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Shelterforce’s Conference
A Legacy of Impact, A Future of Possibilities
April 28 @ 6:00 pm – April 29 @ 5:00 pm
About the conference
For 50 years, Shelterforce has been at the forefront of affordable housing and community development, championing stories of resilience, innovation, and advocacy that have helped shape communities across the nation. In honor of our five decades of work, we hosted our first-ever housing conference in Newark, NJ.
The two-day conference brought together people who are working in the community development and affordable housing fields, and also commemorate Shelterforce’s 50th anniversary. Watch some snippets from the conference below:
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Akilah Watkins was our morning keynote speaker. Watkins is the president and CEO of Independent Sector, a national organization uniting nonprofits, foundations, and corporate giving programs to strengthen civil society. A veteran community development leader, Watkins previously led the Center for Community Progress, and she’s held executive positions with NeighborWorks America and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Diane Yentel was our afternoon keynote speaker. Yentel is the president and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits (NCN). She is a nationally renowned nonprofit leader, with nearly 30 years’ experience working for, with, and in support of the sector. Prior to joining NCN, Yentel led the National Low Income Housing Coalition, serving as president and CEO for 9 years.
Editorial services
At the conference, we officially launched our editorial services offerings, bringing our combined expertise in the field and our editing skill set to organizations and researchers producing reports and other written content. Learn more here.
partner with us
As we look to the future, one of Shelterforce’s key pillars is partnership. Whether you’re a community based organization, tenant organizer, or a media outlet, we’re eager to explore how we can collaborate.
Are you looking to amplify important issues through trusted journalism? Let’s talk about ways Shelterforce’s reporting can support your mission—through newsletter inserts, reprints, co-publishing, or co-exploring topics that matter to your audience.
If you’re interested in partnering with us to expand the reach and impact of housing justice reporting, we’d love to connect.
Let’s build something powerful—together.
Endowment Fund
As part of honoring our 50th anniversary, we are proud to announce the launch of the Shelterforce Endowment Fund. This initiative is designed to ensure the sustainability of our mission and the ability to continue our vital work for years to come. By contributing to our endowment fund, you are investing in a legacy of powerful journalism and advocacy for housing equity and community development.
To contribute to the Shelterforce Endowment Fund, please contact Shelterforce’s CEO and publisher, Schlonn Hawkins at [email protected].
Together, we can shape a stronger, more equitable future!
Thanks to our sponsors
