WHO:                       The DePaul University Msgr. John J. Egan Urban Center and the University of Illinois at Chicago Natalie                                     P. Voorhees Neighborhood Center

WHAT:                     Will host a conference on "The Future of Public Housing: A Search for Solutions"

WHEN:                     Saturday, May 16 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

 WHERE:                  DePaul’s Egan Urban Center, 243 S. Wabash Ave., Ninth Floor

BACKGROUND:    Presentations and discussion on the "Near North Redevelopment Plan and Affordable Housing Issues"                                     will begin at 2 p.m. with featured guests Yittayih Zalalem, senior planner at the Voorhees Center, and                                      Pat Wright, associate director of the Voorhees Center.  Immediately following will be presentations on                                      "Cabrini Green and the New Face of Urban Renewal" with featured guests Larry Bennett from                                      DePaul's political science department and Adolph Reed, Jr., from UIC's African-American studies and                                      sociology departments.   A moderated community dialogue focused on key issues surrounding the                                      debate over redevelopment of public housing in Chicago will begin at 3:45 p.m.  Special attention will be                                      given to the search for solutions.  The event will conclude with a 5:15 p.m. reception showcasing videos                                      on public housing produced by Cabrini Green residents and Columbia College students.

CONTACT:              On site contact the day of the event will be Laurie Worrall, associate director of the Egan Urban Center,                                     at 312/362-5952.  Media contact prior to the event is Denise Mattson, director of media relations at                                     DePaul.