More information:
Barbara Kennedy
651-649-1710
ext. 112

Homes for All!
2006 Convention
c/o Minnesota Housing Partnership
2446 University Ave W
Suite 140
St. Paul, Minnesota
55114

Thursday, December 7, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; St. Paul RiverCentre

Registration and View Exhibits and Art

Corridor and Ballroom A & B, 11:00 a.m.

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1:00 p.m.

Plenary Session I: Identifying the Gap

Ballrooms C & D, 1:00 p.m.

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2:00 p.m.

Homes for All! 2006 will kicked-off with an overview of the convention and a presentation that described the housing gap and set the context for the rest of the day’s activities.

  • Welcome to Convention: Gail Dorfman, Commissioner, Hennepin County

  • Welcome to St. Paul: Chris Coleman, Mayor, City of St. Paul

  • Overview of the Convention: Chip Halbach, Executive Director, Minnesota Housing Partnership

  • What is the Housing Gap? Warren Hanson, President and CEO, Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, and Tom Fulton, Executive Director, Family Housing Fund

  • Wrap up and Transition to Solution Sessions: Gail Dorfman

Solutions Breakout Sessions A & B

Rooms 1-9, 2:00 p.m.

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4:00 p.m.

In each session, experts discussed one of the thirteen solution topics and initiated participant actions that will lead to that solution. Click here to review breakout session materials.

  • Solution Session A                  2:00 to 2:45

  • Solution Session B                  3:00 to 3:45

Plenary Session II: Committing to Closing the Gap

Ballrooms C & D, 4:00 p.m.

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5:30 p.m.

Closing the housing gap will take commitments from leaders across all sectors. Plenary session II brought together leaders from Minnesota’s business, government, and faith communities to discuss commitments they are making to close the housing gap.

  • Introduction: Joe Errigo, President, CommondBond Communities

  • Panel Discussion with Moderator Pam Kramer, Senior Program Director, Duluth LISC

    • Business: Bradford L. Hewitt, Senior Vice President of Fraternal Operations, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

    • Faith Communities: Rev. Nancy Anderson, President, Board of Directors, Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing (MICAH)

    • Local Government: R.T. Rybak, Mayor, City of Minneapolis                      

    • Philanthropy: James Frey, President, Frey Foundation

  • State Government Presentation  

    • Minnesota State Representative John Marty, Chair of the Senate's Housing & Family Security Committee

    •  Tim Marx, Commissioner, Minnesota Housing                                   

  • Wrap up and Transition to Reception: Joe Errigo  

Reception, Juan Williams Book Signing, Art, and Exhibits

Ballrooms A & B and Corridors, 5:30 p.m.

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6:30 p.m.
Offered an opportunity to meet and network with participants, view housing related art, and browse exhibits. Substantial hors d’oeuvres and cash bar provided.

Plenary Session III: Acting to Close the Gap

Ballrooms C & D, 6:30 p.m.

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8:00 p.m.

Action on our commitment is needed to close the housing gap. Plenary session III reviewed the solution action opportunities from the breakout sessions. Keynote speaker Juan Williams closed the Convention with insight and inspiration for action.

  • Introduction: Susan Haigh, President, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity
  • Solution Actions Panel Discussion with Moderator Tom Horner, Principal, Himle Horner
    • Ensuring Affordability –Warren Hanson
    • Ending Homelessness – Jennifer Ho, Chair, St. Paul/Ramsey County Homeless Advisory Board, and Executive Director, Hearth Connection
    • Building Better Communities – George Stone, Minnesota Program Director, Corporation for Supportive Housing
  • Introduction of Keynote Speaker: Susan Haigh
  • Keynote speaker: Juan Williams, national broadcast journalist and author
  • Closing: Susan Haigh

Juan Williams Book Signing

Main Corridor,

 

8:00 p.m.

Keynote speaker Juan Williams, national broadcast journalist and author, discussed affordable housing issues and solutions from a personal, social and journalistic perspective. From growing up in New York City’s public housing, to being one of America’s leading political writers and thinkers, Williams drew from experience and civil rights movement history, as documented in his bestselling book, Eyes on the Prize, to address the three themes of the Homes for All! 2006 Convention: Ensure Affordability, End Homelessness, and Build Better Communities. Mr. Williams sold and signed books in the main corridor during the reception and after his presentation. For more information on Juan Williams, please visit www.apbspeakers.com.

Additional Convention Components:

  • Exhibitor tables: displays related to solutions to ensure affordability, end homelessness, and build better communities.