Virtual Fair Housing Conference 2023
Fair Housing: A Closer Look
Building Inclusive Communities through Policy and Advocacy
April 21, 2023
9:30 am - 1:30 pm PST
via Zoom
The conference will address strategies for advancing fair housing and racial equity through policy and advocacy, with sessions on reparations, appraisal discrimination & inequality, source of income discrimination, and Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) implementation.
The event will bring together community members, non-profits, advocates, real estate professionals, and municipal leaders and staff to address pressing fair housing issues affecting our communities, offering strategies to re-energize fair housing advocates and build inclusive communities.
General admission: $25 per person
Pre-registration is required.
Scholarships are available upon request.
Watch conference recording
Sessions 1 and 2
Sessions 3 and 4
Program
Session 1:
The Potential Impact of Reparations on Housing in California
- Lisa Holder, President, Equal Justice Society
Equal Justice Society (EJS) President Lisa Holder, a member of the California task force on reparations, will share her insight on the potential impact that reparations will have in housing in California. The passage of the Fair Housing Act in 1968 outlawed housing discrimination but did not fix the structures put in place by 100 years of discriminatory government policies, and residential segregation continues today. In California, the federal, state, and local government created segregation through redlining, zoning ordinances, decisions on where to build schools and highways and discriminatory federal mortgage policies.
Session 2 Panel:
Discrimination & Inequality in the Appraisal Process
- Elizabeth Korver-Glenn, Ph.D., Sociologist & Professor - Washington University in St. Louis
- Jillian White, CEO and Founder - Appraisal Insights
- Gabriel Diaz, Counsel - Relman Colfax
Our panelists will cover research that delves into the causes of inequities in the appraisal process and undervaluation of Black-owned homes; barriers for people of color prohibiting entry into the appraisal industry; levels of discretion in the appraisal process contributing to inequitable appraisals; and tackling inequities on individual and systemic levels, including building legal cases.
Discrimination & Inequality in the Appraisal Process
- Elizabeth Korver-Glenn, Ph.D., Sociologist & Professor - Washington University in St. Louis
- Jillian White, CEO and Founder - Appraisal Insights
- Gabriel Diaz, Counsel - Relman Colfax
Our panelists will cover research that delves into the causes of inequities in the appraisal process and undervaluation of Black-owned homes; barriers for people of color prohibiting entry into the appraisal industry; levels of discretion in the appraisal process contributing to inequitable appraisals; and tackling inequities on individual and systemic levels, including building legal cases.
Session 3 Panel:
Source of Income Discrimination is Race and Disability Discrimination: Challenges and Remedies for People with Housing Subsidies
- Diane Houk, Civil Rights Attorney/Partner - Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP
- Azadeh Hosseinian, Senior Staff Counsel - California Civil Rights Department
This panel will cover state and federal laws that protect people with housing subsidies; how to enforce those laws through fair housing testing and building legal cases; the Civil Rights Department’s enforcement of California's new SOI law and its challenges; and examples of creative legal arguments and remedies.
Source of Income Discrimination is Race and Disability Discrimination: Challenges and Remedies for People with Housing Subsidies
- Diane Houk, Civil Rights Attorney/Partner - Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP
- Azadeh Hosseinian, Senior Staff Counsel - California Civil Rights Department
This panel will cover state and federal laws that protect people with housing subsidies; how to enforce those laws through fair housing testing and building legal cases; the Civil Rights Department’s enforcement of California's new SOI law and its challenges; and examples of creative legal arguments and remedies.
Session 4:
Housing Element and Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH), from Adoption to Implementation
- Valerie Feldman, Staff Attorney, Public Interest Law Project
This presentation will focus on several facets of the duty to affirmatively further fair housing (AFFH), including: 1) the requirements in California’s Housing Element Law to further fair housing, 2) California’s requirements that all public agencies administer their housing and community development programs in a manner that affirmatively furthers fair housing, and 3) the new proposed federal AFFH Rule. Advocates have dedicated enormous efforts to compel cities and counties to adopt Housing Elements with meaningful actions to address longstanding segregation. How can community members ensure that cities and counties will implement the policies in the adopted housing elements that they advocated for? Join us to discuss what comes next.
Housing Element and Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH), from Adoption to Implementation
- Valerie Feldman, Staff Attorney, Public Interest Law Project
This presentation will focus on several facets of the duty to affirmatively further fair housing (AFFH), including: 1) the requirements in California’s Housing Element Law to further fair housing, 2) California’s requirements that all public agencies administer their housing and community development programs in a manner that affirmatively furthers fair housing, and 3) the new proposed federal AFFH Rule. Advocates have dedicated enormous efforts to compel cities and counties to adopt Housing Elements with meaningful actions to address longstanding segregation. How can community members ensure that cities and counties will implement the policies in the adopted housing elements that they advocated for? Join us to discuss what comes next.
Featured Speakers
Lisa Holder
President
Equal Justice Society
Lisa Holder is President of the Equal Justice Society (EJS), the Oakland, California based nonprofit transforming the nation’s consciousness on race through law, social science, and the arts. Lisa succeeded Eva Paterson who retired on August 31, 2022.
Lisa has been part of EJS’s legal team since 2016 as Of Counsel. She served as Interim Legal Director from 2018 to 2019. In these various roles, she has been an invaluable part of our litigation and advocacy to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline, increase diversity in California higher education, and advance race equity in the workplace. Read more...
President
Equal Justice Society
Lisa Holder is President of the Equal Justice Society (EJS), the Oakland, California based nonprofit transforming the nation’s consciousness on race through law, social science, and the arts. Lisa succeeded Eva Paterson who retired on August 31, 2022.
Lisa has been part of EJS’s legal team since 2016 as Of Counsel. She served as Interim Legal Director from 2018 to 2019. In these various roles, she has been an invaluable part of our litigation and advocacy to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline, increase diversity in California higher education, and advance race equity in the workplace. Read more...
Elizabeth Korver-Glenn, Ph.D.
Sociologist and Professor
Washington University, St. Louis
Elizabeth Korver-Glenn, Ph.D., is a professor of sociology at Washington University in St. Louis. Her national award-winning research, which has been widely cited in academic, legislative, regulatory, legal, news media, and advocacy spaces, focuses on the sources of racial, gender, and class inequality in and across housing markets and urban built environments. Read more...
Sociologist and Professor
Washington University, St. Louis
Elizabeth Korver-Glenn, Ph.D., is a professor of sociology at Washington University in St. Louis. Her national award-winning research, which has been widely cited in academic, legislative, regulatory, legal, news media, and advocacy spaces, focuses on the sources of racial, gender, and class inequality in and across housing markets and urban built environments. Read more...
Jillian White
CEO and Founder
Appraisal Insights
Jillian White has led a successful career as an executive and entrepreneur in the real estate appraisal industry. As an SRA designated appraiser, Jillian currently serves on The Appraisal Institute's Government Relations Committee, as Trustee of The Appraisal Foundation's Board of Trustees, and is a former member of the New York State Appraisal Board. She began her career as founder and CEO of White Picket Fence Appraisals, a residential real estate appraisal company based in New York. Read more...
CEO and Founder
Appraisal Insights
Jillian White has led a successful career as an executive and entrepreneur in the real estate appraisal industry. As an SRA designated appraiser, Jillian currently serves on The Appraisal Institute's Government Relations Committee, as Trustee of The Appraisal Foundation's Board of Trustees, and is a former member of the New York State Appraisal Board. She began her career as founder and CEO of White Picket Fence Appraisals, a residential real estate appraisal company based in New York. Read more...
Diane Houk
Civil Rights Attorney
Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP
Diane L. Houk joined Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP in 2009. Her practice focuses on housing discrimination matters. Prior to joining the firm, Diane co-founded the New York City-based Fair Housing Justice Center in 2004 and served as its first Executive Director until 2009. Read more...
Civil Rights Attorney
Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP
Diane L. Houk joined Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP in 2009. Her practice focuses on housing discrimination matters. Prior to joining the firm, Diane co-founded the New York City-based Fair Housing Justice Center in 2004 and served as its first Executive Director until 2009. Read more...
Azadeh Hosseinian
Senior Staff Counsel
California Civil Rights Department
Azadeh Hosseinian is a Senior Staff Counsel at the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) where she conducts investigations and enforces individual and systemic complaints of housing discrimination. Azadeh joined the Department in 2020 as Staff Counsel. Azadeh has a strong background in enforcing civil rights laws and began her career as a legal fellow at Public Counsel where she worked on advocating for laws to ensure the adequate supply of affordable housing and litigated cases, including a class action against a municipality for its practice of seizing and destroying the personal property of residents experiencing homelessness. Read more...
Senior Staff Counsel
California Civil Rights Department
Azadeh Hosseinian is a Senior Staff Counsel at the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) where she conducts investigations and enforces individual and systemic complaints of housing discrimination. Azadeh joined the Department in 2020 as Staff Counsel. Azadeh has a strong background in enforcing civil rights laws and began her career as a legal fellow at Public Counsel where she worked on advocating for laws to ensure the adequate supply of affordable housing and litigated cases, including a class action against a municipality for its practice of seizing and destroying the personal property of residents experiencing homelessness. Read more...
Gabriel Diaz
Counsel
Relman Colfax
Gabriel (Gabe) Diaz is Counsel at Relman Colfax. Gabe joined the firm in 2020. His civil rights litigation practice includes cases involving discrimination in policing, housing, and employment. Gabe’s work focuses on issues of racial and economic justice, with a particular interest in the intersection of criminal justice and civil rights litigation. Read more...
Counsel
Relman Colfax
Gabriel (Gabe) Diaz is Counsel at Relman Colfax. Gabe joined the firm in 2020. His civil rights litigation practice includes cases involving discrimination in policing, housing, and employment. Gabe’s work focuses on issues of racial and economic justice, with a particular interest in the intersection of criminal justice and civil rights litigation. Read more...
Valerie Feldman
Staff Attorney
Public Interest Law Project
Valerie Feldman is a staff attorney with The Public Interest Law Project (PILP) a statewide support center providing litigation, training, and technical assistance on land use and housing issues and public benefits. Valerie joined PILP after more than a decade at Legal Services of Northern California’s Sacramento office. Read more...
Staff Attorney
Public Interest Law Project
Valerie Feldman is a staff attorney with The Public Interest Law Project (PILP) a statewide support center providing litigation, training, and technical assistance on land use and housing issues and public benefits. Valerie joined PILP after more than a decade at Legal Services of Northern California’s Sacramento office. Read more...
Moderators
CONFERENCE MODERATOR
Caroline Peattie
Executive Director
Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California
Caroline Peattie is the Executive Director of Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California (FHANC) and has been with the organization since 1996. Prior to her association with FHANC, Caroline was the Executive Director of Sentinel Fair Housing in Oakland. She graduated from Wesleyan University with a B.A. in philosophy and earned a Masters in the Management of Human Services at the Florence Heller School of Social Welfare at Brandeis University. She is a board member of the National Fair Housing Alliance and has been working in the fair housing field since 1987.
Caroline Peattie
Executive Director
Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California
Caroline Peattie is the Executive Director of Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California (FHANC) and has been with the organization since 1996. Prior to her association with FHANC, Caroline was the Executive Director of Sentinel Fair Housing in Oakland. She graduated from Wesleyan University with a B.A. in philosophy and earned a Masters in the Management of Human Services at the Florence Heller School of Social Welfare at Brandeis University. She is a board member of the National Fair Housing Alliance and has been working in the fair housing field since 1987.
MODERATOR
Julia Howard-Gibbon
Supervising Attorney
Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California
Julia Howard-Gibbon is the Supervising Attorney at Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California (FHANC). She represents FHANC in fair housing litigation and administrative complaints and supervises FHANC’s staff attorneys and housing counselors in advocating for tenants and homeowners facing housing discrimination. Prior to becoming the supervising attorney, she was a staff attorney at FHANC for more than two years. Since receiving her undergraduate degree in Women’s Studies from UCLA in 2005, she has fought for the rights of tenants and those being excluded from housing, including members of protected classes. Read more...
Julia Howard-Gibbon
Supervising Attorney
Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California
Julia Howard-Gibbon is the Supervising Attorney at Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California (FHANC). She represents FHANC in fair housing litigation and administrative complaints and supervises FHANC’s staff attorneys and housing counselors in advocating for tenants and homeowners facing housing discrimination. Prior to becoming the supervising attorney, she was a staff attorney at FHANC for more than two years. Since receiving her undergraduate degree in Women’s Studies from UCLA in 2005, she has fought for the rights of tenants and those being excluded from housing, including members of protected classes. Read more...
For more information, to request a scholarship, or for any special needs, please contact: [email protected]
Live captioning will be available during the conference.
Live captioning will be available during the conference.
Thank you to the following jurisdictions for submitting proclamations declaring April as Fair Housing Month:
Marin County:
Corte Madera, Fairfax, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Ross, San Anselmo,
San Rafael, County of Marin
Sonoma County:
Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa*, Windsor, County of Sonoma
*Pending approval
Solano County:
Fairfield, Vallejo, County of Solano
Thank you to our conference sponsors!
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Past Conferences
2022 Conference Website
2021 Conference Website
2020 Conference Website
2019 Conference Videos
2019 Conference Program
2018 Conference Videos
2018 Conference Program
2018 Conference: 50th Anniversary Guest Speakers and Panelist Power Point Presentations
2017 Conference Program
2016 Conference Program
2015 Conference Program
2021 Conference Website
2020 Conference Website
2019 Conference Videos
2019 Conference Program
2018 Conference Videos
2018 Conference Program
2018 Conference: 50th Anniversary Guest Speakers and Panelist Power Point Presentations
2017 Conference Program
2016 Conference Program
2015 Conference Program
