10/17/2026
✈️ MacHabitat Goes to Atlanta! ✈️
Last week, MacHabitat Executive Director Katie Curry and our new Repair Program Coordinator, Lilly Riha, traveled to Atlanta for the 2026 Habitat for Humanity U.S. Affiliate Conference!
Held every two years, the conference brought together more than 3,000 Habitat staff from across the country to learn from one another, share ideas, build connections, and explore ways to strengthen Habitat’s work in communities nationwide. 🔨 🏠
✨ Katie spent the conference learning about a wide range of topics that touch nearly every part of our affiliate—from expanding home production and exploring mortgage solutions to strengthening individual giving, growing the impact of ReStores, and building effective nonprofit boards.
✨ For Lilly, what an introduction to Habitat! As she begins her work growing MacHabitat’s Repair Program, she dove into sessions focused on building sustainable home repair programs, improving the homeowner experience, strengthening household resilience, energy
efficiency, insurance challenges, and using program outcomes to improve outreach, fundraising, and future program design.
As the photos show, there was plenty to experience outside the workshops, too—and these are just a few snapshots from a very full week!
📸 Katie and Lilly connected with fellow Habitat affiliates from across Oregon (in addition to affiliates from across the nation!)
📸 They explored displays illustrating both the need for affordable housing and the impact Habitat is making
📸 Visited Habitat’s traveling “Open the Door” exhibit
📸 Heard from Habitat for Humanity Vice President Adrienne Goolsby (plus many
other incredible speakers!)
📸 Joined thousands of their Habitat colleagues for a BIG celebration of Habitat for Humanity International’s 50th Anniversary!
Katie and Lilly returned to McMinnville with new knowledge, new connections, plenty of ideas, and renewed energy to put what they learned to work right here in our community. 💙 🔨🏡
What a special year to gather, learn, and celebrate 50 years of Habitat—and look ahead to what we can continue building together! 🎉🥳