the Michigan Association of Home Builders and Michigan Association of REALTORS. To finish things off, House Majority Leader Steve Tobocman –– a veteran of the community economic development industry here in Michigan –– gave a stirring speech that got the crowd revved up one last time before heading back to the Lansing Center to finish up the final hours of the Housing Conference.
So, Advocacy Day was a big success... but our work doesn't end today. As we reported this morning, MSHDA and the Living in Michigan Coalition will be offering additional testimony before various legislative committees over the next week, so the campaign still needs your support. If you haven't signed up to join the coalition yet, you can still do so on LivingInMichigan.org. You can also contact your legislators and tell them that you support this fund. Encourage your family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers to do the same.
We'll have a full photo series from the 2007 Michigan Conference on Affordable Housing next week, but for the time being, here are a few more pictures from today's rally:
Rep. Steve Tobocman addresses the crowd
Just part of the 1000+ person crowd
Sen. Mark Jansen
Sen. Buzz Thomas
Later in the morning, the Trust Fund got a pleasant surprise from Bill Merry, Executive Director of HomeStretch Housing. Mr. Merry came by our booth to present us with a lovely plaque to commemorate ten years of collaboration between the Trust Fund and HomeStretch Housing. The piece was created by a Northern Michigan artist, and will be proudly displayed in our Lansing office, following the conference.
Today's Awards Luncheon was also a big success. This year's prestigious Duvernay Award went to Ronald J. Calery, Executive Director of Chippewa-Luce-Mackinac Community Action Agency. Mr. Calery gave a very heartfelt (and at times, very funny) acceptance speech after receiving the award. For those who don't remember, we featured CLM-CAA's Senior Housing development in St. Ignace in our Community Quarterly newsletter last month.
Tomorrow is the big day. We're expecting over a thousand –– yes, over one thousand –– people to join us for Lunch on the Lawn of the State Capitol tomorrow morning. The forecast is looking pretty good at the moment: mostly sunny, 66°, and 0% chance of rain. Of course, this is Michigan we're talking about, so be prepared for anything.
We'll kick things off tomorrow morning with a Plenary Session at the Lansing Center, featuring House Majority Leader Steve Tobocman and State Sen. Mark Jansen. We're hoping to have a big crowd for the legislators' session, so make sure you can make it to the dining hall bright and early at 8AM to show your support.
The march to the Capitol will begin later in the morning at 11:30AM. Buses will be available for folks who need a ride, but since there will be a fairly large crowd, it might actually be faster to make the trip on foot. If you haven't had a chance yet, you might want to stop by the Living in Michigan booth before you leave, so you can make a sign to take to the rally.
And remember our chant for the day: HOUSING = JOBS!
We're looking forward to tomorrow's rally. See you there!
Ronald J. Calery, Executive Director of Chippewa-Luce-Mackinac Community Action Agency, and winner of the 2007 Duvernay Award
Trust Fund President/CEO Christine A. Coady, HomeStretch Housing Executive Director Bill Merry, Trust Fund Director of Lending W