Fair Housing Poster Contests Announced As Fair Housing Month Nears

April will be here before we know it, and so local organizations across the United States have recently announced poster contests in honor of Fair Housing Month.

Here's a sampling of local fair housing month poster contests that encourage children to be creative while at the same time educating communities about the Fair Housing Act and related laws:

• Silver State Fair Housing Council (SSFHC) of Washoe County, Nevada is hosting its 15th annual Fair Housing Poster Contest for students in the first through eighth grades with the theme, "Fair Housing: Welcome Home." There are several prizes for top honors, including savings bonds, but all participants will receive a certificate of recognition. Participation in the contest "fosters a better sense of understanding, acceptance, and appreciation for the diversity in our neighborhoods and throughout our community," according to SSFHC, which saw 635 entries in last year's contest. Deadline for entries: February 25, 2011. For full details, including rules and an entry form, visit SSFHC's Fair Housing Poster Contest 2011 Web page.

• The Fair Housing Council of Oregon (FHCO), along with Oregon Housing Community Services and the Oregon Business and Development Department, is hosting its 14th annual Fair Housing Poster Contest. Students in the first through eighth grades are invited to submit entries that illustrate the theme, "Won't You Be My Neighbor? Fair Housing for Everyone." Prizes will be awarded within three age categories. According to the FHCO, the "poster contest is a great way to teach kids about the importance of civil rights." Deadline for entries: March 17, 2011. For full details, consult the FHCO's Contest Brochure 2011.
  
  
• The Wisconsin Fair Housing Network is again sponsoring a Fair Housing Poster and Essay Contest. Open to students in kindergarten through 12th grade, the contest aims "to promote the concepts of choice and equality in housing." Awards will be conferred to those participants whose entries best reflect the theme, "Fair Housing: On the Right Track." Deadline: April 15, 2011. Read the Network's announcement for more information on contest rules and eligibility, as well as a helpful summary of fair housing rights.
  
  
• The Frederick County Association of Realtors® is sponsoring its annual Fair Housing Poster Contest "to help increase awareness of this important issue." Students in kindergarten through eighth grade are invited to submit entries on the theme, "Fair Housing Means a Place to Call Home." Winning entries from the county will then vie for state honors, which includes being featured in the Maryland Association of Realtors®' 2012 Fair Housing Calendar. Deadline: February 11, 2011. Read the contest brochure for complete information.
  

Fair Housing Month: Baltimore Boot Camp Offers Training and Information Exchange

Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc. (BNI) plans to honor Fair Housing Month with a free "Rental Fair Housing Boot Camp" a week from this Tuesday morning, April 20, at the Baltimore City War Memorial Building. The event, hosted in partnership with several government agencies, aims to keep property managers, fair housing advocates, and other industry professionals current by reviewing fair housing laws as well as topics such as how to file a complaint, common fair housing violations and how to avoid them, popular fair housing misconceptions, and more.

The presentation, which will feature a range of speakers from the public and private sector, will conclude with a "Resource Fair," in which attendees will have the opportunity to exchange materials they own related to fair housing, housing advocacy or programs, tenant and landlord services, and social services.

For more information about the Boot Camp, including a schedule and registration, visit BNI's Events page. Note the registration deadline is this Wednesday, April 14.

Return tomorrow for the eleventh part of this special "Fair Housing Month" feature at Fairhousingblog.com.