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The 23rd Annual Building Michigan Communities Conference Unveils the First Ever Michigan Statewide Housing Plan and Welcomes Four Captivating Keynote Speakers

Contact:
Jennifer Dickie: jennifer@buildingmicommunities.org 
Anna Vicari: VicariA@michigan.gov

The 2022 Building Michigan Communities Conference will be held virtually May 3 and 4, 2022.

Lansing, Mich. -- The Building Michigan Communities Conference (BMCC) will kick off on May 3, with a welcome session featuring MSHDA Executive Director Gary Heidel, HUD Regional Administrator Diane Shelley and a keynote address from Donna Beegle, PhD, author of See Poverty…Be the Difference. For more than 25 years, Dr. Beegle has worked extensively nationally and internationally to assist organizations with proven strategies for breaking poverty barriers.

After dozens of compelling, interactive sessions, all focused on the priority areas of the Statewide Housing Plan, Tuesday will conclude with the BMCC Book Club. This year’s author is Kevin Boyle, PhD, who will be discussing his thought-provoking book Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights and Murder in the Jazz Age.

Wednesday morning starts with keynote speaker Majora Carter, whose recently published best-selling book, Reclaiming Your Community: You Don’t Have to Move Out of Your Neighborhood to Live in a Better One, asks the critical question “How can we address the problem of persistent poverty in low-status communities differently, and slow down the brain-drain that cripples local economic progress?” Carter is an urban revitalization strategy consultant and creator of high impact economic development and green infrastructure projects, and job training and placement projects.

At noon Wednesday, Kevin Cokley, PhD, will present his keynote, Confronting Feeling Like an Imposter. Feelings of self-doubt that can sometimes trigger imposter syndrome - a sense that you’re not really as smart or capable as people think you are, despite clear evidence to the contrary - are on the rise. Dr. Cokley will discuss what contributes to successful people feeling self-doubt and not belonging in their organization, and how the imposter phenomenon impacts people of diverse backgrounds.

At 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, the final conference keynote session will be with Tim Wise, author of Dear White America: Letter to a New Minority. Wise is a highly respected author, lecturer and trainer, working for the past 25 years to incorporate methods for dismantling racism in institutions.

The conference will send folks off with the reveal of Michigan’s first Statewide Housing Plan at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. The plan reflects the authentic voices of thousands of Michiganders gathered through an inclusive and intentional process. The plan sets a foundation for the future with its vision: Michigan’s successful housing ecosystem provides safe, healthy, affordable and attainable housing for all in a community of their choice. Register here for the launch of the Statewide Housing Plan.

It’s not too late! Registration for the event is ongoing. Registration details and event information are available at www.buildingmicommunities.org.