A special certificate of appreciation was presented to Barbara Knox (third from left), Director of the office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Region V office, for her continued support and encouragement of the work of the Fair Housing Legal Support Center and Clinic.  Making the presentation at the 2009 national fair housing conference on September 11, 2009, are Professor Michael Seng (left), Director of the Center, with Merilyn Brown (JD '90), an attorney advisor at Knox's office.  They are joined by John Trasvina, Assistant Secretary, HUD Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.

Employment Opportunities

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity would like to inform you of the following civil-rights job opportunities now posted at usajobs.gov:

Non Federal (Non Status) Employees:

• Equal Opportunity Specialist, GS 11/12 ($56,411 to $87,893) in Las Vegas, NV.   Applicants must apply by Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Federal (Status) Employees:

• Equal Opportunity Specialist, GS-11/12 ($56,411 to $87,893) in Las Vegas, NV.   Applicants must apply by Tuesday, September 29, 2009.

The Fair Housing Center of Southwest Michigan hosted its annual conference on April 3^rd in Kalamazoo, MI.  Visiting Clinical Professor Edward A. Voci presented a session on "Civil Rights and Fair Housing Law." The audience was comprised of property managers, real estate agents mortgage lenders and social services agents.  125 participants attended this annual conference. Mr. Voci also served as the keynote speaker at a special luncheon for the conference sponsors, The Michigan Association of REALTORS, that took place on April 2nd. 

Michael P. Seng traveling to Indianapolis on April 3^rd to participate in the Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum's conference entitled, Fair Housing in Tough Economic Times.  Professor Seng presented a session on "Testing for Fair Housing Violations."

The Fair Housing Council of San Diego honored Professors Michael P. Seng and F. Willis Caruso as two of the five founding presenters at the 15^th Annual Fair Housing Laws & Litigation Conference on February 14-15, 2009.  The conference focused on fair housing training curricula and new strategies for litigation and advocacy and  included 200 national participants that serve a wide array of fair housing professions, including counselors, lenders, real estate professionals, attorneys, public housing authorities and  governments agencies.

Michael P. Seng, Co-Executive Director of the Fair Housing Legal Support Center and Clinic Director Allison K. Bethel participated in a roundtable discussion in January commemorating the work of Dr. Martin Luther King.  The program, entitled "American Dreamer:  A Celebration of the reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." was hosted       by the law school and moderated by Associate Dean Rory Smith.

Professor Michael P. Seng was one of eight fair housing advocates invited to Washington, D.C. on last fall to participate in a roundtable discussion on fair housing with Steve Preston, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  The group discussed the impact of predatory lending and the foreclosure crisis and special problems faced by persons with disabilities. After the roundtable discussion, Professor Seng was a special guest at the dedication of the HUD auditorium in honor of Senators Edward Brooke III and Walter Mondale, who were the principle sponsors of the Fair Housing Act in 1968.  The ceremony focused on the history and passage of the Act and the importance of keeping the idealism that lead to that important Act alive.  The Secretary commented that he hoped that the Brook-Mondale Auditorium at the center of the HUD Building would be a continuing reminder that Fair Housing must be central to all housing initiatives in the United States.  After the ceremony, a reception was held for special guests of the Secretary.