Arizona Regional Pro-Housing Policy Forum

May 28, 2025

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Arizona, like much of the country, is facing a severe housing shortage. The U.S. is short 3.85 million homes and the gap between the housing we have and the housing we need is only growing. This program features elected officials, housing economists, developers, and local activists discussing the root causes of the housing shortage. We’ll tackle tough questions about contributors to the housing shortage and explore how federal, state, and local legislators, republicans and democrats alike, can work together to solve the problem.

Featured speakers:

The Honorable Yassamin Anasari

U.S. Representative (D-AZ 03)

Marc Dunkleman

Author and Fellow at The Watson Institute at Brown University

The Honorable Corey Woods

Mayor of Tempe

John Giles

Former Mayor, Mesa

Brian Swanton

President and CEO, Gorman & Company

Dr. Mike Wilkerson

Director of Economic Research, Econorthwest

Agenda

Wednesday, May 28th, 2025

2:00pm

Doors Open

2:30pm

Welcome

Mike Kingsella, Chief Executive Officer of Up for Growth and Up for Growth Action, will set the stage for the day's discussion.

Mike Kingsella

CEO, Up for Growth

2:35pm

From City Hall to Capitol Hill: Partnerships to Address the Housing Shortage

Join us for a dynamic conversation exploring how every level of government can help tackle the housing shortage. David Garcia, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Up for Growth, will kick things off. Then, Ben Preis of Accelerator for America and Former Mayor John Giles and Mayor Corey Woods will highlight real-world initiatives and uncover new opportunities for local and federal collaboration to boost housing supply.

Corey Woods

Mayor of Tempe, Arizona

John Giles

Former Mayor of Mesa, Arizona

Dr. Ben Preis

Research Fellow Drexel University, Nowak Metro Finance Lab; Research Partner, Accelerator for America

David Garcia

Policy Director, Up for Growth

3:00pm

Rooting Out the Sources of the Housing Crisis in Arizona

This session will use local data to highlight the urgent need for a long-term housing policy framework and sustained advocacy. The discussion will connect Arizona’s challenges to Up for Growth Action’s federal agenda, combining an interview-style conversation with key slides and visuals.

Dr. Michael Wilkerson

Director of Economic Research, Econorthwest

Leah MacArthur

Chief of Staff, Up for Growth

3:25pm

Audience Engagement + Break

Casita Coalition, a nonprofit organization leading a broad multi-sector coalition to advance middle housing solutions, wants you help shape the conversation! As part of our Regional Pro-Housing Forum national tour, we're gathering insights from attendees like you to better understand local priorities and challenges. Your input will help inform future stops on our tour and ensure that we’re highlighting the most relevant issues across the country.

Noerena Limon

CEO, Casita Coalition

3:40pm

How Do We Create a Housing System That Works?

“America was once a country that did big things… But today, even while facing a host of pressing challenges—a housing shortage, a climate crisis, a dilapidated infrastructure—we feel stuck, unable to move the needle.” — Marc J. Dunkelman, Why Nothing Works America’s housing crisis embodies the institutional paralysis Dunkelman describes—gridlocked by excessive veto points, outdated federal policies, and local regulatory bottlenecks. Marc Dunkelman, Rep. Ansari, and developer Brian Swanton will discuss practical solutions for better aligning federal reforms and local actions. They'll share real-world examples of successful projects and collaborative approaches that have effectively expanded affordable housing. This panel aims to highlight realistic, achievable strategies for delivering abundant, affordable homes.

Marc Dunkelman

Author of Why Nothing Works

Honorable Yassamin Ansari

U.S. Representative (D-AZ 03)

Brian Swanton

President and CEO, Gorman & Company

4:20pm

Closing Remarks

Mike Kingsella

CEO, Up for Growth

4:30pm

Reception and Networking

Join us for drinks, light refreshments, and networking with our special guests and speakers.

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Venue

home 435 Collective

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435 South 3rd Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85003

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