Assistant Secretary Kim Kendrick, Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, served as the keynote speaker for the 6th Annual Fair Housing Month Conference. The event was sponsored by the Fair Housing Alliance of Greater Memphis in conjunction with the City of Memphis, the Community Development Council, Memphis Consumer Credit, Shelby County Government, and the Tennessee Human Rights Commission. Other area partners that helped in planning the event included the Memphis Center for Independent Living, Memphis Area Legal Services, Fair Housing Center and the Memphis HUD Field Office.

FHEO Assistant Secretary Kim Kendrick addresses Memphis Field Office staff at an All Employee meeting.

FHEO Assistant Secretary Kim Kendrick with Richard Redmon, Equal Opportunity Specialist and Yvonne Leander, Memphis Field Office Director.

A performance was given during the reception by Yo! Memphis featuring Geddeon McKinney, 2006 American Idol Finalist.

The theme for this year's conference was adopted from the national fair housing theme, "Fair Housing: It's Not an Option, It's the Law". The event was held at the Benjamin Hooks Library. Ms. Kendrick in her address to conference participants stressed the fact that the Department was serious and committed to enforcing the Fair Housing Act. Ms. Kendrick talked about this being the 38th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 and the advances that have been made over the last 38 years. Ms. Kendrick discussed HUD initiatives that included relief and housing for evacuees of the Katrina and Rita hurricanes. Ms. Kendrick during her visit also addressed HUD employees at an all employee meeting and later took a tour of the National Civil Rights Museum and made opening remarks at the Fair Housing Month reception being held at the Museum. A performance was given by the Yo! Memphis Choir that featured 2006 American Idol finalist Geddeon McKinney. Other conference sessions included a presentation and testimonials by Alpha Omega Veterans Services, Industry's response to Fair Housing Accessibility and Reasonable Accommodation/Modification requirements by the recent past president of the Southeast Affordable Housing Management Association (SAHMA), a presentation on accessible housing requirements from two FHIP grantees, and concluding sessions on predatory lending practices from representatives from the Memphis Fair Housing Center, the NAACP, the FBI and FDIC. Over 100 people attended the fair housing conference and close to 125 attended the reception.