Workshop and
Speakers
#FHCRC2025
19TH ANNUAL
Fair Housing &
Civil Rights Conference
May 20-22, 2025
2025 Conference Workshops, a work in progress
May 20, 2025
9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Morning Plenary
State of Fair Housing
Hear from fair housing center advocates on tools and strategies on the ground, including litigating with the state agencies as well as in state and federal court to enforce civil rights laws.
Featuring:
Michelin Cahill, Senior Supervising Attorney, Fair Housing Project of Community Legal Aid
Kristina da Fonseca, Executive Director, South Coast Fair Housing.
Pam Heller, Staff Attorney and Co-Director of Fair Housing Enforcement, CT Fair Housing Center.
Jess Labrencis, Staff Attorney and Co-Director of Fair Housing Enforcement, CT Fair Housing Center.
Maureen St. Cyr,Executive Director, Massachusetts Fair Housing.
Kelly Viera
10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Protecting Immgrant Farmworkers in MA in the Trump Administration
Presented by Central West Justice Center staff:
Maya McCann, Staff Attorney.
Claudia Quintero, Director.
Ben Rodgers, Skadden Fellow.
10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Organizational Inclusion in the Time of Political Backlash
Presented by:
Fadia Nordveit, Springfield College and New York University.
10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
TBD
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Lunchtime Plenary
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Fair Housing 101
Presented by:
Jasmin Rojas, Vice President, Housing Education Services, Way Finders.
When we speak of fair housing rights, we are drawing on an interplay of federal and state regulations that can vary in their specifics from state to state but still share a common purpose. With primary focus on one state (Massachusetts), this workshop will explore the basics of how federal and state fair housing laws can join together to create an overall pattern of protection.
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Fair Housing and Admissions for Housing Applicants with Criminal Records
Presented by:
Peyton Cernak, Burlington Housing.
Jerren Chang, President & CEO, Partners in Democracy.
Leslie Credle, Founder and Executive Director of Justice 4 Housing (J4H).
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Equitable Relief: Social time with snacks and drinks
Join us in the Blake Law School Commons to mix, mingle, commiserate, and recharge! Free for all conference attendees.
May 21, 2025
9:00 a.m. to 10:00a.m.
Morning Plenary
TBD
10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Legal Protections for Survivors of Gender-Based Violence in Housing
Presented by:
Michelin Cahill, Senior Supervising Attorney, Fair Housing Project.
Julia Devanthery, Visiting Assistant Clinical Professor of Law, Director of Clinical Pedagogy and Curricular Innovation for the Legal Services Center, Director of the Housing Justice for Survivors Project.
10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
TBD
10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
TBD
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Lunchtime Plenary
TBD
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Tenant Organizing and Power
Panelists:
Chelsea Connery, Staff Attorney, CT Fair Housing Center.
Luke Melonakos-Harrison, Community Organizer, CT Fair Housing Center.
Sarah White, Staff Attorney, CT Fair Housing Center.
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
The State of Civil Rights so far in the Trump Era
Presented by:
Bill Newman, ACLU of Massachusetts
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Sexual Exploitation in Housing
Panelists:
Gregory Dorchak, Assistant United States Attorney, Civil Rights Unit.
Hillary Harnett
Elizabeth Riley
May 22, 2025
9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Morning Plenary
TBD
10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Future of Civil Rights
Panelists: TBD