Contact
Brittany MellingerPennsylvania Human Relations Commission
717-649-4824
bmellinger@pa.gov
Conference Schedule:
8:30-9 am Registration & Breakfast
9 am Opening Remarks
9:30 am Session #1: Building Equality
11:10 am Session #2: Ensuring Justice for All
12:15 pm Lunch & Keynote Address Dr. Andre Perry will deliver the keynote address on “Know Your Price: Valuing Black Lives and Property in America”
2 pm Session #3: Redlining Today
3:15 pm Session #4: School’s in Session
4:15 pm Closing Remarks
COVID-19 Precautions
Please be aware that the room set up for this event has been altered for moderate social distancing. Hand sanitizer will be readily available. The conference area has been sanitized and provides ample ventilation. Masks are not required, but are recommended for attendees, given we have attendees traveling from across the state. We ask that if you have been exposed to COVID or are experiencing symptoms, please stay home and join the event online.
Panelist Biographies:
Panel #1: Building Equality
Ben J. Laudermilch, Inglis Housing Corporation
Ben is the VP / Executive Director, Inglis Housing Corporation. Ben oversees all of Inglis’ efforts in developing and managing independent living communities for people with disabilities. Prior to joining Inglis, Ben served as the Executive Housing Director for the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services overseeing housing initiatives across the Commonwealth. Most recently, Ben was the Housing Director for the Department of Corrections, focusing on developing housing opportunities for reentering Pennsylvanians. He also worked for nearly a decade for the Cumberland County Housing and Redevelopment Authorities in various roles, including Executive Director of both authorities.
Maria Gonzalez, HACE
As President for HACE, Maria Nixa Gonzalez heads HACE’s development team managing over $100M of commercial and housing development projects that have contributed to the stabilization and revitalization of the Fairhill and St. Hugh Neighborhoods. Since 1996, she has been responsible for raising development capital from a broad base of private and public foundations and governmental bodies. Mrs. Gonzalez’ most notable achievement is the creation of a supportive community for elders through the development of affordable rental housing and the construction of a Life Center that provides frail elders with social and health services so that they can remain living at home for as long as possible.
Lena Andrews, Action Housing
Lena Andrews is the Director of Real Estate Development with ACTION-Housing where she leads the real estate development group creating community-driven affordable housing in complex urban settings throughout the Pittsburgh region. Prior to her tenure at ACTION, Lena managed planning for Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority. Lena is passionate about building diverse, vibrant connected urban communities.
Ned Howe, Enterprise Housing
Ned Howe is Vice President of Development Planning and Acquisitions for ECD. In this capacity, he pursues new development opportunities for rental and homeownership communities throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. In his eight years with ECD, Mr. Howe has been instrumental in land acquisition and development of affordable and market rate communities. Many of these developments, such as the Greens at Irvington Mews, the Greens at Hammonds Lane, and Metro Heights at Mondawmin have earned awards of distinction from industry publications and organizations.
Dana Hanchin, HDC MidAtlantic
With 25 years of experience in addressing the complex needs of lower-income communities and leading affordable housing initiatives, Dana Hanchin serves as President and CEO of HDC MidAtlantic. Founded in 1971, HDC MidAtlantic’s mission is to build hope and opportunity for all residents to reach their full potential by creating, preserving, and strengthening affordable housing communities.
Panel #2: Ensuring Justice for All
Rafael Alvarez Fabo, PA Commission on LGBTQ Affairs
Rafael is the Executive Director of the PA Commission on LGBTQ affairs. Rafael comes to the Commonwealth with the background as the Community and Economic Development Coordinator for the Office of Councilwoman Maria Quiñones Sánchez.
Megan Confer-Hammond, Fair Housing Partnership of Greater Pittsburgh
Megan Confer-Hammond became the executive director of the Fair Housing Partnership of Greater Pittsburgh in 2020.
Megan’s fair housing career is driven by both her personal experiences and professional expertise in advocating for equity and access on behalf of a marginalized populations.
Shay’Serrano Serraj, Tread Elite Imports, Serraj Enterprises LLC, and Trans Youth Fellowship
Shay’Serrano Serraj (they/them/he/him) is an LGBTQ+ public speaker, educator, and consultant. They provide presentations and keynote speeches that focus on trans and nonbinary accompliceship, gender identity empowerment, transgender resources, self-acceptance, navigating relationships, and more. As a native of North Philadelphia, Shay’Serrano’s approach to public speaking is a unique blend of street smarts, insight, courageous vulnerability, unbiased perspective, and passionate delivery. Having founded the still-thriving organization ‘Catwalk Modeling Team’ at Kutztown University, he received a Bachelor's degree in Sociology. They’ve since accumulated over 5 years of experience in the human services field empowering marginalized families, focusing on adult mental health advocacy, behavioral health, and child welfare case management.
Zenith Aya, Valley Youth House
Zenith Aya, MSW, has been working with and for marginalized communities for over 10 years. Z believes those who are most impacted should be centered and is passionate about paid peer support and youth advisory boards. Z's current role as Pride Program Supervisor at Valley Youth House involves guiding and developing programs, including rapid rehousing, host homes, transitional housing, and youth advisory boards.
Panel #3: Redlining Today
Michael DeLong, Consumer Federation of America
Michael DeLong joined Consumer Federation of America in April 2020 as the Research and Advocacy Associate for CFA’s Campaign for Fair Auto Insurance. In this role he conducts research on insurance and advocates for better, fairer, and more affordable practices that will protect consumers. He is particularly focused on combating discrimination in auto insurance and homeowners insurance.
Before joining CFA, Michael worked as a healthcare and antitrust advocate, where he organized consumer opposition to harmful mergers. He also served as a Legislative Assistant for two Maryland State Delegates.
Staci Scott, Health Partners Foundation
Staci Scott has 26 years of experience in program administration, operations, strategic planning, philanthropy, and community relations. Her career path is highlighted by a commitment to working with individuals in vulnerable situations helping them navigate through life’s challenges and helping to ensure they have access to and receive the care, services, and support they deserve and need.
Stacy Spann, MidCity
Stacy Spann is President and CEO of MidCity. Stacy joins MidCity from the Housing Opportunities Commission, where he served as Executive Director from 2012 through July 2021.
Prior to joining HOC, Mr. Spann was the Executive Director and Director of Howard County Housing, where he led the county’s housing commission and the county’s Department of Housing and Community Development, and Assistant Commissioner for Development Finance at Baltimore Housing. Mr. Spann has been responsible for the development and rehabilitation of thousands of affordable housing units across the Baltimore and DC Metropolitan areas in Baltimore, Howard County and Montgomery County, Maryland.
Panel #4: School's In Session
Dr. Yamil Sanchez Rivera, Reading School District
Dr. Yamil Sanchez Rivera is an educator and life-long learnerwith over 27 years of experience working with schools and nonprofits. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Villanova University, a Masters’ of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Kutztown University, a Doctorate in Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Lehigh University, and recently completed his MBA also at Lehigh University. Dr. Sanchez has served as a teacher and administrator of youth and family services for nonprofits in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York. Currently, Dr. Sanchez serves as the Chief Administrative Officer with the Reading School District.
Storm Camara, Pennsylvania Department of Education
Raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Storm Yohance’ Camara is the fifth of six children. He was educated in the Philadelphia Public School system, attending the well-known Julia Reynolds Masterman Demonstration School. Storm joined the U.S. Army in February, 1990 at age 17, enlisting as a Medical specialist.
In 2003, he began teaching in Philadelphia, PA. Throughout the 10 ten years that followed, he taught as an Elementary School teacher and as an English/Theatre teacher at various schools in the School District of Philadelphia. In 2014, he was selected to become a School Principal for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Storm currently holds the position of State Coordinator at the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and has lead the Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness program since 2016.
Dr. Nikole Hollins-Sims, PA Department of Education
Nikole Y. Hollins-Sims, Ed.D., is an educational equity, inclusion and belonging expert. She currently serves as the Special Assistant to the Secretary of Education at the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). Dr. Hollins-Sims previously served as an educational consultant for the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN)-Harrisburg Office, where she was the co-statewide lead for the Learning Environment & Engagement initiative.
Michael Hardiman, PA Human Relations Commission
Michael Hardiman currently serves as a Commissioner for the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. He was initially appointed to serve in 2016. Hardiman previously worked for the PHRC for over 33 years. For the last seven years of his career at the Commission he served as Chief Counsel for the Commission. He retired in July 2012.
Hardiman also served in the U.S. Army from September 1969 through March 1972 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in July 1970.