Discussion organizers Marlee Pittman (Baton Rouge’s Director of Community Revitalization) and Alfredo Cruz, Jr. (Housing 1st Alliance)
Join us on Sunday, August 28 (4pm) for a special Sundays@4 presentation, in partnership with Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome’s Office and in conjunction with BRG’s new exhibition, Cloudburst: The Work of Matt Kenyon.
This presentation is inspired by Kenyon’s piece, Lockset, which addresses housing insecurity and the ongoing foreclosure crisis in America.
“Since the start of Mayor-President Broome’s administration, shortly after the 2016 floods, she has made housing and neighborhoods one of her top priorities, putting almost $10 million in community projects and services. COVID-19, though, has led to housing challenges across the country, and Baton Rouge is no different.”
Marlee Pittman
At Unhoused #19, which refers to Baton Rouge’s having the 19th highest eviction rate of any American city, you will hear from individuals on the front line of the housing affordability, quality, and resiliency issue locally. Mayor Broome’s team will also share what they are planning to do next to turn Baton Rouge’s housing crisis into a housing opportunity.
Unhoused #19 is organized by Baton Rouge’s Director of Community Revitalization, Marlee Pittman, in coordination with Together Baton Rouge and the Housing 1st Alliance. Scroll down to learn more about Unhoused #19’s panelists/speakers.
This event is free and open to the public.
Panelists / Presenters:
Carl Dillon, Jr.
President/CEO, Urban Restoration Enhancement Corporation
Carl Dillon Jr. is a nationally credentialed leader whose expertise spans affordable housing, community development, business management and economic development finance. As Urban Restoration Enhancement Corporation’s President & CEO, Carl oversees the organization’s mission, community development priorities, business operations, and funding priorities with integrity, while ensuring thriving relationships with community partners. He has cultivated relationships with financial institutions and local partners to secure funding for new affordable housing developments in Baton Rouge. He also provided direct oversight for site acquisition, planning, construction, and rehabilitation of UREC’s major affordable housing developments. Carl is a driving force behind UREC’s community development work and has been an integral part of UREC’s strategic accomplishments since joining the organization in 2007.
Rachelle Sanderson
Director of Planning, Capital Region Planning Commission
With over seven years of experience as an award winning climate adaptation professional, Rachelle Sanderson (she/her) has built her career by combining her passion for people-oriented planning and climate justice by working with communities and local governments to build capacity to address the climate crisis and the issues that intersect with it. As the Director of Planning with Capital Region Planning Commission she oversees the following program areas: Region 7 of the Louisiana Watershed Initiative, Broadband, Capital Region Transportation Safety Coalition, Active Transportation, Economic Development, and Transportation Planning.
Laura Tuggle
Executive Director, Southeast Louisiana Legal Services
Laura Tuggle has been the Executive Director of Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS) since May 2014 after beginning her career at SLLS in 1993. She previously managed SLLS’ Housing Law Unit during the years immediately following Hurricane Katrina from 2005-2010. Over her public interest career, she has excelled in many areas including direct services, systemic work, and policy advocacy resulting in increased access to housing for special populations including the homeless, people living disabilities, and disaster survivors. Impact litigation filed by Laura resulted in significant legal victories for low-income tenants including millions of dollars in federal relocation assistance and establishing a private right of action for voucher assisted tenants to challenge utility allowances in federal court. Laura has received national, state, and local awards for her work in the interest of housing justice.
Lockset
Cloudburst: The Work of Matt Kenyon is open to the public, at no cost to visitors during normal gallery hours, through August 31, 2022.