The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation’s symposium series explores topics of current civic importance and their impact on the local Cape Ann community. In Gloucester Housing — From Crisis to Opportunity, local and regional experts will come together to discuss this timely and important topic, its relevance to Cape Ann, and the challenges and opportunities it presents for the future.

The three-hour event will feature speakers, panelists, and audience participation and is organized in three segments with a 10-minute break between each. Breaks provide an opportunity for networking and informal conversations with the audience and presenters over refreshments. Members of the audience are encouraged to attend the entire event or any portion of it depending of their schedules. Featuring keynote Andrew DeFranza, Executive Director of Harborlight Community Partners, plus resident panels with Q&A.

Event Outline

SEGMENT I - 2:00 – 2:50

OPENING: Context for symposium, Charles Nazarian, President, Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation 

OVERVIEW: Sandy Ronan, VP/Events, Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation

PANEL DISCUSSION: Addressing the question, “How is the lack of housing holding Gloucester back?”, Sandy Ronan-Moderator

Shawn Henry, Gloucester Planning Board; Robert J. Gillis, Jr., President, Cape Ann Savings Bank;  Ken Riehl, CEO, Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce;  David Houlden, Gloucester Housing Authority

SPEAKER: Cameron’s project — zoning/funding challenges, Peggy Hegarty-Steck, President and Executive Director, Action, Inc.; 

BREAK - 10 MINUTES

SEGMENT II – 3:00 – 3:50

Six speakers at 4 minutes each: Kathleen Williams, Moderator; Clare Higgins, SeARTS; Ruth Pino, Realtor; David Calvo, Woodcarver/sculptor; Angela Sanfilippo, Executive Director, Gloucester Fisherman’s Wives Association; Rob Newton, Cape Ann Community Cinema and Stage; Katie O’Leary, Wellspring, Homeless Prevention Case Manager

KEYNOTE:  Value of community partnerships, Andrew DeFranza, Harborlight Community Partners

BREAK – 10 MINUTES

SEGMENT III - 4:00-5:00

SPEAKERS: Merging the Maritime, Green, and Creative Economies, Carl Gustin, Economic Development and Industrial Corporation; Tom Balf, Founder and Principal, OceanVest

PANEL AND Q&A: Jeremy Melvin, Moderator

Each presenter (*) who hasn’t yet spoken introduces themselves for 3 minutes. Remaining time for Q&A discussion. Jen Holmgren, City Councilor*; David Houlden, Gloucester Housing Authority;  Andrew DeFranza, Harborlight Community Partners; Robert J. Gillis, President, Cape Ann Savings Bank; Kirk Noyes, Gloucester Development Team*

5:00 CLOSING

Mayor Sefatia Romeo-Theken and Charles Nazarian, President, Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation