The 2008 Statewide Conference on Housing and Community Economic Development will present new ideas on exercising leadership and community development strategies in four main topic areas:

• Comprehensive Community Development
• Asset Generation and Preservation
• Ending Homelessness
• Providing Housing Opportunities

Comprehensive community development will focus on holistic strategies, which begin at the ground level with local people making the decisions that matter for their families and their communities.  Asset generation and preservation will discuss strategies for succeeding in today's economy based on the ability to accumulate a wide range of assets including owning a home, pursuing a post-secondary education, starting a business, and securing a nest-egg for retirement.  Ending homelessness will discuss strategies promoting collaboration to provide housing and services targeted to the homeless.  The providing housing opportunities topic will discuss a variety of strategies for housing development and community revitalization.

What are Disciplined Experiments?

What are Balcony Sessions?

 Plenary Session: Jeff Lawrence (August 27, 2008 – 9:30 AM)

This year's featured conference speaker is Jeff Lawrence, a principal with Cambridge Leadership Associates (CLA).  Jeff's remarks will present the concept of Adaptive Leadership. Cambridge Leadership Associates (CLA) grew out of the work of two professors at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, Ron Heifetz and Marty Linsky, who have spent more than 20 years examining the practice of leadership within a variety of settings. From this work has come a new model of leadership oriented directly to the issue of adaptability and how organizations and communities can overcome barriers to change and move forward to achieve their mission and goals.

Adaptive Leadership is a set of strategies and practices based on three core beliefs:

• Leadership can be learned;
• Because adaptive change generates resistance, exercising leadership can be both difficult and dangerous and;
• The adaptability of organizations depends on having widespread leadership that can come from anywhere within an organization and not just from those in top positions of authority.

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 Next Practices Luncheon (August 27, 2008 – 11:30 AM)

The 2008 Statewide Conference on Housing and Community Economic Development will present new ideas on exercising leadership and community development strategies in four main topic areas:

• Comprehensive Community Development
• Asset Generation and Preservation
• Ending Homelessness
• Providing Housing Opportunities

Next practices, distinguished from best practices, are malleable to unique and fluid circumstances in varying locations. Next practices move beyond a systemic effort to follow the leader and mimic the soon-to-be-obsolete practices of others. Instead, they are a fundamental transformation of core business activity.  Speakers at this luncheon include the following:

• Paul Grogan, President, Boston Foundation
• Kim Pate, Vice President for Strategic Partnerships and Administration, CFED
• Deb DeSantis, President, Corporation for Supportive Housing
• Nicole Opfer, Director, Housing Assistance Council, Midwest Office

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Few practical ideas are more obvious or important than the need to get perspective in the midst of action. Adaptive Leadership calls this skill, “getting off the dance floor and going to the balcony.” This task often strains ones abilities, especially seeing oneself as a participant in the action. The 2008 Statewide Conference balcony sessions will challenge attendees to put down the “mantle of important work” and comfort some of the most difficult challenges facing Indiana.

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Comprehensive Community Development Balcony Session (August 27, 2008 – 2:00 PM)

To succeed and endure, community development must start at the ground level with local people making the decisions that matter for their families and their communities. Community-based organizations then are uniquely positioned to deliver desirable programs and projects, and to begin the difficult, but essential, process of rebuilding the social fabric. These organizations must be led adaptively as demonstrated by shared responsibility, openness to difficult discussion (elephants in the room), institutional reflection and continuous learning, willingness to tolerate the questioning of authority, and customized professional development.

In the comprehensive community development balcony session, practitioners who every day deliver community development services will discuss exercising leadership and outlining action steps to transform the practice of community development by focusing on public policy, community, and organizational challenges to doing comprehensive work.

During this interactive session, participants will hear a provocative analysis of what challenges face Indiana and CED practitioners. This dialogue will build on the ideas presented at the Next Practices luncheon. Next, attendees will work with community development experts to address the following items:

1. What factions are either engaged or disengaged from comprehensive community development (What do you see on the dance floor?)?
2. What values are being served by the way the community development system currently works?
3. Outline action steps to exercise leadership in your organization to advance comprehensive community development ideas in your programs and across the community in which you work.
4. What policy changes or other leadership strategies are necessary at the local, regional, and state level to advance comprehensive community development ideas?

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Developing Housing Opportunities Balcony Session (August 27, 2008 – 2:00 PM)

Housing is a basic need of every citizen of every age, household size, and income level. The contributions of the housing sector and the affordability of housing affect state fiscal conditions, economic growth, community development and vitality, and the lives of individuals. Housing has substantial impacts on economic competitiveness, shapes the development of local communities, and affects the cost of infrastructure. Neither low-income families nor the communities in which they live will be well served if affordable housing opportunities are developed according to the patterns of the past. Indiana’s housing challenges include high mortgage foreclosure rates, low appreciation rates for homes, abandoned properties, diminishing tax base, and a lack of permanent supportive housing for those requiring coordinated services and shelter.

Models are emerging in other cities and communities which integrate affordable housing into healthy, mixed-income neighborhoods. Affordable housing opportunities must be constructed and preserved in ways which are respectful of the original residents but do not concentrate and isolate them. Development should happen in a way giving existing residents a voice in the decisions.

During this interactive session, participants will build on the ideas presented at the Next Practices luncheon and articulate a better way to meet the housing needs of all Hoosiers and use housing as a community revitalization tool. Attendees will work with community development experts to address the following items:

1. What factions are either engaged or disengaged from developing housing opportunities (What do you see on the dance floor?)?
2. What values are being served by the way the community development system currently works?
3. Outline action steps to exercise leadership in your organization to develop housing opportunities in a way which is consistent with resident and community needs.
4. What policy changes or other leadership strategies are necessary at the local, regional, and state level to advance the development of housing opportunities and revitalize communities?

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 Ending Homelessness Balcony Session: Exploring Relationships, Building Partnerships in Homeless Prevention and Intervention (August 27, 2008 – 2:00 PM)

During this interactive session, participants will hear a provocative analysis of what challenges face homeless providers and understand next practices, which have shown success in Indiana. This dialogue will build on the ideas presented at the Next Practices luncheon.

Attend this session to meet homeless services providers from across the state and learn about some exciting programs utilizing community partnerships. The session will include the following next practice ideas from around the state:

• Discussion on Rural Homelessness - Craig Beckley
• Discussion on Reentry - Jo Ann Miller and Judge Johnson
• Discussion on Transition in Place Housing - Sharon Stark
• Discussion on Case Management - Heidi Mench and Rene Fuller

Attendees will work with community development experts to address the following items:

1. What factions are either engaged or disengaged from ending homelessness
   (What do you see on the dance floor?)?
2. What values are being served by the way the community development system currently works?
3. Outline action steps to exercise leadership in your organization to implement the next practices presented in this discussion or at the luncheon.
4. What policy changes or other leadership strategies are necessary at the local, regional, and state level to end homelessness and revitalize communities?

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The disciplined experiments sessions will perpetuate a climate of innovation in the conference workshops consistent with the Adaptive Leadership framework. In these sessions, you will hear from practitioners and officials who took considered risks to advance new strategies and goals for rebuilding Indiana communities and addressing needs.

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 Disciplined Experiments in Comprehensive Community Development I: Collaboration and leadership lessons from the Rural Indiana Strategy for Excellence 2020 and the Great Indy Neighborhoods Initiatives (August 28, 2008 – 9:00 AM)

Attend this session to learn about the collaboration and leadership opportunities, which arise from the change affecting Indiana's urban and rural communities. You will understand two frameworks for conceiving, planning, and acting to improve local quality of life. One framework is predicated on seven pillars, which are the foundation for improvement. The other framework is based on 11 principles of healthy neighborhoods. Both frameworks are holistic and represent the unifying thread for moving from vision to action. You will hear how various communities are embracing a holistic approach to healthy communities integrating civic, social, physical, and economic development.

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 Disciplined Experiments in Comprehensive Community Development II: Mobilizing Social Capital to End Poverty (August 28, 2008 – 10:45 AM)

The session will discuss how structured supportive friendships between middle income families and those in poverty can lead to asset-building and self-sufficiency.  To succeed and endure, comprehensive community development must start at the grassroots level with local people making decisions for their families and their communities.  Participants will learn about the Circles™ model, a national program now operating or starting up in four Indiana communities and in 18 states.  The assets-based model gives people who are economically disadvantage the training, networking, and social capital essential to become self-sufficient.  People from every economic class are empowered to solve poverty in their communities by addressing the systemic barriers--ranging from education to housing--and policies that lock those at the poverty level into lives with limited resources.  The Circles™ model approaches community life as a whole and encourages multi-faceted and cooperative improvement efforts.  These efforts give residents control over the direction of their lives and their communities and, over time, change the mindset of the community about poverty.

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 Disciplined Experiments in Ending Homelessness I: How to Build A Better Relationship with Your Local Mental Health Center (August 28, 2008 – 9:00 AM)

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 Disciplined Experiments in Ending Homelessness II: Mental Health Assessment Training 101 (August 28, 2008 – 9:00 AM)

This session will provide techniques and assessment skills to homeless service providers so they can better serve and refer homeless persons who have mental illness.  This session is designed for the direct care and front line staff at the emergency homeless shelters, and day centers. 

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 Disciplined Experiments in Ending Homelessness III: Developing a Path to Economic Self-Sufficiency—Employment and Job Training (August 28, 2008 – 10:45 AM)

This workshop will provide participants with ideas for building community collaborations to provide employment and job training opportunities for homeless individuals. Alternatives Incorporated, Community Hospital Anderson and Ivy Tech Community College have formed a partnership to offer skill assessment sessions, job training programs and employment readiness workshops. They have accomplished the program with financial support from local foundations and corporations. The program is offered on-site at Alternatives’ shelter; thereby eliminating many barriers homeless individuals face when seeking job training.

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 Asset Generation and Preservation Balcony Session (August 27, 2008 – 2:00 PM)

Succeeding in today's economy depends on more than having a job and earning a paycheck, but increasingly on the ability to accumulate a wide range of assets. These assets may include owning a home, pursuing a post-secondary education, starting a business, and securing a nest-egg for retirement.

In the asset generation and preservation balcony session, participants will discuss how existing institutional infrastructures can be used to create opportunities and eliminate barriers for Hoosiers to build wealth through financial security, education, and enterprise development.

During this interactive session, participants will build on the ideas presented at the Next Practices luncheon and articulate a better way to make asset generation attainable for all Hoosiers. Attendees will work with asset policy experts to address the following items:

1. What factions are either engaged or disengaged in generating and preserving assets (What do you see on the dance floor?)?
2. What values are being served by the way the community development system currently works?
3. Outline action steps to exercise leadership in your organization to advance asset generation and preservation in your programs and across the community in which you work.
4. What policy changes or other leadership strategies are necessary at the local, regional, and state level to advance asset generation and preservation?

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 Disciplined Experiments in Creating Housing Opportunity I: Using Design to Cultivate Community and Enhance Livability

When you think of affordable housing properties, do you imagine a place that you would proudly call home?  Do you think of a neighborhood that you would choose to put down roots?  This workshop will demonstrate how thoughtful and creative design can debunk misconceptions of affordable housing and foster a sense of community.  An affordable housing project can be constructed and preserved in ways that are respectful of its residents and do not concentrate or isolate them.  The workshop will go beyond aesthetics to discuss design features that enhance livability and accommodate visitability.

Presenters:
David Toth, The Architecture Studio
Tim Shalk, Community Builders

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 Disciplined Experiments in Creating Housing Opportunity II: Positioning Section 42 Projects for Long-term Affordability and Sustainability

Owners of Section 42 properties have a variety options to consider at the end of the fifteen year tax credit compliance period. This workshop will help participants position their properties for long-term affordability and sustainability.  Case studies of properties will be presented that demonstrate different approaches and solutions.

Presenter
Joe Whitsett, Whitsett Group – Joe@thewhitsettgroup.com – TX 317.245.8322

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 Post-conference Session: IDMS Training

Roeing Corporation will conduct a training for property managers on how to navigate IHCDA’s on-line rental reporting system.

Presenter:  
Brad Forgey, Roeing Corporation – BForgey@roeing.com – TX 765-474-5402


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