Homeowner’s Summit

  • 11am – 1pm, May 7, 2022
  • Friendship House: 1515 Clay Street, Shreveport, Louisiana
  • Sponsored by: Allendale Strong, Community Renewal International, Ledbetter Heights, Lakeside, Allendale Partnership, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Fuller Center for Housing

Homeowners in the Shreveport area are invited to learn with us at the inaugural Homeowner’s Summit to be held Saturday, May 7, 2022. This free event is spearheaded by Allendale Strong, and will begin at 11am and conclude at 1pm. This summit will be packed with useful information for anyone who owns a home, or anyone who is interested in purchasing a home. Following the presentations and panel discussions, participants will be led on a walking tour of the surrounding areas of interest in Allendale. The summit will be held at the Community Renewal International Friendship House at 1515 Clay Street, an ideal starting point for viewing local points of interest and discussing the many upcoming projects and investments that are in the works now. 

The motivation to convene a Homeowner’s Summit came out of a desire to learn from and replicate some of the positive changes in the Allendale neighborhood over the past 10-15 years. A neighborhood that was once the most dangerous in Shreveport is today one of the safest – a change sparked by small, individual investments that snowballed to transform the entire neighborhood. Homeowners in this area have more power than most Shreveport citizens are aware of, and summit organizers are excited to share knowledge and perspective on how to spark similar healthy changes in neighborhoods across the city. 

Representatives from Caddo Action Agency, Caddo Council on Aging and Shreveport Community Development will be on hand to provide information about their programs to help homeowners in the community. In addition, the panel discussion will feature some of the key players and observers of the changes in Allendale over the years. Moderated by Roosevelt Bryant, who was raised in Allendale, the discussion will gain insight from Pam Morgan, the Allendale Friendship House Community Coordinator; Terri Thrash, a current Allendale homeowner; Rosie Chaffold, homeowner and Friendship Garden of Hope & Love founder; Dorothy Wiley, Allendale homeowner & Allendale Strong President; Mike Leonard, Community Renewal Coordinator and Fuller Center for Housing board member; and Kim Mitchell Director of the Community Renewal Center & Institute.

Refreshments in the form of sandwiches, snacks and water will be available throughout the summit thanks to Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament. Reservations are not required to attend, and anyone interested in homeownership (current or future) are welcome to attend. 

“Shreveport is only as strong as its weakest neighborhood.” Allendale Strong is a learning-doing group of citizens, working together to renew our community Relationally, Economically, and Environmentally. Its vision is to empower our community of willing citizens, and share its knowledge and experiences with other neighborhoods, enabling each to grow to potential wholeness. Its ongoing initiatives include forming a food co-op corner store in Allendale, renewal of the neighborhood’s SWEPCO park, and advocating for a wealth-building business boulevard through Allendale.