That’s a wrap on the Disability-Forward Housing Futures Summit! A huge thank-you to everyone who joined us — both in person and online — and to the incredible presenters, partners, and advocates who made this day of learning and connection possible.
We’re so grateful for this powerful community of disability-forward housing champions. We’re feeling energized, proud, and more hopeful than ever about the future we’re building together. Look out for resources and recorded sessions from the Summit in our Learn Center soon.
Here was the day’s agenda:
Attendee Check In & Continental Breakfast:
8:00 – 8:50 AM
Optional Small Group Tour of The Kelsey Civic Center
8:15 – 8:45 AM
How Did We Get Here?
9:00 – 9:10 AM
Opening – Micaela Connery CEO and Co-Founder of The Kelsey
Welcome and Introduction – Keah Brown, Emcee
Accessible
9:10 – 10:15 AM
Explores practical, cross-disability design strategies, and policy innovations to reimagine what truly accessible, inclusive, and creatively designed housing can look like.
Sessions:
Cross-Disability Design for Inclusive Futures – Anne Riggs (David Baker Architects), Sarah Vaccaro (Architects FORA), Jeffrey Mansfield (MASS Design) | Moderator: Erick Mikiten (Mikiten Architecture)
Inclusive Motion: Activating Body and Mind – Octavia Hingle (AXIS Dance Company)
Dreaming Boldly: Inclusive Communities Through Art and Design – William Scott and Julie Plasencia (Creative Growth)
Disability-Forward YIMBY (Yes, In My Back Yard) – Ed Mendoza (California YIMBY)
10:15 – 10:30 AM – Break & Learning Lounges
Affordable
10:30 – 12:00 PM
Introduces foundational concepts of affordable housing finance, explores how funders and municipal leaders are integrating disability into housing and justice frameworks, and highlights opportunities, challenges, and creative pathways toward funding inclusive, disability-forward housing solutions.
Sessions:
Embedding Inclusion in Local & Regional Housing Strategies – Kristi Malone (Teton County, WY Housing Department ), Kunal Modi (City of San Francisco Health and Human Services Office), Dr. Meghan Venable-Thomas (City of Birmingham, AL Community Development Office) | Moderator: Cecile Chalifour (Chase Bank)
Housing Finance for Disability-Forward Housers – Sam Greenberg (The Kelsey)
Creative Independence: Featuring Disabled Artists in Residential Spaces – JayD Green (Creativity Explored) and Michael Korcek (Artlifting)
Funding Disability Justice and Housing Justice: Funder Perspectives – Nikki Brown Booker (Borealis Philanthropy), Jack Mahoney (Silicon Valley Community Foundation) | Moderator: Micaela Connery (The Kelsey)
12:00 – 1:00 PM – Lunch & Learning Lounges
12:30 – 1:00 PM – Optional Small Group Tour of The Kelsey Civic Center
Inclusive
1:00 – 2:45 PM
Centers resident voices, explores how formal and informal supports—especially Medicaid-funded services—can be integrated into housing, and uplifts visionary perspectives.
Sessions:
Anchored in Inclusion – Molly Wiesman (The Kelsey)
The Cost of Community Living – Alice Wong (disabled activist, writer, editor, and community organizer)
Supportive Communities – The Formal and Informal – Jessica Lehman (Community Organizer), Brittanie Hernandez-Wilson (Hand in Hand: the Domestic Employers Network), Kelechi Ubozoh (Author) | Moderator: Allie Cannington (The Kelsey)
Strong Verses in the Time Of Political Upheaval – Lateef McLeod (Poet)
Home and Belonging: Resident Perspectives on Disability-Forward Housing – The Kelsey Residents: Daniel, Alex, Jonta, Rudy, Odjahnae
2:45 – 3:00 PM – Break & Learning Lounges
What’s Possible
3:00 – 5:15 PM
Closes the summit by focusing on actionable strategies, examples from the field, and a forward-looking policy framework to show how we can build the disability-forward housing future envisioned throughout the day.
Sessions:
Real Life Stories of Inclusive Self Determined Resident Programs – Joe Wilson (Hospitality House)
Leading Towards an Inclusive Housing Future – Rebecca Cokley (Ford Foundation) and Abby Yim (Integrated Community Services)
What We’ve Learned: Housers from the Field – Micaela Connery (The Kelsey), Mark Dunham (All In & Kindred Strategies), Marisela Fuller (Innovative Housing Options) | Moderator: Eli Gelardin (City of San Francisco’s Mayor’s Office on Disability and Accessibility)
Policy Framework for the Disability-Forward Future – Allie Cannington (The Kelsey)
Collective Commitments – Keah Brown and The Kelsey team
The Work Ahead – Allie Cannington and Micaela Connery (The Kelsey)
5:15 – 5:45 PM: Optional Small Group Tour of The Kelsey Civic Center
5:15 – 6:00 PM – Networking Reception
Photo Credits: Scott Roeder / Oh Snap! Visuals