ADVANCING RACIAL EQUITY BY PROVIDING A QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HOME FOR EVERY MILWAUKEEAN
Join us at GATHER at Deer District!
333 W. Juneau Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53203
Overview
The CDA Annual Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 16, 2025 from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm.
The focus of this year’s conference is a continuation of the vital work we began during the 2024 conference, “Building a Homeowner and Future Homeowner Bill of Rights.”
This year, we are diving deeper into the Homeowner Bill of Rights to identify policy priorities to address over the coming year.
Please join us as we work to make affordable, quality homeownership available for all Milwaukeeans!
EXPERIENCE THE HIGHLIGHTS: 2024 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
"Building a Homeowner and Future Homeowner Bill of Rights"
Community Development Alliance 2025 Annual Conference
"Protecting Aging Neighbors from Displacement"
CONFERENCE BACKGROUND
Milwaukee residents have elevated displacement as posing a risk to the quality of life of past, present and future generations in vulnerable Milwaukee neighborhoods. If our city's aging neighbors cannot afford their homes, they will be displaced from their neighborhoods. This leaves aging neighbors without stable housing, and neighborhoods lose quality inventory for future generations when investors buy those homes. Communities across the country have helped solve this problem by providing for a lower property tax rate for aging neighbors. For too long in Wisconsin we have been intimidated by our state’s Uniformity Clause, but other states have successfully amended their Uniformity Clauses to protect aging neighbors. Join us in learning from allies in other states and help set a path forward to protect aging neighbors in Milwaukee.
CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES
Residents, Neighborhood Organizations, Advocacy Organizations, Implementors, Philanthropy, Investors, and other allies from the public and private sector, are invited to:
-
Understand the extent of displacement of aging neighbors, how Wisconsin property taxes operate, and what other states have done to resolve. Over the last three years, CDA has collaborated with hundreds of residents, and a primary concern continues to be displacement, particularly for aging neighbors. There is confusion on how tax assessments work, and a desire for policy solutions to solve the problem. CDA, and its network of allies, have researched data and strategies from across the country that address displacement for aging neighbors. This information will be shared at the conference.
-
Provide direction on future Policy Changes. A potential policy proposal designed in partnership with allies will be presented for discussion and direction by attendees through several interactive sessions.
-
Build Momentum for Change in Milwaukee. This conference is not just for informational purposes. It is a call for action. Participants will guide future policy work that they are excited about and willing to lend their time, energy and resources to make a reality for aging neighbors in Milwaukee.
AGENDA
8:30 – 9:00 Breakfast and Check In
9:00 – 9:15 Welcome
Ex Fabula Storytellers and Special Guests will kick off the event sharing how displacement is impacting our community.
9:15 – 9:30 Homeownership Update
Resident Advisory Council on Housing members and CDA staff will provide an update on strategies to increase Black & Latino homeownership.
9:30 – 9:45 Homeowner Bill of Rights Update
CDA staff will provide an update on Phase 1 of the Homeowner Bill of Rights and why protections of aging neighbors have emerged as a priority.
9:45 – 10:00 How Assessments in Wisconsin Work
An overview will be provided of how assessments work under existing state and local laws.
10:00 – 10:30 Policy to Protect Aging Neighbors
Pennsylvania and specifically Philadelphia will be featured as a model of how bipartisan support at the state level has provided protections for aging neighbors and others vulnerable
to displacement.
10:30 – 10:45 Wellness Break
10:45 – 11:30 Exercise
Participants will participate in an interactive exercise to understand and discuss the causes of displacement for aging neighbors.
11:30– 11:45 Grab Lunch
11:45 – 12:15 A Potential Path Forward
An overview will be provided of a potential path forward for policy change for discussion and direction by participants.
12:15 – 1:00 Exercise
Participants will provide direction on whether the proposal will have the intended impact and any unintended consequences, as well as, organizing strategy and accountability.
1:00 – 1:45 Alliance Panel
Reflections on the days discussion will be highlighted by representatives of each sector of the alliance: residents, neighborhood organizations, implementors, policy organizations, philanthropy, and public/private funders.
1:45 – 2:00 Closing
Ex Fabula Storytellers and CDA staff will close the event with next steps on Protecting Aging Neighbors from Displacement.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Anyone who is passionate about housing and ending systemic racism. Our audience will be made of residents, neighborhood organizations, advocacy organizations, implementers, philanthropic organizations, and other allies from the public and private sector.
Questions? Contact Trenice Ferguson at trenice@housingplan.org for more information.
About CDA
This conference is hosted by the Community Development Alliance (CDA). CDA is a coalition of residents, funders, implementors, and other allies from the public and private sector advancing racial equity by providing a quality affordable home for every Milwaukeean. CDA focuses on systemwide collaboration by implementing the five elements of collective impact: (1) Common Agenda, (2) Shared Measurement, (3) Mutually Reinforcing Activities, (4) Continuous Communication, and (5) Backbone Organization. CDA is an independent 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. In 2021, CDA led the first Collective Affordable Housing Plan adopted by the City, County, and several funders and implementors. CDA has launched an Acquisition Fund to buy homes away from predatory investors and return them to homeowners, an Entry Level Homes on Vacant Lots strategy with more than 150 homes in the pipeline, and alliance members provide downpayment assistance for more than 600 families per year.
