Many individuals and organizations were honored at an awards luncheon for their work in affordable housing, community development, homeownership, and ending homelessness. Awards were given out in several categories, including Community Economic Development Advocate of the Year, Innovator of the Year, an award for inclusive communities, an award for a formerly homeless individual, a community spirit award, Affiliate of the Year, Counselor of the Year, and an award for a legal professional working in affordable housing. Details were provided on next year's conference and opportunities to follow conference updates on Facebook and through a television taping session.

1. News of the Day sponsored by: Many Honored at Awards Luncheon In case you missed the Awards Luncheon this afternoon, many of our friends and colleagues were honored for their commitment to affordable housing, community economic development, homeownership, and the ending of homelessness. Following is a list of the honorees:

2. News of the Day sponsored by: Bonnie Hildreth - Community Economic Devlopment Advocate of the Year - Executive Director of Barry Community Foundation - Presented by the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM) Lighthouse Community Development - Innovator of the Year - a subsidiary of Lighthouse of Oakland County - Presented by CEDAM

3. News of the Day sponsored by: The Community Housing Network – the Corrie Bair Building Inclusive Communities Award - an organization devoted to providing homes for people with disabilities and the homeless - Awarded by the Michigan Disability Rights Coalition. Lashonda Campbell - formerly homeless and currently housed and a case manager and housing resource assistant - Awarded by the Corporation for Supportive Housing.

4. News of the Day sponsored by: Charlotte Edwards - Assistant Vice President and Community Development Officer at Citizens Bank in Flint - The Community Spirit Award presented by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis. Menominee River Habitat for Humanity under the leadership of Executive Director Bill Stephenson - 2011 Affiliate of the Year - Presented by Habitat for Humanity of Michigan.

5. News of the Day sponsored by: Colleen Brubaker - Mid-Michigan Community Action Agency in Farwell - MSHDA’s 2011 Counselor of the Year - Presented by MSHDA Human Development Commission Community Action Agency - 2011 Housing Counseling Agency of the Year - Presented by MSHDA

6. News of the Day sponsored by: Karl L. Gotting - Loomis Law Firm - The Terrence R. Duvernay Award - presented by the Michigan Conference on Affordable Housing Planning Committee.

7. News of the Day sponsored by: Save the Date - Next Year’s Conference It’s not too early to be planning for next year’s conference. But look for it to come back strong with a brand new name: “Building Michigan Communities Conference . ” The dates: April 22-25, 2012. See you there.

8. News of the Day sponsored by: Get the News of the Day from FaceBook News of the Day is posted in the front lobby entrance on the big TV screen and now you can see it on FaceBook too. Go to the Michigan Conference on Affordable Housing group page at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=80424530940 and keep up with the latest news. Feel free to repost to all your networks.

9. News of the Day sponsored by: Stop By TV Taping Session Going on Now Tyrone Bynum is taping his syndicated television show “The Other Side” on the east end of the exhibit hall this afternoon. Stop by and watch your colleagues being interviewed for statewide distribution in the coming weeks. We’ll be posting to the Conference FaceBook page and tweeting on Twitter.