Housing is health and the pandemic has made the racial and economic gaps as well as the policies that connect these basic human needs unmistakable. Join us for for thoughtful discussion, information and resources to help create healthy NJ homes and communities during this health crisis and beyond. 

Tuesday, April 27, 2021
9am-1pm | Via Zoom
$30 for Members | $50 for Non Members

Featured Guest Speaker:
New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy will be joining us LIVE for this year's event! The First Lady's Nurture NJ initiative lays out a strategic plan that aims to make New Jersey a safer, more equitable state to deliver and raise a baby. The plan examines the structural barriers and systemic racism that impact maternal health and seeks to reduce maternal mortality in the state by 50 percent over five years and eliminate racial disparities in birth outcomes.

Keynote Speaker:
Our keynote will be delivered by Samuel Ross, M.D., M.S., retired President of Bon Secours Baltimore Health System and Chief Community Health Officer of Bon Secours Mercy Health, one of the largest health care systems in the nation. Dr. Ross has been responsible for a vast network of community outreach divisions that focus on positively impacting outcomes that influence the social determinants of health, i.e. affordable housing, education, job skills, behavioral health, substance abuse and rehabilitation.

Workshops:

Homelessness is a Public Health Crisis: What’s Being Done Locally
Hear a discussion with the City of Newark’s Homeless Czar and non-profits in Trenton and Atlantic City about how they are addressing homelessness during the pandemic and what they see as possible long-term solutions coming out of this crisis.
Panelists:
Aimée Maier, MSW, Director of Emergency Services, Trenton Rescue Mission
Laura Rodgers, LCSW, Chief Program & External Relations Officer, JFS in Atlantic & Cape May Counties
Sakinah Hoyte, Homeless Czar, City of Newark

Renter Empowerment & Neighborhood Tools (RENT) for Health Equity
With support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, HCDNNJ and Ironbound Community Corporation are leading this initiative that combines system changes at the state level with local organizing to increase tenant power. Hear from elected officials, community leaders and renters about the effort to amplify tenant voices and secure statewide changes necessary to improve health outcomes and cultivate a culture of health in our communities.
Panelists:
Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake (LD-34)
Barbara George Johnson, Vice President, John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research

The Impact of COVID-19 on Living Arrangements for Seniors, Multi-generational Housing, and Congregate Settings
Learn how CDCs and other community-based organizations are overcoming the challenges COVID-19 has created for New Jersey’s aging population and the family members that live with them. Speakers from various organizations and departments will outline the effects that living under one roof, whether in their own home or in a shelter environment, has had on residents attempting to stay healthy during the pandemic, and strategies to ensure they are successful.
Panelists:
Melissa Chalker, Deputy Division Director, Division of Aging Services – Department of Human Services
Christine Newman, Director of Community Outreach and Volunteer Engagement – AARP NJ
Michael George Johnson, Regional Director of Community Life for New York/New Jersey, The Community Builders Inc. 

BE A CHAMP: Building Healthy Homes through Partnerships - Where Do We Go from Here?
Hospitals and Community Development Corporations have forged strong relationships to build healthy, affordable homes. In this session, we explore Community Health Action Mobilization Programs and Strategies (CHAMPS) and hear highlights of what has been accomplished to date and where we go from here.
Panelists:
DeAnna Minus-Vincent, Senior Vice President, Chief Social Integration and Health Equity Strategist, RWJBarnabas Health
Jaymie Santiago, President & CEO, New Brunswick Tomorrow
Leslie Stivale, President & CEO, Triple C Housing

Creating Healthy Communities: Addressing Health Disparities During COVID-19 and Beyond
The pandemic laid bare many of the disproportionate health outcomes experienced by Black and brown residents in NJ. From initiating mental health services to expanding vaccine availability, community leaders and health experts are working to ensure equity in our communities. Hear about their experiences in the field and discuss how we can address these challenges now and in the future.
Panelists:
Bridget Phifer, Executive Director, Parkside Business and Community in Partnership