The Baltimore Housing Roundtable has hosted three 10 week leadership schools that analyze the history of housing and development in our city. We have conducted three leadership schools since fall of 2014, with over 50 graduates who are prepared to carry on this work in a variety of roles. In 2016 we expanded our vision and hosted Fair Development Leadership School, a course encompassing housing, jobs, and environment with our largest class yet! 

Learning Objectives:

A). Students will understand the difference between housing as a right and housing as a commodity by studying the history of the “housing crisis” and the major structures that influence housing.

• Students will understand that in Baltimore City, historically and currently, housing policy is discriminatory, racist, and values profit over human dignity.
• Students will determine the two or three “root forces” most responsible for the housing crisis, the values underlying these forces, and whose interest is served by them.

B). Students will study alternative models for housing that are based on human rights values and interests, particularly Community Land Trusts and shared equity housing. This includes understanding human rights principles as informing this model and evaluating this model.

C). Students will understand that the current housing system is determined by political power and will reflect on the nature of building power, the role that political analysis, community building, and developing leaders plays in this process. Students will review the three-phase housing campaign strategic document as it relates to the processes of building power.

D). Students will apply key lessons from the Leadership School to carry out campaign activities in their communities. 

Graduates Donald Gresham and Chris Lafferty reflect on their experiences: