ACHANGE seminar

Community Development Week comes to the Little Rock Hilton at 925 South University from June 19-22, 2012. The annual event, sponsored by the Arkansas Coalition of Housing and Neighborhood Growth for Empowerment (ACHANGE), connects and empowers persons working statewide to improve housing in Arkansas. Bankers, developers, legislators and public officials will meet for a discussion of policy surrounding Arkansas housing issues, training from NeighborWorks® America, and an evening of awards that recognize outstanding community development achievement.

The 2012 features two nationally recognized speakers, Dr. Sheila Crowley of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, and Dione Alexander, Vice President of the Nonprofit Finance Fund. Dr. Crowley is the keynote speaker during the June 20, 2012 Public Policy Symposium. Back by popular demand, Dione Alexander is presenting a special one-day presentation, “Beyond Bricks: The New Economy for Affordable Housing Providers.”

ACHANGE is actively engaged in all housing issues in the state, including leading the charge for establishment of a housing trust fund. Community Development Week is about celebrating and empowering community developers to make a difference. These leaders come together to voice concerns that affect the entire state. These concerns are documented and presented as a public policy agenda. Additionally, developers are offered training that will help them improve the services that they provide to Arkansans.

Karen Philips, Board Chair of ACHANGE, states “We believe that every child deserves a safe place to call home. As we come together, we are empowered to have a stronger voice, improved service, and increased opportunities to help make our dreams of safe, affordable housing a reality for families all over Arkansas. “