Housing Justice Summit 2025

Housing Justice and Advocacy Teach-In

Saturday July 19th 2025 10AM-3PM

Pivot Center 2937 W 25th St, Cleveland, OH 44113

 

It’s time to save the date for NEOCH’s second annual Housing Justice Summit – a day of education and empowerment for all residents! 

Date: July 19, 2025 

Time: 10am - 3pm 

Location: Pivot Center

2937 W 25th St, Cleveland, OH 44113

It’s more important than ever that we strengthen our collective power as tenants, homeowners and neighbors. Whether you’re a seasoned advocate or a first-time renter, we’ll need each other’s support to make meaningful change. Join us July 19th to learn more about how you can help advance housing justice in your community.  

Featuring:  

  • Workshops and panels covering tenant’s rights, organizing, and housing insecurity 

  • Keynote address from the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, a community organization that has been successfully reclaiming their underserved neighborhood in Boston 

  • Breakfast and lunch provided by local businesses 

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn together, build skills, and make new connections. We are stronger together. Solidarity over everything! 

To help us reach our goal for this community event, we invite you to partner with us in hosting this event by becoming an official sponsor. Your contribution will go towards helping us cover the costs associated with putting on an event of this scale. Sponsorship dollars will assist with preparing for this large event.

We also need volunteers to help run the event! If you are interested, please email Mara-Lia at maralia@neoch.org

RSVP to our Housing Justice Summit 2025

 
 

Speakers at the Summit

John Smith- Executive Director of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative

  • A community development organization, located in the Roxbury area of Boston,  whose mission is to empower the residents of that community to organize, plan for, create and control a vibrant, diverse and high-quality neighborhood in collaboration with partners and stakeholders John brings extensive experience in the nonprofit, government, education, and advocacy fields to his role at DSNI. He also serves as a Commissioner of the Boston Cannabis Board, an independent board charged with reviewing all applicants for a cannabis license in the city of Boston. 

     

    Prior to his role as Executive Director he was the Director of Programs at TSNE MissionWorks directing capacity building work for small and medium sized nonprofits and has served as the Economic Development Policy Analyst in the Walsh Administration's Office of Economic Development for the City of Boston, where he managed major economic development policy initiatives. Before his government experience, John also worked at the Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston, the Hyams Foundation’s Youth Policy Initiative, and the Tennessee Department of 
    Health. 

Rhonda Easley- Board Member of Dayton Tenant Union

  • Rhonda Easley is a native Daytonian of the Gem City and an advocate for housing justice and community empowerment. As a board member of the Dayton Tenants Union, she plays a vital role in advancing grassroots efforts to protect the rights and dignity of residents across the Dayton, Ohio region. 

    Extremely rooted and passionate about tenant protections, affordable housing, and ensuring those impacted by poverty, systemic inequality, or housing insecurity are treated with fairness and humanity. 

    Through her work, Rhonda continues to inspire others to not only speak out—but to believe that a better, more equitable Dayton is possible. 

Bradley Bindokas- Attorney in the Housing Practice Group at the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland

  • Where he represents low-income tenants in eviction defense, housing conditions cases, and systemic advocacy. He previously served as a Staff Attorney at Nueva Luz Urban Resource Center, providing holistic legal services to clients living with HIV/AIDS. Bradley is admitted to practice in Ohio and the U.S. Virgin Islands and brings a deep commitment to housing justice and equity. He also serves on a reentry policy and advocacy committee focused on removing housing barriers for justice-impacted individuals. 

Prerna Agarwal- Co-Op Housing Organizer at Cleveland Owns

  • Prerna (pronounced Prayer-na) Agarwal has been a community organizer for nearly 7 years, building Power through fighting gentrification and expanding community food sovereignty. As the Co-op Housing Organizer with Cleveland Owns they are excited to support cooperative living projects across NEO and are fiercly committed to following in the Zapatista tradition of building a world where many worlds fit. 

Louis Brownlowe- Granada Tenant Association President

Bridgette Smith-Jackson -Tenant Advocate

Jerry Pena- Cleveland Votes

Damon Krane- UACT

Markeisha Moore- Community Organizer DSNI