Taubman College will be well represented at Harvard University’s upcoming symposium, “In Pursuit of Equitable Development: Lessons from Washington, Detroit, and Boston.”

Marc Norman, associate professor of practice in urban and regional planning and director of real estate initiatives, will moderate the afternoon panel, “Detroit Strategic Neighborhood Initiative, Detroit, MI.” Joining Norman on the panel will be Jermaine Ruffin, M.U.P. ’17, who is director of development–west region for the Detroit Department of Housing and Revitalization. Additionally, two groups of Taubman College urban and regional planning students will present research related to housing along with students from Harvard and Howard University in an interactive session as part of the conference.

Norman is an internationally recognized expert on policy and finance for affordable housing and community development. Trained as an urban planner, he has worked in the field of community development and finance for more than 20 years. With experience in for-profit and nonprofit organizations, consulting firms, and investment banks, he has worked collaboratively to develop or finance more than 2,000 units totaling more than $400 million in total development costs.

The online symposium, sponsored by Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, will take place on Friday, September 25. The Detroit panel begins at 1:40 p.m. For more information and to register, visit the symposium’s website.