DREAM Housing Symposium

Detroit’s housing landscape is at a crossroads. Rising costs, displacement pressures, and the ongoing need for equitable development have created both challenges and opportunities for our community. The DREAM Housing Symposium enables us to collaborate on building solutions together. Additionally, it centralizes voices we need to hear from, including housing experts, policymakers, developers, and community members, for an evening focused on real solutions.

It’s a chance to connect, learn, and contribute to the future of housing in Detroit. Whether you’re a longtime resident, a housing advocate, or someone working in community development, this symposium offers valuable insights and networking opportunities that could shape how we approach housing in our city.

What the Symposium Aims to Accomplish

DREAM Housing Symposium centers on four key focus areas that directly impact our community’s housing future.

Innovative Housing Models and Policy Solutions

Housing policy can feel abstract, but its effects are deeply personal. The symposium will explore new approaches to housing development and policy frameworks that prioritize community needs. Expect discussions about creative financing models, community land trusts, and regulatory changes that could make housing more accessible.

Strategies for Affordability, Equity, and Sustainability

Affordability remains one of Detroit’s most pressing housing challenges. The symposium will examine practical strategies for maintaining affordable housing options while ensuring equitable development across neighborhoods. Sustainability, both environmental and economic, will be woven throughout these conversations.

Regional Trends and Future Planning

Detroit doesn’t exist in isolation. The symposium will address regional housing trends affecting Southeast Michigan and how Detroit fits into broader housing markets. This regional perspective helps us understand both challenges and opportunities that extend beyond city limits.

Networking and Breakout Sessions

Some of the best conversations happen in smaller groups. The symposium includes dedicated networking time and breakout sessions where attendees can dive deeper into specific topics and build connections with others working on similar challenges.

Meet the Speakers and Moderator

The symposium features a diverse panel of speakers bringing different perspectives to Detroit’s housing conversation.

Eric C. Williams serves as Managing Director at the Detroit Justice Center, where he works on issues of housing justice and community empowerment. His experience in legal advocacy and community organizing brings a critical perspective on housing rights and policy.

Sara Elbohy is a Program Officer at the Hudson-Webber Foundation, where she focuses on Detroit’s community development initiatives. Her work involves funding and supporting housing projects that strengthen neighborhoods and create opportunities for residents.

Omar Karim leads Banneker Communities as President, bringing expertise in housing development and community-centered approaches to real estate. His work focuses on creating housing that serves community needs while building wealth for residents.

Mark Crain is the Founding Director of Dream of Detroit. With a deep passion for grassroots work, Mark’s leadership focuses on empowering residents, fostering collaboration, and building a vibrant, inclusive community on Detroit’s west side. His work demonstrates a commitment to creating opportunities and strengthening connections that allow neighborhoods to thrive.

The conversation will be moderated by Nushrat Rahman, a journalist with the Detroit Free Press who covers housing, development, and community issues. Her reporting offers crucial context for understanding how housing policies impact real people and neighborhoods.

Event Details You Need to Know

Admission is completely free, but registration is required. This makes the summit accessible to anyone interested in housing issues, regardless of their budget. The organizers clearly want to remove barriers to participation and ensure that community members can attend alongside professionals and policymakers.

How to Register

Registration for the DREAM Housing Symposium is straightforward and free. REGISTER BELOW!!!

Given the caliber of speakers and the comprehensive agenda, registration is likely to fill up quickly. Community members, housing advocates, developers, and policymakers from across the region are expected to attend.

Early registration is recommended, especially since the event is free and addresses timely issues affecting Detroit’s housing landscape. The organizers may also use registration information to tailor breakout sessions or networking opportunities to attendees’ interests.

Why This Symposium Matters Right Now

Detroit’s housing market continues to evolve rapidly. New development projects, changing demographics, and ongoing affordability challenges create an environment where community input and expert guidance are essential.

The symposium addresses these challenges head-on by bringing together people who are actively working on solutions. This isn’t about abstract policy discussions—it’s about practical strategies that can be implemented in Detroit neighborhoods.

The timing is particularly important. Housing policies and development decisions made now will shape Detroit’s future for decades to come. Having community voices in these conversations ensures that development serves existing residents rather than displacing them.

The symposium also acknowledges that housing solutions necessitate collaboration across various sectors. Developers, policymakers, advocates, and community members all play crucial roles in creating sustainable and equitable housing options.

Making Housing Solutions Happen

DREAM Housing Symposium represents more than just an evening of presentations. It’s an opportunity to build relationships and share the knowledge necessary for creating real change in Detroit’s housing landscape.

The combination of expert speakers, community participation, and practical focus areas creates space for both learning and action planning. Attendees will leave with new connections, fresh ideas, and hopefully, renewed energy for housing advocacy and development work.

Detroit’s housing future depends on conversations like these—conversations that center community needs, acknowledge challenges honestly, and work toward solutions that benefit everyone. The symposium provides a platform for these essential discussions.

Register for free today and be part of shaping Detroit’s housing future. Your voice matters in these conversations, and your participation helps ensure that housing solutions work for our community.