Kentucky Housing Corporation
Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC) is the state’s catalyst for developing and sustaining affordable housing.
AUDIENCE: Affordable-housing advocates, builders, lenders, and agency partners (650)
LOCATION: Lexington, Kentucky
CHALLENGE: KHC’s conference planners wanted a concise, high-impact keynote that could inspire advocates who often face funding gaps and policy hurdles, reminding them why their work changes lives.
CARA BROOKINS’ SOLUTION:
30-minute keynote: “Raise My Roof” + 10-minute Q&A
VIP breakfast with state leaders and CEO Edwin King
Book signing for attendee engagement
Onsite tech rehearsal and escorted walk-through with Sara Nesselrode
Each year Kentucky Housing Corporation gathers hundreds of stakeholders who build, finance, and protect affordable housing statewide. The conference theme centered on advocacy, and organizers needed a message that would cut through policy fatigue and ignite fresh passion. Enter Cara Brookins with “Raise My Roof.”
In just thirty minutes, Cara wove her home-building journey into a broader narrative about constructing hope. She illustrated how small, daily choices, whether hammering a nail or finalizing a tax-credit package, can redefine futures for families in need. Her Q&A touched on burnout, community partnerships, and leveraging personal stories to galvanize legislators.
Cara spent hours with attendees after her presentation to answer questions and for a personalized book signing. Attendees left calling the keynote “a rallying cry” for the year ahead, and KHC reported heightened social-media engagement around the #RaiseMyRoof hashtag throughout the conference.
