State’s housing authority directors visit Meridian
Published 4:00 am Tuesday, October 22, 2024
- Stanley Wright, tour group coordinator for the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience, gives the MAHRO group a brief overview of the Walter Inglis Anderson exhibit, “The South’s Most Elusive Artist,” on display at The MAX.
Meridian Housing Authority Executive Director Ronald J. Turner Sr. was pleased to show off some of downtown’s most popular tourist destinations Monday as public housing authority leaders from around the state converged on the Queen City for an annual workshop.
The three-day workshop of the Mississippi Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, also known as MAHRO, began Sunday and is being hosted by the organization’s Central Mini Group. MHA’s Turner serves in the Central Mini Group.
“Each year, MAHRO hosts an executive directors’ workshop where we bring the executive directors and other administrative leadership together where we can collaborate and share ideas and discuss various housing issues,” said Katina Pace, senior vice president of MAHRO and deputy executive director of the Mississippi Regional Housing Authority No. 6 in Jackson.
The Central Mini Group selected Meridian as the destination for this year’s workshop.
“The Meridian Housing Authority was selected by MAHRO’s Central Mini Group to host this year’s event because of the various amenities we have to offer in Meridian,” Turner said.
MAHRO President Christopher McKissick, executive director of the Booneville Housing Authority, said nearly 40 executive directors and administrative leaders from 54 local and regional housing authorities across the state attended the workshop. Tuesday will be the final day of the event.
“We have a few goals while we are here. We collaborate with one another. We like to network just to get to know what’s happening with other housing authorities in the state, such as what’s working or not working at other housing authorities. We discuss training and new requirements from HUD and Congress,” he said. “It’s really an opportunity for us to learn from one another.”
Said Turner, “We’re all housing executive directors but really we’re all advocates for decent, safe and affordable housing for all low income individuals.”
In addition to a tour of The MAX, the group conducted a luncheon session Monday at the historic Weidmann’s Restaurant and toured the Meridian Housing Authority’s newly constructed Youth Build House, Turner said. The iconic Threefoot Hotel serves as the host hotel for the out-of-town visitors and a closing reception is planned at one of the city’s newest venues, the Copeland Center.
