OUR TEAM
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MEET OUR TEAM

Charles Harris - Founder / CEO

Dear Friends and Supporters of Fair Housing:


On behalf of Housing, Education and Economic Development, Inc. (HEED), it is my pleasure to welcome each and every one of you attending HEED’s 35th Annual Fair Housing, Fair Lending Conference. In honor of National Fair Housing Month and the 56th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act of 1968. This year’s theme is ‘Fair Housing Opens Doors’.


The federal Fair Housing Act was passed on April 11, 1968, seven days after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Dr. King and other civil rights leaders advocated for passage of the law for years, but it was only after Kings’ death and at the urging of President Lyndon B. Johnson, that Congress enacted the law. The current version of the law provides that it is illegal to discriminate against people seeking housing based on their race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability or familial status.


This annual conference is part of HEED’s ongoing efforts to combat housing and lending discrimination in Mississippi, as well as, with individuals and organizations throughout the country. Over the last thirty-five years, HEED has provided assistance to many clients with matters such as foreclosure prevention, predatory lending, fair housing counseling and landlord/tenant disputes. We are of the opinion, that is “hurtful to take advantage of your neighbor…your fellow human being; it is unfair to them and their offspring, who will inherit the poverty and deprivation that result from housing and lending discrimination.


It is my sincere hope that the information and motivation provided at this conference will benefit you and many others. Once again, I thank you and welcome each of you in attendance. May this souvenir booklet serve to express our gratitude to all of our loyal friends and supporters without whom we would not be able to accomplish our mission.

Sheila Moody

Sheila Moody is a native of Hattiesburg, MS and a graduate of Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi. Her previous experience was gained at Jackson State University, where she held positions from Grant Administrative Assistant at the Jackson Heart Study to Assistant Director at the National Center for Biodefence Communications.


Currently, she wears dual hats serving as a Fair Housing Outreach Coordinator and Manager for the Homeowner Assistance Fund at Housing Education and Economic Development, Inc. She is also an Event Planner, Decorator and Balloon Artist. She has three children - Shalaunda, Crystal, and Jaquisa, as well as five grandchildren – Jordan, Taj, Cameron, Madison and Caleb.

Rene Gallor

Rene Gallor is a Bilingual Housing Counselor at Housing, Education and Economic Development, Inc. (HEED). He is a native of Miami, Florida with a Cuban-Lebanese heritage. Rene graduated with honors from Miami Senior High School in 1984 and attended Miami-Dade Community College.

 

He has received fair housing and housing counseling training from entities such as Metro Fair Housing (Atlanta, GA); the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); NeighborWorks America; the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC); the Fair Housing Council of San Diego (CA); the Housing Opportunities Project for Excellence; John Marshall School of Law and International Development and Planning.   



Mr. Gallor is HEED’s Fair Housing Enforcement Director. He is responsible for intaking and processing fair housing complaints, counseling clients who may have been victims of housing discrimination, educating members of the seven protected classes on their fair housing rights and coordinating systemic fair housing audits in Central and Northern Mississippi. 

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