JOIN US!

The Housing & Health Symposium brings together housing, community development, health, financial services, and public service experts along with community representatives and residents to discuss solutions for increasing housing and health security for Franklin County residents with an emphasis on the Linden neighborhood.

Using the One Linden Plan as a catalyst, participants will learn about a range of solutions for removing barriers and increasing access to housing and health opportunities.

As this year marks the 55th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, participants will also discuss how to use an important provision in the Act – Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing – to advance equity and ensure Linden is a healthy, viable, resilient, well-resourced community where people can thrive.  

TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2023  │  9:30am – 3:00pm 

Linden Community Center

1350 Briarwood Ave., Columbus, OH 43211

 

9:30 – 10:00am | Registration and Continental Breakfast 

10:00 – 10:15am | Welcome and Opening Remarks 

                            Lisa Rice, National Fair Housing Alliance  

                            Angela Bretz, SVP, Chief Diversity & Talent Acquisition Officer, Nationwide

 

10:15 – 11:00am | One Linden Plan Overview and Homebuyer Discussion 

                            Carla Williams Scott, Director of Neighborhoods, City of Columbus 

                            Jasmine Ayers, Linden Area Commissioner 

The audience will gain a birds-eye view of the on-the-ground realities of expanding housing opportunities in a historically redlined community. Director Scott and Commissioner Ayers will provide an overview of the housing-related issues and goals outlined in the Linden plan. They will also discuss residents’ practical experiences with the home purchase process in what many are calling a “difficult” market.  

 

11:00am – 12:00pm | Equitable Homeownership: Challenges & Opportunities 

 

                            Moderator: Adam Troy, CEO, Community of Caring Development Foundation  

                            Qiana Jones, Realtor® and Realtist™, Just Listed Real Estate 

                            Sam Sheets, Strategy Executive, Community & Affordable Lending, JPMChase  

                            Netta Whitman, Director of Housing Advisory Services, Homeport 

In this panel, we’ll continue the discussion about challenges in homeownership and hold up solutions and best practices for practitioners in the real estate, lending, and insurance industries to best serve prospective homebuyers. Solutions will be tied back to the key goals of the Linden community. 

 

12:00 – 1:00pm | Luncheon 

                            Guest Speaker, Andrew Ginther, Mayor, City of Columbus 

 

1:00 – 1:30pm | Fireside Chat 

                            Where You Live Matters: The Intersection Between Health and Housing 

                            Lisa Rice, President and CEO, National Fair Housing Alliance 

                            Dr. Sidney Childs, Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority 

                            Kenneth Wilson, Franklin County Administrator 

 

1:30 – 2:30pm | Exploring the Promise of Equity for the Linden Community 

 

                            Moderator: Jim McCarthy, President and CEO, Miami Valley Fair Housing  

                            Nick Jones, Vice President, Community Wellness, Nationwide Children’s Hospital 

                            Tyneisha Harden, EDAP Director, Affordable Housing Trust 

                            Keryna Johnson, Director, CONVERGENCE, Columbus 

                            Stephanie Hightower, CEO, Columbus Urban League 

With heightened scrutiny on racial equity, communities have a unique opportunity to blend two important assessment and planning processes to eliminate barriers that preclude people from advancing and adopt policies, programs, and services to improve people’s lives. Federal law requires communities receiving federal funding for housing or community development to comply with the Fair Housing Act’s Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing provision which requires jurisdictions and housing authorities to assess barriers to fair housing and solutions for overcoming them. Fair housing planning contemplates the need for equitable access to housing, health amenities, economic opportunities, and more. Panelists will discuss strategies that align with the goals of community planning processes such as Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing, Community Health Needs Assessments, and other community and regional planning efforts that can advance fair housing, health, and well-being in the Linden neighborhood. 

 

2:30 – 3:00pm | Closing Remarks