This workshop will be a collaborative space for students and those affiliated with the CDS Student Chapter to come together and talk about this CDS initiative. We will begin by reviewing the 2025 outcomes from the Student Chapter workshop, then move into goals for the rest of 2026 and 2027. This workshop space proved to be quite useful in developing the mission, vision, and goals for the International Student Chapter Collective (ISCC), and we would like to carve out a space at the 2026 conference to do the same. The ISCC and the CDS Student Chapter provide places where students can be supported in their own unique ways as young scholars and practitioners. The ISCC provides learning opportunities and collaborative efforts geared towards students and faculty, specifically in university setting, and beyond. This is a practical application to community development practice. The learning objectives for this workshop include:
Outlining the objectives and focus areas for the following year of ISCC activities
Reviewing the past year of progress from the ISCC
Holding space for additional insights and suggestions related to the ISCC
Reimagining Community Development: the Cross-Sector Imperative
Mayor Jonathan McCollar, City of Statesboro Mayor McCollar recognized early on in his life a desire for public service and being a voice for the voiceless. His entire career has been focused on public service and he has had the opportunity to work with such stellar organizations as Educational Services of America, Goodwill Industries International, and The American Cancer Society and Georgia Southern University. In each of these capacities, he was recognized for his ability to be an effective leader. Since making history in 2017, when he was elected as Statesboro’s first African American mayor, Mayor McCollar has reduced the city’s poverty rate by 30% and cut unemployment by more than half. Mayor McCollar's vision for the city of Statesboro is for the city to become a destination class city that is thriving economically with a culture of inclusion.
Kim Clifton, MSW, Executive Director, Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition, Inc. Kim Clifton has served as the Executive Director of the Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition (CGIC) since January 2025. Prior to her work with CGIC, she served as the Executive Director of HALOS for over 17 years, where she spearheaded the development of the first program in South Carolina supporting kinship families, attracting significant investments, while expanding organizational impact through strategic community and state partnerships. The program became a model for the state, and established kinship care as a recognized and supported system in South Carolina. During this time, HALOS grew from a volunteer project to a highly regarded nonprofit, earning the Erin Hardwick Award for Nonprofit Management Excellence.
Mayor Van Johnson, City of Savannah As the 67th mayor of Savannah, Georgia, the Honorable Dr. Van R. Johnson II embodies purpose, passion, and a relentless commitment to people. In 2004, Mayor Johnson began his political career as the First District Alderman, a position he held for 16 years. Throughout his tenure, he championed equity, inclusion, and justice, using his platform to advocate for the underserved and underrepresented—the least, the last, and the lost. On the national stage, Mayor Johnson is the President of the African American Mayors Association, the 1st Vice President of the National League of Cities, and a member of the United States Conference of Mayors. A trailblazer in youth development, Mayor Johnson's visionary leadership as Director of the Chatham County Youth Commission for more than 30 years has shaped future generations. His mentorship has inspired the creation of youth leadership programs nationwide, including co-founding the Savannah Youth Council in 2004. Mayor Johnson's visionary leadership, humanitarian efforts, and transformative impact have earned him widespread recognition. Savannah State University conferred him a Doctor of Humane Letters, and he has been honored as one of Georgia Trend Magazine's 100 Most Influential Georgians for six consecutive years.
