2006 Fair Housing Luncheon - The Miami Valley Fair Housing Center

Annual Fair Housing Luncheon celebration marks
the 38th Anniversary of the passage of the federal Fair Housing Act

Jump to photos

More than 135 people enthusiastically turned out for the 2006 Fair Housing Luncheon in Dayton, Ohio, an annual event jointly presented by the Miami Valley Fair Housing Center

Fair Housing, It's Not An Option. It's the Law

and the Dayton Area Board of Realtors®. This year's event was held Thursday, April 6, 2006 at the Dayton Marriott.

Celebrating the national Fair Housing Month theme, "Fair Housing, It's Not An Option. It's the Law", the group included a large cross section of fair housing advocates, elected officials, community activists, Realtors® and multi-family housing leasing professionals. The annual event is an opportunity to further educate the community about the Fair Housing Act and the goal of promoting the establishment of safe and secure communities where everyone, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability can live free from discrimination.

Michael Allen, Senior Staff Attorney and Director of Housing Programs with Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, based in Washington, DC, was this year's keynote speaker and he made a compelling presentation entitled "What 'Integrated' Housing Means to People with Disabilities." The keynote address was approved for continuing education credit for real estate professionals by the Ohio Department of Commerce, Divison of Real Estate.

In addition, the Fair Housing Center memorialized the late Robert Adams, who died in January, by creating the Robert Adams Award of Excellence in Community Education and Volunteer Service. Mr. Adams, was a tenured professor of Political Science at Wright State University, and a founder and long-time member of the Fair Housing Center. He served on the board of the Fair Housing Center for more than 10 years, including several terms as Chair of the Board during a number of organizational transitions. The Award was given this year to Mr. Adams posthumously in recognition of the significant contributions that he made to the Miami Valley community through his leadership and volunteer service. In future years, the award will be bestowed annually upon an individual who, through his or her efforts honor the memory and embody the spirit of Mr. Adams and his commitment to equal housing opportunity.

The Dayton Area Board of Realtors® Equal Opportunity Committee also recognized three individuals with the Marie Kindrick Fair Housing Awards. Marie Kindrick, for whom the award is named, was a remarkable woman who committed herself to working for the rights of the under-represented for nearly sixty years. Ms. Kindrick was a Realtor® and served on the Equal Opportunity Committee of the Dayton Area Board of Realtors® until her untimely passing in 1998. The Dayton Area Board of Realtors® and its Equal Opportunity Committee pay tribute to Marie and honor her for the inspiration to work for fairness and equality for everyone with the annual awards. The 2006 Kindrick Award honorees include: in the Community Professional category – Pam Waltrip, Manager, Mortgage Credit Counseling with CityWide Development Corporation; in the Community Volunteer category – David Dewberry, Vice President of the Community Reinvestment Alumni Association, and in the Realtor® category, Lucy Jett, of Big Hill, GMAC Real Estate.

Photos: Click on a thumbnail to enlarge it; click on main pic to view full-sized.