Keynote Address

“Health, Housing, and Strengthening Our Community’s ‘Social Immune System'”

Suzanne H. Crowhurst Lennard, Ph.D. (Architecture), Executive Director, International Making Cities Livable Conferences

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Panel Discussion

“Integrating Health and Housing: A Cross-Sector Conversation”

3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The afternoon will begin with a keynote address by Dr. Suzanne Lennard. Dr. Lennard is Co-founder and Director of the International Making Cities Livable Conferences and Co-founder and Director of Child-Friendly Communities Alliance. Her work addresses the social, cultural, and psychological aspects of architecture, urban design and city-making, clarifying how the built environment affects social interaction, health, and quality of everyday life. Her studies focus particular attention on the way the built environment affects the lives of children and youth; the relationship between physical health, social health, housing, and the built environment; walkability, bikeability, and transit; mixed use urban fabric and livability; the public square as the community’s “heart,” and how communities can strengthen their “social immune systems.”

The keynote address will be followed by a panel discussion. Panelists will discuss the implications of Dr. Lennard’s research on issues we face in our community related to health, wellness, and housing.

Leanne Berge, Esq., Chief Executive of Community Health Plan of Washington and Community Health Network of Washington, sponsor of “Healthy Housing Day,” will make introductory comments and provide an overview of the panel discussion.

Confirmed panelists are:

• April Barker, Bellingham City Council
• Dr. Greg Baker, Superintendent, Bellingham Public Schools
• Derek Long, Executive Director, Sustainable Connections
• Astrid Newell, Community Health Manager, Whatcom County Health Department (Moderator)
• Des Skubi, Executive Director, Unity Care NW
• Ross Quigley, Director, Home Improvement Program, Opportunity Council

This event is approved for 3.5 Health/Safety/Welfare continuing educational units by the American Institute of Architects.  

The venue for the afternoon will be the brand-new Eleanor Apartments, an affordable senior housing community located at 1510 North Forest St. in Bellingham.