March 3, 2023 - Registration is now open for the free 2023 Fair Housing Summit, which features Dr. Andre M. Perry, author of Know Your Price:Valuing Black Lives & Property in Americas Black Cities and coauthor of the groundbreaking 2018 Brookings Institution report The Devaluation of Assets in Black Neighborhoods. Dr. Perry is a nationally known and respected commentator on race, structural inequality, education and economic inclusion.

The Summit is hosted by the City of Fort Wayne’s Metropolitan Human Relations Commission and the City of Fort Wayne’s Office of Housing & Neighborhood Services and is set for April 26, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Memorial Coliseum Conference Center, 4000 Parnell Ave. Lunch is provided and there is no charge for the event.

“The Summit attendees will gain an understanding of the importance of fair housing and best practices to create a more diverse and inclusive city,” said Nikki Quintana, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Human Relations Commission.

“The 2023 Fair Housing Summit will highlight several important community issues, including post pandemic evictions and the need for more affordable, quality, and fair housing throughout the city,” said Kelly Lundberg, Director of the Office of Housing & Neighborhood Services.

Anyone interested in the event should visit www.fortwaynemetro.org/fhevent for more information and to register. Attendance is limited to the first 300 people.

In addition to Dr. Andre M. Perry, attendees will have the chance to hear from fair housing experts during various workshops. The topics of these workshops include:

  • Impacts of Housing Discrimination
  • Disability Legal Update
  • Equity for All: A Community Study
  • How Criminal History Can Be a Fair Housing Issue
  • Neighborhoods: Why They Matter
  • Addressing Affordable Housing in Fort Wayne
  • Fort Wayne Evictions Post Pandemic

The Gold sponsors for the event are Premier Bank and UPSTAR Alliance of REALTORS®,  along with Silver sponsors First Source Bank and Bronze sponsors Lake City Bank and Old National Bank.

Fort Wayne Metro’s mission is to enforce civil rights laws and empower the citizens of Fort Wayne through education on diversity and discrimination issues. The City’s Office of Housing & Neighborhood Services works to attract and support housing investment throughout the community and expand access to safe, quality, affordable housing. The department also partners with local non-profit organizations to address critical needs in the community.