For the past 12 years, CEDAM has been pleased to be one of over 25 organizations in Michigan that have come together to plan the Michigan Conference on Affordable Housing. Compared to the first conference in 1999, the MCOAH has grown in size tremendously, from only a couple hundred participants to now over 1500 people each year. But more importantly than the growth in size has been the growth in challenges facing our industry, as we are now in the midst of an economic crisis in our state like none in recent memory.

As in years before, CEDAM has contributed much staff time to the planning of this year’s conference. The conference presents a unique opportunity to showcase the remarkable work that CEDAM members are doing throughout the state to revitalize our communities and help our neighbors. The conference also allows us to bring in others from across the state and beyond who are developing exceptional best practice models that have the potential to be put to work in our communities.

CEDAM’s involvement in planning for this conference runs the gamut. Staff have been coordinating sessions that address everything from foreclosure counseling best practices, to innovative new practices in asset building, to community development-specific marketing, advocacy, and organizational development sessions. We are pleased to be bringing in speakers to talk about working with challenging populations; land banks as urban laboratories; new homeownership strategies; and so on.

We hope you will join us and your colleagues from across the state April 26-28, 2010, at the Lansing Center for the conference. Also, don’t forget to order tickets for the CEDAM/CDAD Annual Event on Tuesday night, April 27, taking place across the street from the conference at the end of the day!