MEDIA ADVISORY

WASHINGTON - This year, the United States will play host to World Habitat Day, an annual international event sponsored by the United Nations General Assembly to promote innovations in affordable housing and sustainable urban development. The U.S. is hosting the global celebration for the first time ever with several events planned in Washington, DC, across the country, and throughout the world.

This year's theme is Planning Our Urban Future and associated events are intended to raise awareness for the need to improve urban planning to deal with new major challenges of the 21st century. Nations, cities and towns across the globe are increasingly feeling the effects of climate change, resource depletion, food insecurity, population growth, and economic instability. These factors will significantly reshape our communities in the century ahead.

SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY, OCT. 1, 2009

WHAT: Whose American Dream: Moving toward a balanced housing policy

WHO:

John Trasviña, Assistant Secretary, Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Liz Blake, Senior Vice President, Advocacy, Government Affairs and General Counsel, Habitat for Humanity International
Darren Walker, Vice President, Foundation Initiatives, The Rockefeller Foundation
Nic Retsinas, Director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard University
Jane Vincent, Vice President-International, National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO)
Ken Wade, Chief Executive Officer, NeighborWorks® America
Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Research, National Association of REALTORS®

WHEN: 8 A.M. - 11 A.M. Thursday, October 1, 2009

WHERE:

National Press Club
529 14th Street NW,
Washington, D.C.

Leading experts will explore the appropriate role of housing policy in meeting the housing needs of low income families and revitalizing neighborhoods in the context of America's new economic reality. Habitat for Humanity's 2010 Shelter Report on the success and benefits of low-income homeownership will also be released.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Derek LaVallee (202) 615-7134
Habitat for Humanity International

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS MONDAY, OCT. 5, 2009

WHAT: World Habitat Day Celebration

WHO:

Susan Rice, U.N. Ambassador
Melody Barnes, Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council
Shaun Donovan, Secretary, U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development
Dr. Anna Tibaijuka, UN-HABITAT Executive Director
Dr. Judith Rodin, President, The Rockefeller Foundation
Jon Bon Jovi, Member of the U.S. World Habitat Day Honorary Committee

WHEN: 8:45 A.M. - 11 A.M. Monday, October 5, 2009

WHERE:

National Building Museum
401 F St NW #215
Washington, D.C. 20001

The official kick-off for the 2009 World Habitat Day global observance will feature a video welcome by President Barack Obama and remarks from rock star Jon Bon Jovi, a member of the U.S. World Habitat Day Honorary Committee, who will also perform. The celebration also features the presentation of UN-HABITAT's prestigious Habitat Scroll of Honour and the World Habitat Awards by the Building and Social Housing Foundation of the United Kingdom.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sharad Shankardass: (202) 454-2140
UN HABITAT

Bryna Lipper: (202) 272-2448
National Building Museum

Teresa Wells: (212) 852-8304 or (347) 463-8314
The Rockefeller Foundation

Jerry Brown: (202) 285-7704
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

WHAT: Forum on Livable Communities

WHO:

Adolfo Carrion, White House Office on Urban Affairs Director
Ron Sims, HUD Deputy Secretary
Dr. Anna Tibaijuka, UN-HABITAT Executive Director
Valerie Santos Young, Deputy Mayor of Washington D.C.
Johannes Linn, Director of Brookings Institution's Wolfensohn Center for Development and Senior Fellow, Brookings Global Economy and Development

WHEN: 3 - 5 P.M. Monday, October 5, 2009

WHERE:

Howard University
Cramton Auditorium
2455 Sixth St. NW
Washington, DC 20059

Hosted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Howard University, and its partners, this event will showcase a variety of perspectives in addressing the 2009 World Habitat Day theme "Planning Our Urban Future." The program will also include an opportunity for invited guests to share innovations in planning tomorrow's livable communities.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sharad Shankardass: (202) 454-2140
UN HABITAT

Bryna Lipper: (202) 272-2448
National Building Museum

Jerry Brown: (202) 285-7704
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

WHAT: World Habitat Day Honorary Committee Dinner

WHO:

Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement
Shaun Donovan, HUD Secretary
Dr. Anna Tibaijuka, UN-HABITAT Executive Director
Dr. Judith Rodin, President, The Rockefeller Foundation

WHEN: 6:30 - 10:30 P.M. Monday, October 5, 2009

WHERE:

National Building Museum
401 F St NW #215
Washington, D.C. 20001

Description of dinner/performances: An international gathering paying tribute to nearly 300 Representatives from non-profits, community based organizations, foundations and other governmental entities who work in the urban policy arena.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Teresa Wells: (212) 852-8304 or (347) 463-8314
The Rockefeller Foundation

WHAT: World Habitat Day - Habitat for Humanity Build Event

WHO:

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.)
Dr. Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director, UN-HABITAT
Jonathan Reckford, CEO, Habitat for Humanity International

WHEN: 8:30 A.M. - 1 P.M. Tuesday, October 6, 2009

WHERE:

55th and Clay Streets, NE
Washington, D.C.

In recognition of World Habitat Day, join D.C. Habitat for Humanity and Habitat for Humanity International for a volunteer build day at D.C. Habitat's 53 home development in Northeast Washington, D.C. This event includes a build starting at 8:30 a.m. and lunch at noon. There will be a brief speaking program and wall-raising at 11:30 a.m.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Derek LaVallee (202) 615-7134

WHAT: Urbanization, Slums and the Future of U.S. Foreign Assistance

WHO:

Dr. Anna Tibaijuka, UN-HABITAT Executive Director
David Devlin-Foltz, Vice President, Policy Programs, and Director, Continuous Progress Strategic Services, Aspen Institute
Peter Kimm, Chairman of the Board, International Housing Coalition
Neil Peirce, Author, The Century of the City
Sam Worthington, President and CEO, InterAction
Robert Buckley, Managing Director, Program Initiatives, Rockefeller Foundation
William Cobbett, Programme Manager, Cities Alliance

WHEN: 10 - 12 P.M. Wednesday, October 7, 2009

WHERE:

Peterson Institute for International Economics
1750 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036

Hosted by the International Housing Coalition, Habitat for Humanity International, UN HABITAT, The Aspen Institute, Cities Alliance, and InterAction, and sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation, this event will highlight the challenges and opportunities of urbanization, exploring the link between urban growth in developing countries and issues of climate change, public health, national security, and economic development. The moderated panel discussion will also examine the role of U.S. Foreign Assistance in mitigating urbanization's negative impacts. The newly completed, Rockefeller-funded, IHC White Paper, "The Challenge of an Urban World: An Opportunity for U.S. Foreign Assistance" will be distributed at the event.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

International Housing Coalition: Robert Dubinsky (202) 408-8506
Nicole Weir (202) 408-8507

Learn more about World Habitat Day on HUD's website.

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