Restoring Hope and Building Opportunities 2026 - Join Us Online - Webinar

International Institute of Business Information

Join us for a day of empowerment and inspiration at Restoring Hope and Building Opportunities 2026 - let's make a difference together!

Join us for a day of learning, collaboration, and connection-building at Restoring Hope and Building Opportunities 2026.This year’s event explores how mission-driven partnerships can transform underused church assets into attainable housing, expanded economic mobility, and long-term community prosperity.Across the country, churches and faith-based organizations hold underutilized land—one of the most promising yet often overlooked catalysts for community transformation. This national forum convenes faith leaders, investors, housing innovators, and industry experts to examine how these assets can be turned into high-quality, attainable, and independent housing that fosters stability and opportunity.Through real-world development models, Opportunity Zone–based strategies, and effective cross-sector collaboration, the Summit charts a bold, scalable path forward for faith-based housing solutions nationwide.<h3>Can’t join us in person? Join the conversation virtually.</h3>Be part of Restoring Hope and Building Opportunities from anywhere.<h3><a href="https://iibigevents.com" title="https://iibigevents.com" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Return to iiBIG Events Website</a></h3>

Agenda

A light networking breakfast to start building connections among attendees before the forum begins.

Registration & Networking Breakfast 

Invocation: Local faith leader

Welcome Remarks: Hosting organizations leaders (FOZI and Presidential Cottage Homes) 

Begin with a reflection and welcome to ground the day shared purpose. Set the tone for learning, partnership, unity, and transformative faith-based leadership. Participants understand the event’s mission and the collective opportunity to act.

Welcome & Invocation 

Mayor Alya Gaskins will open the afternoon session with remarks highlighting the City of Alexandria’s commitment to housing affordability, inclusive growth, and cross-sector collaboration. Her remarks will underscore the critical role of local leadership, faith-based institutions, and public-private-philanthropic partnerships in addressing the housing crisis and advancing community-centered development. The Mayor will also set the stage for the afternoon discussions by emphasizing the importance of scalable, locally grounded solutions that align policy, capital, and community trust. 

Opening remarks from The Honorable Alya Gaskins, Mayor of Alexandria 

This session aims to be an inspiring call to mobilize faith institutions as central players in addressing housing accessibility and rebuilding communities, positioning faith-based organizations as credible developers and social innovators. Participants see faith not only as mission driver but as a tangible community asset for social and economic renewal. The session will conclude with an interactive Q&A and open dialogue with the audience, inviting participants to engage directly with the speaker, share on-the-ground challenges, and explore practical pathways for translating faith-driven purpose into scalable housing and community development solutions.

Opening Keynote: David Bowers (Enterprise Community Partners) 

Facilitated by David Bowers, this panel highlights Enterprise Community Partners’ real-world examples of faith-based housing and community development in practice.

Panelists will share lessons learned from projects already underway—what worked, what didn’t, and how challenges around zoning, financing, partnerships, and community engagement were overcome. Designed to be highly practical, the discussion equips participants with actionable strategies, replicable models, and partnership insights they can apply in their own communities to accelerate faith-based development and deliver tangible housing and community outcomes. 

Panel 1: “Making it Happen: Faith-Based Development in Action”

Networking Coffee Break 

This panel gathers key leaders from HUD, and the faith-based centers from other government agencies, such as Department of Commerce, U.S. Small Business Administration to discuss how faith-based organizations can access federal programs, navigate regulatory challenges, and build cross-agency partnerships to deliver affordable, resilient housing that meets community needs. Panelists will share their agencies’ priorities and funding opportunities, explore strategies for cross-sector collaboration, and offer guidance on incorporating disaster preparedness and resilience into housing initiatives. Attendees will gain practical insights from successful multi-agency case studies, learn how to effectively leverage federal resources, and leave with key contacts to support the planning, development, and expansion of impactful faith-based housing programs. The panel will be moderated by a housing policy expert or a leader from a national faith-based housing coalition. 

Panel 2: Federal Support for Faith-Based Housing: Development, Resilience, and

Faith leaders with experience in housing initiatives, nonprofit and community development executives, CDFIs, financial institutions, policy or regulatory experts, and advocacy leaders.  Faith-based organizations are increasingly stepping into the role of housing developers, leveraging their mission-driven approach to address local housing needs. However, the path from vision to reality is often fraught with challenges, navigating regulatory frameworks, securing financing, managing development logistics, and addressing community concerns. This session will explore through successful cases how faith institutions can build the expertise and strategic capabilities necessary to deliver high-impact, attainable housing projects. Participants will learn practical strategies for overcoming common barriers, including understanding zoning and regulatory requirements, and building technical and operational capacity. Panelists will share case studies and lessons learned.

Panel 3: Faith in Action: Navigating the Complexities of Attainable Housing

Networking Lunch 

This project showcase session will feature initiatives led by faith-based organizations, Hispanic-serving institutions, and Tribal Nations, demonstrating how mission-driven leadership, philanthropy, and public-private collaborations are delivering attainable housing and community renewal across varied cultural and geographic contexts. Each presentation will highlight innovative, culturally grounded approaches; shared values rooted in stewardship and community trust; and blended funding models that combine public, private, and philanthropic (P3) capital to achieve measurable social and economic impact. Beyond spotlighting successful projects, the session will explore how these models can be adapted, replicated, and scaled through partnerships with faith-based organizations nationwide. Participants will be invited to identify opportunities to contribute expertise, capital, land, and policy support to advance inclusive housing solutions that honor community identity.

Panel 4: Projects Showcase: Culturally Grounded Approaches to Community

This session demonstrates how Faith-Based Opportunity Zone Investments (FOZI) and the Presidential Cottages model collaborate to transform underused faith-owned land into vibrant, inclusive communities. Attendees will learn how this innovative community development and housing approach builds economic and social ecosystems around faith-centered initiatives (such as workforce training, schools, childcare, and small businesses) by leveraging faith-based land assets to accelerate the delivery of attainable housing. Participants will gain insight into how this replicable model blends innovation, faith, and finance to create dignified, attainable housing while fostering community wealth and opportunity. The session will motivate leaders to rethink how underutilized assets, especially faith-based properties, can be leveraged to deliver both housing and hope, and will be an invitation to collaborate with FOZI and Presidential Cottages to build opportunities.  

Spotlight Session: FOZI and Presidential Cottages in Action.

Networking Coffee Break

As billions of dollars are directed into Opportunity Zones, faith-driven community leaders are asking a critical question: who truly gains? This session will unpack the Opportunity Zone program from a practical standpoint, highlighting its potential synergies with other community development initiatives. Panelists will showcase projects focused on workforce housing, local social enterprise incubation, and faith-based economic development through resident-owned businesses in Opportunity Zones. Attendees will gain insights into structuring Opportunity Zone and New Markets Tax Credit projects in ways that prioritize tangible benefits for communities and create lasting opportunities for low-income residents. 

Panel 5: Faith & Finance: Driving Community Impact in Opportunity Zones 

A reflective wrap-up featuring key takeaways from the day and a call to action for future collaboration. 

- Recap of insights and commitments
- Building a national network for faith-based development
- Announcing the next steps. A shared roadmap for continued collaboration among attendees, partners, and investors.

Closing Session: “Faith as an Engine for Community Renewal”

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Restoring Hope and Building Opportunities 2026 - Join Us Online - Webinar

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