2022 Michigan's Virtual Summit on Ending Homelessness

Mark Horvath

Monday, October 24th - 1:00-1:45PM

Mark Horvath has broken the mold. He’s not doing what makes sense. He is living out his passion and doing what burns deep inside of him. Mark has developed Invisible People to give a face and voice to homelessness, something he knows all too well since he once lived among them. His work is extremely innovative and his ingenious use of social media for storytelling is a model for both the corporate and not-for-profit worlds.

After an extended period of unemployment due to the 2008 crash and losing everything facing homelessness a second time, Mark grabbed his camera and started to use social media to help tell the stories of people experiencing homelessness. With only a $45 start-up budget and lots of tenacity, Mark has used social media to reach the general public and change how people perceive a very serious social crisis that’s mostly ignored.

Mark regularly works on cause campaigns with major brands like Hanes, Ford, Pepsi, General Motors, and Ritz Crackers, and has consulted for the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles Police Department, Utah, the City of San Francisco, USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism, and more. In addition, Mark has served as a guest lecturer at educational institutions across the globe including Geneva Forum on Social Change, UCLA, USC, NYU, and Syracuse University. In 2018, The Nonprofit Times included Mark in their 2018 Power & Influence Top 50 nonprofit executives.

Donald Whitehead Jr.

Tuesdayday, October 25th - 10:00-10:45AM

Donald Whitehead is the Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless and a co-founder of Racial Equity Partners. Donald is serving his second term as the Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless. Donald has been working on Homelessness, Recovery, and Racial Equity for over 25 years, ranging from outreach worker to Executive Director. Donald currently trains, teaches, and coaches racial equity work across the country in collaboration with the REP's dynamic team.

Donald served two terms on The State Coalition on Housing and Homelessness in Ohio, The State of Maryland Drug and Alcohol Policy Council, The Baltimore Ten Year Planning Committee to end Homelessness, The Cincinnati Continuum of Care and Directed a program to House the 100 hardest to serve Chronically Homeless individuals in Orlando Florida. Donald testified before the committee's in the 107th and 108th Congress. Donald along with members of the staffs of the offices of Representatives John Conyers, Julie Carson, Barbara Lee, John Lewis and the team of the National Coalition directed the creation and introduction of the "Bringing America Home Act the most comprehensive legislation to date to address Homelessness in America. Donald has served on advisory committees for Presidents Bush, Clinton, Bush II, and Obama. In 2005, Donald received a distinguished service award for his work on Homelessness from the Congressional Black Caucus. Donald received a second award of Special Recognition from Congress in 2008. In 2011 Donald completed the prestigious American Express leadership Academy. Donald received the 2020 customer service award from the State of Maryland for his efforts to move 200 street homeless individuals off the streets and into non-congregate facilities during COVID-19.

Donald provided interviews in the printed media, radio, and television on numerous occasions. Donald has been a featured guest on CBS News, ABC News, FOX TV, CNN, MSNBC, and many local stations. Radio appearances have included CBS Radio, NPR, The Tavis Smiley Show, The Tom Joyner Morning Show, and local stations throughout the US and stations in Great Britain, Germany, Canada, and Mexico. Donald has been a dinner guest of former President and Senator Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Donald majored in Communications at, The University of Cincinnati and studied at Union College and University in Ohio.

Donald served as a Journalist in the United States Navy. On a personal note, Donald is a stand-up comedian and actor.

Donald has performed in five movies and has received a regional Emmy for a role in the film Open the Sky".

Jeff Olivet

Tuesday, October 25th - 2:15-3:00PM

Jeff Olivet is the executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH). He has worked to prevent and end homelessness for more than 25 years as a street outreach worker, case manager, coalition builder, researcher, and trainer. He is the founder of jo consulting, co-founder of Racial Equity Partners, and from 2010 to 2018, he served as CEO of C4 Innovations. Throughout his career, he has worked extensively in the areas of homelessness and housing, health and behavioral health, HIV, education, and organizational development. Jeff has been principal investigator on multiple research studies funded by private foundations and the National Institutes of Health. Jeff is deeply committed to social justice, racial equity, gender equality, and inclusion for all. He has a bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama and a master's degree from Boston College.

Keynote Plenaries

Blue Cross Complete of Michigan is a proud sponsor of the 2022 Summit on Ending Homelessness

Sponsorship Opportunities