Partnerships in Faith: Houston to host Faith-Based Community Empowerment and Housing Conference on Thursday and Friday, September 19-20, 2002. The conference supports faith-based initiatives by providing tools to help them revitalize their communities.

Keynote Speakers will be Henry Cisneros, Kirbyjon Caldwell, Lisa Cummins and Rev. Mark Whitlock. South Trust Bank and Freddie Mac are teaming up to help Houston’s faith-based organizations learn how to energize their communities and encourage economic growth.
Partnerships In Faith: A Faith-Based Community Empowerment and Housing Conference is designed to provide faith-based organizations with financial tools, training and information that can help generate local business growth and expand affordable homeownership opportunities. SouthTrust Bank is a subsidiary of the nation’s 18th largest bank holding company, and Freddie Mac is one of the nation’s largest investors in residential mortgages.

The conference will feature national and local experts on faith-based initiatives including Rev. Caldwell, senior pastor of Windsor Village United Methodist Church; Lisa T. Cummins, deputy director, faith-based and community initiatives, U.S. Department of Houston and Urban Development; Henry Cisneros, former Secretary of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and Rev. Mark E. Whitlock, II, minister and economic development officer for the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles.

Participants will learn the benefits of community development, the basics of providing affordable housing, how to conduct personal financial literacy education programs, how to develop a business plan, how to identify community partners, how to obtain financing and where to find funding.

The conference will be held at the Power Center, 12401 South Post Oak Road. Registration for the conference can be made by calling 1-800-240-5300.