Housing Colorado is pleased to present our 2026 HAPPEN Summer Outreach Session, hosted in Grand Junction in service of the affordable housing community of Western Slope. This daylong event will feature speakers on a variety of timely and engaging topics, as well as networking opportunities and complimentary refreshments and lunch. This program is shaped directly by feedback from participants of our regional peer exchange network, HAPPEN. This is an excellent chance to connect with other local advocates, operators, developers, funders, and more!

2026 HAPPEN Summer Outreach: Western Slope

Agenda

8:30- 9:00 Check-In

Refreshments

Networking

9:00-9:15 Welcome

Housing Colorado Opening Remarks

Peer Intro Exercise

9:15- 9:30 Inspiration Interlude

Carlton Mason (CASA of the 7th Judicial District)

9:30- 10:45 Session I— Building Strength: Organizational Capacity Strategies

Amanda Spidel (University Technical Assistance Program), Chris Lopez (CHFA), Mark Schenberger (University Technical Assistance Program), Scott Aker (Grand Junction Housing Authority)

10:45- 11:00 Break

11:00- 12:15 Session II— Making the Numbers Work: Project Funding

Emilee Powell (Housing Resources of Western Colorado), James Russell (DOLA- DOH), Michael Leahey (Castlewood Partners)

12:15- 1:00 Lunch

1:00- 1:45 Small Group Workshop

1:45- 3:00 Session III—Taking Care of What We Have: Inventory Management & Preservation

Emily Maynard (Aspen Pitkin County Housing Authority), Greg Moffet (Shared Equity Protection, LLC), Liz Axberg (Aspen Pitkin County Housing Authority), Yvonne Duvall (Elevation Community Land Trust)

3:00-3:30 Farewell 

Housing Colorado Closing Remarks

Drawing