Imagination Starts at Home: Housing Summit
East Side Freedom Library Housing Summit
November 20-21, 2026
Home looks different for everyone. It can be an apartment, a yurt, a manufactured home, a shared house, public housing, or a place still being imagined. Join the East Side Freedom Library and our neighbors for a two-day Housing Summit about what home means, who gets access to it, and how we can build better housing futures together.
Like the waters that meet in the Mississippi, this summit brings together people of many cultures, incomes, and experiences. The housing issues we face are connected, and so are we. Come share your story, learn from others, and help imagine what our neighborhoods could become.
Day 1: Thursday, November 20, 6:00–9:00 pm. Dinner provided.
The evening begins with a shared dinner, followed by a performance from zAmya Theater Project that asks us to rethink how we see social and public housing. A short community conversation after the show will start the dialogue we’ll continue the next day.
Day 2: Friday, November 21, 12:00–5:00 pm. Lunch provided.
We’ll start with lunch, then do a creative activity to imagine better futures for our neighborhoods. Next, attendees will split into breakout groups to dig into the housing issues they care about most. We’ll close by coming back together to share what each group discussed and reflect on the day.
The summit is free and open to all. You’re welcome to attend one day or both, and you can choose your days when you register. For questions, contact the Housing Justice team at lucid@eastsidefreedomlibrary.org.