Events

Call for Session Proposals

Share your experience as a housing and community development professional by submitting a session proposal for the 2024 NAHRO National Conference! We are planning for sessions to occur live and in-person in Orlando. Virtual presentations will not be considered. The Call for Session Proposals submission close date is May 10.

All proposals must be submitted thru NAHRO’s online submission portal. Click the button below to submit. You will need to create a log-in for the portal — this is different from your NAHRO log-in.

Proposal Guidelines:
NAHRO is looking for your best 90 minute session proposals on current and emerging issues, programs, legislation and regulation; best practices; and strategies to handle challenges facing the industry. Ideal are speakers who reflect our audience and can share their experiences and expertise, as well as, provide new thinking. Different types/styles of presentations are encouraged…panels, debates, round-table discussions, etc. Presentations can be designed for all levels of experience – from fundamental to intermediate to advance. It’s very important that sessions are presented in ways that actively engage the audience. You are welcome to submit up to 3 proposals should you have more than one idea to present.

Since there are many opportunities for vendors to interact with attendees, we are committed to keeping our sessions free of commercial offerings such as sales pitches for services or products. Vendor members are encouraged to submit non-commercial session proposals, and to invite their agency customers to be on their panels.

Sessions are 90 minutes long inclusive of audience q&a.

Topic Categories:
Generally, session proposals should fall under one or more of the following topic categories. We do encourage innovative proposals, so if you have an out of the box idea, please send it.

  • Advocacy for Housing/Community Development
  • Climate Resiliency
  • Commissioners
  • Community Development & Redevelopment
  • Community Partnerships
  • Cybersecurity
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Emergency Preparedness
  • Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS)
  • Finance
  • Homelessness
  • Housing Choice Voucher
  • Human Resources
  • Innovation in Housing
  • International Housing & Community Development
  • Leadership and Emerging Leaders
  • Marketing & Communications
  • Mixed Finance
  • Moving To Work
  • Public Housing
  • Resident Services
  • Repositioning
  • Youth Engagement and Leadership
  • Other

Submission Guidelines:
Submissions should be complete with the following.  Incomplete proposals will not be considered.

  • session title
  • session description (100 word max)
  • (3) learning objectives
  • identified panelists

NAHRO seeks to meet the goals of its Diversity Statement by encouraging diverse panelists. We ask session coordinators to be mindful of this objective when coordinating panels.

Audience:
Approximately 50% of conference attendees are CEOs/executive directors; 35% are commissioners; affordable/public housing and community development professionals make up the balance.

Selection Process:
The Call for Proposals submission period will end at close of business on May 10.  All session proposals will be reviewed and evaluated by a select team of industry professionals. Session proposal status will be provided by mid-June.

Proposals are selected based on the following criteria:

  • Thoroughness of the subject matter and proposal.
  • Originality and relevance of the proposal.
  • Quality of learning objectives and takeaway tools offered to attendees.
  • Level of interactivity and diversity of presentation styles.

Information in printed event programs and online conference materials will appear as provided in submission, though NAHRO reserves the right to make changes as needed. Please check the spelling of all relevant titles, academic degrees, and professional designations.

Sessions will occur over September 26-27; as such, please ensure availability of all panelists over those dates in advance of session proposal submission as we are unable to accept specific day/time requests. Session participants will be provided confirmation of session day/time with session acceptance status. All participants are expected to adhere to all indicated policies, procedures and deadlines.

Please note: NAHRO is unable to provide speaker stipends and speakers are responsible for their own travel, lodging, and any other related expenses.

Questions? 
Contact Jill Randles, NAHRO Director of Conferences jrandles@nahro.org