Community Invited to Attend Fair Housing Luncheon Hosted by Paducah Human Rights Commission on Thursday, April 17
The Paducah Human Rights Commission is inviting the community to attend the Fair Housing Luncheon on Thursday, April 17 to celebrate April’s National Fair Housing Month. The luncheon will be held at the Robert Cherry Civic Center located at 2701 Park Avenue with lunch to be served starting at 11:30 a.m. The program begins at noon with a recorded message from Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. Guest speakers are Paducah Cooperative Ministry Executive Director Lacy Boling and Interim Paducah Housing Authority Executive Director/Section 8 Program Director Lasica Allen McEwen. The event will conclude by 1 p.m.
There is no charge to attend the Fair Housing Luncheon; however, registration is required in order to provide the caterer with an expected attendance. To register, please visit Fair Housing Luncheon Registration. The deadline to register is by the end of the business day on Friday, April 11.
Mayor George Bray said, “Fair Housing Month is a time to recognize the importance of equal access to housing that is free from discrimination. Our two guest speakers for this year’s Fair Housing Luncheon will express what fair housing means to their respective agencies. Paducah Cooperative Ministry will discuss the impact of available housing on homelessness, and Paducah Housing Authority’s Section 8 Housing will discuss how they work to eliminate disparities in Paducah and McCracken County and how landlords can participate. I encourage interested citizens and landlords to attend to learn more.”
Those who should attend the Fair Housing Luncheon include
- Real estate professionals.
- Government officials and policymakers.
- Housing advocates and activists.
- Landlords.
- Community leaders.
- Housing counselors and social service providers.
- Students and academics.
Paducah Human Rights Commission Chairman Robert Hernandez said, "During Fair Housing Month, we are working to bring awareness to the topic to ensure that everyone has equal access to safe, affordable housing. Even though it has been more than 50 years since the passage of the Fair Housing Act, there is an ongoing fight against housing discrimination. Our goal is to shed light on these disparities and work together as a community to enhance awareness of fair housing rights."
April is National Fair Housing Month which commemorates the passage of the Fair Housing Act on April 11, 1968. This landmark civil rights law, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, prohibits discrimination in housing because of race, color national origin, religion, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, and familial status.
City of Paducah Diversity Specialist Daisha Johnson assists the Paducah Human Rights Commission and helps organize the Fair Housing Luncheon.
Johnson said, “The Fair Housing Luncheon is both an educational and community-building event. Networking and collaboration can lead to more collective efforts toward ending housing discrimination. The Paducah Human Rights Commission will continue to encourage a more inclusive community where all individuals, regardless of where they live, do not experience discrimination.”
About Lacy Boling Lacy Boling has an extensive work history in management in both the corporate world and in the nonprofit sector. She, her husband of seventeen years, and two children (ages 13 and 16) are active in the community, and her children attend Paducah Public Schools. Lacy is a member and Deacon at Immanuel Baptist Church, a Rotarian, and chair of the board of directors at Paducah Tilghman’s Tornado Alley Student Resource Center. Lacy is known for her clever sense of humor and finds her daily interactions with people to be the most meaningful to her.
About Lasica Allen McEwen Lasica Allen McEwen is a housing professional with more than 14 years of experience, currently serving as both program director for the Section 8 voucher program and interim executive director for the Paducah Housing Authority. She holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and an HCV Management Certification. Beyond her professional life, she coaches 7th grade girls’ basketball at Paducah Middle School and in her spare time volunteers as a math tutor. Lasica loves sports and enjoys crafting projects for family and friends. A native of Joliet, Illinois, Lasica and her husband are Paducah residents.
About the Paducah Human Rights Commission The Paducah Human Rights Commission was established in 1964. The Commission is a seven-member board governed by Paducah Code of Ordinances Chapter 58-31.
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