Allied organizations: Upcoming events and programs

Northern strives to deliver events and programs to help you achieve your professional development and networking goals. Our allied professional organizations also offer events and programs in a variety of formats that you may find aligned with your professional and continuing education goals.

The Northern News team has selected some notable upcoming events or program opportunities that may interest you.

SPUR—The San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association—is a nonprofit public policy organization bringing people together from across the political spectrum to develop solutions to the big problems cities face. Based in San Francisco, San José, and Oakland, SPUR is recognized as a leading civic planning organization and respected for its independent and holistic approach to urban issues.

Financing the Missing Middle: Making Small-Scale Housing Feasible [In-Person Program]

5:00 to 6:30 p.m. | Tuesday, May 19, 2026 | San José Chamber of Commerce
Fee: Free

Missing middle housing—smaller-scale housing forms—is increasingly permitted in cities across the Bay Area but is rarely built. Panelists will explore various policy, construction, regulation, and financing barriers, offering tools to incentivize smaller-scale multi-family homes over single-family housing. The discussion will cover how building and residential code distinctions and entitlement costs affect feasibility, as well as emerging financing models and how modular construction may help scale development.

More information and REGISTER

The State of Affordable Housing in San Francisco [In-Person Program]

12:00 to 1:30 p.m. | Thursday, May 21, 2026 | SPUR Urban Center, San Francisco
Fee: Free

As part of Affordable Housing Month, SPUR and the Council of Community Housing Organizations are co-hosting a panel on the state of affordable housing in San Francisco.

The discussion will examine how the city is navigating rising costs, limited public subsidies, and shifting initiatives—and what it will take to advance production and preservation at the scale San Francisco needs. Panelists will explore what’s working, where delivery is falling short, and how to better align funding and stakeholders around shared goals.

More information and REGISTER

When San Francisco Gets It Right: Change Management Lessons from the City [In-Person Program]

12:00 to 1:30 p.m. | Thursday, May 26, 2026 | SPUR Urban Center, San Francisco
Fee: Free

San Francisco’s government failures often make headlines, while its successes go largely unnoticed, creating a perception that the City is ineffective. This program highlights three major transformation efforts: the Recreation & Parks bond-funded capital program, which improved infrastructure planning and delivery; SFMTA’s neighborhood transit line reconfiguration, which accelerated ridership recovery; and EPIC, DPH’s unified patient record system that streamlined care and reduced costs. These projects succeeded due to strong leadership, a clear vision, measurable outcomes, early wins, and open communication—factors essential for effective change management. Without these elements, achieving organizational change becomes much harder. As San Francisco faces ongoing fiscal and operational challenges, these examples offer important lessons.

More information and REGISTER

Dispatches from the Housing Continuum [In-Person Program]

12:00 to 1:15 p.m. | Tuesday, June 2, 2026 | SPUR Urban Center, San Francisco
Fee: Free

Quality supportive housing – combining affordable homes with supportive services such as case management and housing retention assistance – is an evidence-based model that is one of the most effective solutions to homelessness and housing insecurity. Yet, these proven programs and services are facing significant budget cuts and policy limitations that threaten our ability to meet community needs and deliver strong outcomes. Grounded in the NPH supportive housing compendium and building upon All Home’s strategic framework for homelessness solutions, which recommends concurrent investments in homelessness prevention, permanent housing solutions, and interim housing, this 75-minute in-person SPUR talk at the tail end of Affordable Housing Month examines how the current funding and political climate is being felt across the housing continuum and reflects on operational best practices on the ground.

More information and REGISTER

Dispatches from the Housing Continuum [Online]

12:00 to 1:00 p.m. | Tuesday, June 16, 2026 | Digital Discourse
Fee: Free

The Livable Communities Initiative (LCI), established in 2019, is a coalition of urbanists, architects, developers, and advocates dedicated to reimagining Los Angeles by addressing housing, mobility, and climate challenges together. Their vision emphasizes creating attractive, walkable neighborhoods with affordable, mixed-use buildings near jobs and transit, aiming to gain widespread community and political support. Research by Professor Chris Elmendorf highlights that the visual appeal and integration of new developments with existing neighborhoods significantly influence public acceptance of higher-density housing.

More information and REGISTER
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