3:30 PM - 6:30 PM CST
View Current Attendees
Location: Doorways Jefferson Campus, 1101 N Jefferson Ave, St. Louis, MO 63106
Registration ends on 5/1/2026
This event is for Forum members and guests.
Ticket Information
Members: $40.00
Guests: $50.00
Program Description
Join us on May 6 at DOORWAYS’ Jefferson Avenue Campus for a dynamic Housing Rights Panel designed to inform, challenge, and inspire women leaders across the St. Louis region. This timely conversation will explore the urgent realities facing low-income individuals and those battling homelessness, while examining the structural and policy barriers that continue to limit access to safe, stable, and dignified housing. Moderated by fellow Forum member Opal Jones, the discussion will feature leading regional experts who are shaping housing solutions on the ground and advocating for systemic change.
During this engaging session, participants will:
-
Gain insight into the region’s most pressing affordable housing and homelessness challenges
-
Examine gaps in policy at the local, state, and federal levels—and what must change
-
Understand the complexities of developing and operating quality affordable housing
-
Learn how advocacy efforts are evolving and where leadership is urgently needed
-
Identify tangible ways to collaborate, influence policy, and drive meaningful progress
This forum is an opportunity not only to learn—but to lead!
Program Timeline
Registration Begins: 3:30 pm
DOORWAYS Campus Tour: 3:45-4:45 pm
Panel Discussion: 5:00-6:00 pm
Wrap Up/Q&A: 6:00-6:30 pm
Event Concludes: 6:30 pm
Panelists
Opal Jones
CEO, Doorways
Cynthia Duffe
Executive Director, Gateway Housing First
Tammy Laws
Director of Operations, Gateway Housing First
Colleen Hafner
Executive Director, Rise
Colleen is Rise Community Development’s Executive Director, a role she took on in an interim role in November 2023, and permanently in August 2024. She joined Rise in 2018 as a Project Manager, where she helped coordinate the real estate development process for Rise and its partners. In 2021 she transitioned to CDFI Director, guiding the organization’s lending and capitalization strategy and the growth of its operations. Prior to joining Rise, Colleen was Asset Manager – Compliance for St. Louis Equity Fund, and Vice President of its affiliate CDFI, Gateway Community Development Fund, Inc. She has over 19 years of experience in the housing and community development finance field.
She received both her bachelor’s in business administration and master’s in public policy administration from the University of Missouri – St. Louis, along with a Graduate Certificate in Local Government Management. Colleen earned her Low-Income Housing Tax Credit compliance certification from Novogradac and is pursuing her Economic Development Finance Professional certification from the National Development Council.
Colleen serves on the Board of Directors for Tower Grove CDC, the Missouri Workforce Housing Association, and the Women’s Affordable Housing Network of Missouri. She is a member of the Advisory Board for Enterprise Financial CDE, as well as a committee member for Northside Community Housing, the Community Builders Network of Metro St. Louis (CBN), and the Urban Land Institute’s St. Louis Chapter.
Parking and Building Entry
Parking will be available in the visitor's lot. Attendees will enter through the Administrative Offices door.
The Issues Exploration committee is committed to curating experiences to deep dive into Human Rights topics over the next two years. We will be guided by the principles in the mission statement below:
Human rights are the fundamental freedoms and protections that belong to every individual, and for women, these rights must include equitable access to healthcare, housing, safety, economic opportunity, and reproductive autonomy.
Our work recognizes that feminism, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging and intersectionality are essential lenses through which we examine human rights issues.
We are committed to fostering civil discourse around the regional challenges women face, while honoring the diverse experiences that shape their lives. Through inclusive education and dialogue, we aim to advance understanding and action toward a more just and equitable society for all women.
Registration closes one week prior to the event. Refunds will be issued to your prepay balance or original payment method if requested before registration closes. After the registration deadline, attendance numbers are finalized with the venue and/or caterers, and refunds will no longer be available. Please note that registration may be extended under certain circumstances; however, the stated deadline will remain the final date for refund eligibility. For additional information, please contact admin@stlforum.org.