MCH Conference a Huge Success!

Nearly 400 people attended the September 29-30 conference in Minneapolis!  Highlights included:

• Gubernatorial Candidate Forum presented by MCH, Minnesota Housing Partnership, and A Minnesota Without Poverty;
• Keynote speakers RT Rybak, Melvin Carter, Donna Smith, Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman, and Fond du Lac Tribal Chair Karen Diver;
• 40 conference workshops covering a wide range of topics;
• The Coalition Marketplace hosted artists who have experienced homelessness - they sold cards, scarves, paintings, books, wall hangings, and much more;
• 40 conference scholarships to people currently/recently homeless (with generous support from Open Your Heart, Hennepin County, and Catholic Campaign for Human Development).
• The 2009 Bruce Vento Distinguished Service Awards were presented to Lester Drift of Bois Forte Human Services and the late Ken Kunzman from Counselor Realty in Anoka;
• Screening of the inspiring film, Pray the Devil Back to Hell, about the women of Liberia who joined together to end a brutal civil war;

Thank you to all our speakers, presenters, participants, and exhibitors for making it a wonderful event!