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On Friday, April 25, the Southwestern Illinois Board of REALTORS® (SIBR) proudly hosted Thriving in 2025: Building Winning Communities Together, a special forum designed to foster collaboration between local REALTORS®, community leaders, and city officials.

Held at the SIBR office in Collinsville, the event brought together members of SIBR’s Board of Directors, a mix of REALTORS® who work directly in the communities highlighted in the program, the Affordable Housing Committee and representatives from the Cities of Shiloh, O’Fallon, and Belleville.

Guided by hosts Erica Kirk, Ron Deedrick, and Celeste Wheeler, the forum focused on listening to the voices of the community and developing sustainable solutions to meet evolving housing needs. The mission of the day centered on three key objectives: Identifying challenges and obstacles through impactful community stories, Collaborating to build long-term, sustainable housing solutions, and Fostering partnerships to strengthen our region’s growth.

Highlights of the event included a presentation of the Key Findings from a Scott AFB Housing Study by Ron Deedrick and a group discussion facilitated by Celeste Wheeler on Strategies for Expanding Affordable Housing. Participants also explored community-based solutions to increase development, improve transparency around policies and processes, and establish lasting partnerships focused on shared goals.

“The Affordable Housing Forum was a resounding success, thanks to the thoughtful engagement of our attendees and the honesty of our representatives from Belleville, O’Fallon, and Shiloh.” Said Celeste Wheeler, Chair, SIBR Affordable Housing Committee. “It was inspiring to witness the level of commitment in the room—everyone present showed a genuine willingness to listen, learn, and collaborate. This forum marks a powerful step forward in our shared journey to break down barriers and build stronger, more inclusive communities. I’m very optimistic and look forward to continued conversations and concrete action in the months ahead.”

“This forum was an excellent opportunity to bring together community leaders at all levels to begin important discussions and develop strategies that help retain our workforce and ensure that families, service members, and professionals can afford to live in the very communities they support,” said Erica Kirk, Chief Executive Officer of the Southwestern Illinois Board of REALTORS® (SIBR). “The Thriving in 2025 forum was designed to reflect SIBR’s ongoing mission: To promote and protect the interests of our members and the communities they serve, and to advocate for private property rights and the opportunity of homeownership for all. This forum was just the beginning — SIBR looks forward to continuing these important conversations and building thriving communities together.”

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