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Tuesday, July 21
 

7:30am EDT

International Connections Session with the CDS International Committee
Tuesday July 21, 2026 7:30am - 8:15am EDT
Classroom 101 - University Hall
This session is geared towards networking opportunities among our CDS members.CDS believes it is essential to highlight the diversity that exists within the membership and cater to the unique needs of international members. The International Connections Session is a unique networking opportunity designed to promote knowledge sharing and collaboration between US-based and International members.

Various topics of interest will be highlighted, among which will include the re-establishment of the CDS International Chapter, a subcommittee of the Membership Committee dedicated to:

  • Fostering exchange between local and international members.
  • Furthering the development of CDS as a globally minded organization.
  • Ensuring that community development is approached from a globally learned perspective by all CDS members in their respective communities.

CDS will be seeking to determine the interest of members that would like to participate in the International Chapter, creating opportunities for practitioners and researchers alike to meet virtually and assist one another with ongoing projects and challenges beyond the conference.
Speakers
avatar for Kathleen Lopez

Kathleen Lopez

CDS Membership Committee
N/A
Tuesday July 21, 2026 7:30am - 8:15am EDT
Classroom 101 - University Hall
  Classroom 101 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Program/Project Presentation

8:30am EDT

From Waiting to Winning: How Communities Prepare for Tomorrow
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 101 - University Hall
This presentation explores how rural communities proactively build cross-sector partnerships—government entities, businesses, education, and civic groups—to achieve shared goals before federal funding opportunities arise. Using a broadband planning initiative in Shannon and Carter counties as a case study, we highlight a structured process combining community engagement, data-driven research, and technical guidance. Stakeholder teams collaborated with ISPs and public officials to create actionable strategies, secure support, and initiate infrastructure upgrades. The project demonstrates that proactive planning approaches and cross-sector collaboration positions communities to act decisively, ensuring readiness for investment and achievable digital accessibility.

Speakers
avatar for Jennifer R. Williams, JD

Jennifer R. Williams, JD

University of Missouri Extension
Jennifer R. Williams, JD is an Extension Engagement Specialist for the University of Missouri Extension, serving six counties in Southeast Missouri.

As an Engagement Specialist, Jennifer is a resource for county Extension councils, providing training, guidance, and support to the council as it oversees the county’s educational programming and local office management.  Jennifer also remains active as an Extension educator, offering... Read More →
MP

Michael Phoenix

Mayor, City of Winona, Missouri
None.
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 101 - University Hall
  Classroom 101 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Program/Project Presentation

8:30am EDT

Small Rural Communities Grow Their Capacity to Navigate Change
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 101 - University Hall
The Blandin Community Learning Network fostered leadership and network development in eight small, rural communities. Offering structured activities for leaders to increase their capacity to learn together, both internally and across communities, and to take action toward stronger communities. This 12+ month program is an example of how using an asset-based approach centered around the Community Capitals Framework and aligned with many of the CDS Principles of Good Practice, can build the capacity of rural leaders to leverage existing strengths for community change and capacity building. 


We invite you to hear our story about the Blandin Community Learning Network, a program designed to invite community leaders to come together to learn, dream, and take action. The program is a unique model intended to foster leadership and network development both within and across communities using an asset-based approach. 


Structured in three interconnected phases, the program used the Community Capitals Framework (CCF) as its core foundation. Launched in October 2024, the first phase of the program focused on participants identifying their existing community assets and engaging in conversations that challenged thinking about what’s possible. 


Over the next five months, leaders from eight communities took part in online learning group sessions (Phase 2) focused on cultural, human, political and social capitals where they continued to explore assets in their communities and build connections with people within and across their communities. This led to the Phase 3 of the program which incorporated Strategic DoingTM where everyone explored ways to use assets to ‘spiral up’ areas in communities where they could navigate change together.


We’ll share how we scaffolded the program using the CDS Principles of Good Practice to motivate and challenge people, and invited reflective practice. We’ll illustrate how participants developed a transformation mindset by leveraging existing strengths and resources. Finally, we’ll provide insights into maximizing community driven practice by facilitating learning within communities to support ongoing growth and action for a collective future. 
Speakers
avatar for Holli Arp

Holli Arp

Program Leader, Leadership & Civic Engagement, University of Minnesota Extension
None
JB

John Bennett

University of Minnesota Extension
None
avatar for Jody Horntvedt

Jody Horntvedt

Extension Educator, Leadership & Civic Engagement, University of Minnesota Extension
None
EW

Ellen Wolter

University of Minnesota Extension
None
CC

Craig Campbell

University of Minnesota Extension
None
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 101 - University Hall
  Classroom 101 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Program/Project Presentation

8:30am EDT

The Role of Civil Society Alliance/Coalition in Enhancing Community Development: Lessons from South Africa’s #ZumaMustFall National Shutdown
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 101 - University Hall
Globally, civil society alliances have been fundamental in challenging the status quo, pushing for social transformation, and holding power structures accountable. For example, the literature demonstrates that in Latin America and Eastern Europe, broad-based civil society coalitions played a pivotal role in democratization and policy reform. Similarly, the history of South Africa demonstrates that civil society alliances have been central in enhancing development and fostering social change from below. Pre-1994, civil society alliances such as the United Democratic Front (UDF), among others, were central in the demise of the apartheid system. Post-1994, civil society alliances have emerged as a cornerstone in the democratic era by strengthening democratic processes, enhancing good governance, and fostering accountability. One of such civil society alliances is the #ZumaMustFall (#ZMF), which was a nationwide protest movement mobilized across social classes and sectors to demand accountability and the resignation of former President Jacob Zuma over corruption and governance failures. Therefore, the paper adopts content analysis to analyze opportunities and challenges for civil society alliances/coalitions in enhancing community development using the #ZMF as a case study. The paper uses collective action theory as a theoretical lens to interpret the findings from literature. The preliminary findings highlight that the civil society alliance has the potential for unified citizen action to influence governance, demand accountability, and foster participatory democracy. However, it also revealed internal fragmentation, unequal representation, and limited continuity beyond the protest moment, which constrained its long-term developmental impact. Therefore, it recommends that future civil society alliances strengthen internal coordination mechanisms, build inclusive leadership structures, and establish long-term community development agendas that extend beyond protest action. 
Speakers
NE

Nsizwazonke Ephraim Yende

University of Mpumalanga, South Africa
I do not have any special requests
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 101 - University Hall
  Classroom 101 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Academic Paper

8:30am EDT

Building the Village: Leveraging Cross-sector Relationships for Youth Development
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 104 - University Hall
We present the context, development, and community impact of a comprehensive youth serving initiative: Statesboro Village Builders. Several incidents in a local high school inspired the community to come together to discuss how we could best support our youth. We collaboratively identified goals and a small team worked to develop a plan for this initiative, designed to leverage the assets of existing nonprofit, faith-based, and private sector organizations and local government to empower young people and their families. We will share keys to success, lessons learned, and other takeaways for participants hoping to launch a similar initiative in their community.


Speakers
KM
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 104 - University Hall
  Classroom 104 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Program/Project Presentation

8:30am EDT

Co-Creating Success: A Consensus Framework for Youth Impact in Rural Nebraska
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 104 - University Hall
This paper presents a Consensus Framework for Postsecondary Youth Impact in Rural Communities—a theoretical model developed for the University of Nebraska’s Rural Fellows program to help collaborative partners in co-creating and evaluating locally meaningful success indicators. Based on Collective Impact Theory (Kania & Kramer, 2011), Ripple Effects Mapping (Emery et al., 2015), and community-based participatory evaluation, the framework details strategies for aligning goals, monitoring progress, and adapting community-led initiatives over time. It provides practical guidance to improve best practices for postsecondary youth engagement programs with rural communities and supports community-identified efforts to strengthen community support in rural Nebraska.

Speakers
avatar for Blair Bagley

Blair Bagley

University of Nebraska-Lincoln
None
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 104 - University Hall
  Classroom 104 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Academic Paper

8:30am EDT

Keystone Community Partnerships: Amplifying Youth, Community, and Economic Capacity in the Commonwealth
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 104 - University Hall
Keystone Community Partnerships (KCP) is a program of [The Institution] Outreach, leveraging collective resources, knowledge, and expertise of the University in collaboration with community stakeholders to enhance capacity and address community priorities throughout the state. KCP fosters transparent and adaptable university-community partnerships where trust, support, and empowerment thrive. A graduate certificate program called KCP Scholars within the College of Agricultural Science trains exemplary graduate students in the KCP model for community engagement, creating experiential learning opportunities for the students as they become project managers on KCP initiatives embedded in communities.
This presentation will discuss three community based KCP initiatives along with the KCP Scholars program. Three KCP Scholars will share their experiences of community engagement and development implementing initiatives such as mobile medical and veterinary clinics, school-based community gardening through a social-emotional learning lens, and in-the-field workforce development opportunities for high school students. The presentation will highlight programs successes, lessons learned and measurable outcomes for the collaborating communities.

Speakers
JM

Jamison Malcolm

Director, Keystone Collective Impact, Penn State Outreach
There will be between 3-4 graduate students presenting along with me. 
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 104 - University Hall
  Classroom 104 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Program/Project Presentation

8:30am EDT

A Curriculum for Bringing People, Place, & Systems into Planning for Comprehensive Community Development
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 109 - University Hall
A Curriculum for Bringing People, Place, & Systems into Planning for Comprehensive Community Development 
Comprehensive, place-based, and resident-led efforts are essential to building strong cross-sector partnerships, and this complex work requires intentional, data-driven approaches to maximize community impact. In collaboration with more than 30 organizations across the NeighborWorks Network, NeighborWorks America has developed a capacity-building curriculum designed to equip organizations seeking to expand or launch comprehensive place-based initiatives. This framework centers community history and local systems, elevates resident expertise and relationships, strengthens partnerships and collaboration, and embeds data-driven inquiry to guide decision-making. We will share more about how communities are utilizing this framework to deepen impact and share tested, practical tools and strategies.   
Communities across the country are applying the NeighborWorks America framework for comprehensive community development to deepen their impact, using tested tools and practical strategies to drive meaningful, resident‑centered change. This session will introduce participants to the curriculum that guides this work, emphasizing the capacity‑building and technical skills needed to launch and sustain a place‑based initiative within a defined geography. 
The session will walk participants through a core learning arc, which includes modules such as “Inquiry into Place,” examining the historical forces and systems that shape current conditions; “Thinking Spatially,” which builds foundational skills in geographic and spatial analysis; and “Ecosystem Mapping,” which emphasizes the intentional inclusion of resident experience and expertise. Together, these components connect people, place, and systems to support coordinated, long‑term change. 
Grounded in a comprehensive community development lens, the framework is anchored in key principles: establishing a strong backbone organization, cultivating cross‑sector partnerships, aligning holistic, multidisciplinary strategies, and coordinating layered investments. This session will highlight how these principles operate in practice and offer actionable insights for organizations looking to strengthen or launch place‑based work in their own communities. Aligned with the theme “Community Currents,” this session gives insight into the practical application of community development practitioners as navigators helping neighborhoods interpret the forces around them, chart resilient paths, and harness collaborative momentum.  
Speakers
avatar for Elizabeth Druback Celaya

Elizabeth Druback Celaya

NeighborWorks America
n/a
RF

Rachel Fischer

NeighborWorks America
n/a
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 109 - University Hall
  Classroom 109 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Program/Project Presentation

8:30am EDT

Collaboration over the Long Haul: Creating and Sustaining the Community Development Network of Maryland
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 109 - University Hall
Session presenters, referred to here as CWR and SJS, have navigated change together across diverse community development contexts. The presentation will focus on their interactions in creating and sustaining the Community Development Network of Maryland (CDN), a statewide network of rural and urban organizations advocating for thriving communities and secure housing. CWR and SJS brought different lived experiences as well as engagement with neighborhood-based, city-wide, and state-wide nonprofits, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, and a University of Maryland branch to their pivotal roles at CDN -- as founder, board chair, staff person, consultant, researcher, and executive director.

Speakers
avatar for Sally Scott

Sally Scott

Graduate Director, Community Leadership, University of Maryland Baltimore County
N/A
CW

Claudia Wilson Randall

Community Development Network of Maryland
N/A
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 109 - University Hall
  Classroom 109 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Program/Project Presentation

8:30am EDT

Mapping Regional Community Development Resources: Connecting Communities, Programs, and Possibilities
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 109 - University Hall
The Maximize [My Community] Journey™ is a practical playbook that has proven to help community leaders, residents, and organizations navigate local challenges and opportunities by working better together. To strengthen regional alignment throughout a primarily rural area, this strengths-based approach is being leveraged to inventory and map community and leadership development programs through stakeholder engagement across sectors and several jurisdictions. The resulting resource map will outline how each supports shared priorities, reduces duplication, identifies service gaps, and help leaders find the right programs at the right time for themselves and their teams—ultimately strengthening collaboration and catalyzing progress.
 

Speakers
CG

Christel Gollnick

Maximize Northwest Missouri
N/A
avatar for Jackie Spainhower

Jackie Spainhower

University of Missouri Extension
N/A
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 109 - University Hall
  Classroom 109 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Program/Project Presentation

8:30am EDT

A Community Capital Development Approach
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 111 - University Hall
The Community Capitals Framework (CCF) is widely used to describe how community assets are invested to generate new resources, yet practitioners often struggle to translate its concepts into coordinated action. Existing applications typically pair the CCF with established community development approaches, but these approaches were not designed to sustain capital awareness, account for interactions among capitals, or coordinate action across multiple settings. This article introduces the Community Capital Development Approach (CCDA), a practice‑oriented approach intentionally built around the CCF. Drawing on contributions from Appreciative Inquiry, Asset‑Based Community Development, the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach, and strategic planning, the CCDA integrates explicit conditions for action, guiding principles, and a seven‑convening process to operationalize capital stocks, flows, and setting linkages. The approach provides practitioners and development organizations with a structured yet adaptable roadmap for navigating complex community development contexts, including both general community systems and focused systems such as neighborhoods, downtowns, or entrepreneurial ecosystems. By embedding capital consciousness and setting awareness throughout diagnosis, strategizing, action, and learning, the CCDA clarifies how communities can move from describing their capitals to deliberately coordinating their mobilization over time.
Speakers
TJ

Todd Jerome Barman

Downtown Specialist, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Extension
Todd Johnson, UW Madison Extension, may be a co-presenter.
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 111 - University Hall
  Classroom 111 - University Hall, Balance Preservation and Progress - Program/Project Presentation

8:30am EDT

Engaging community in emerging land use planning issues
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 111 - University Hall
Purdue University and community partners are navigating change through collaborative, data-driven land-use planning. This session highlights three initiatives that strengthen community resilience and inform local decisions. IN R-STEP, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, provides GIS tools and engagement strategies for renewable energy siting. The NSF-supported MARC program explores agrivoltaics, integrating solar energy with agriculture to enhance resilience and productivity. Purdue also partners with Indiana’s Lake Michigan Coastal Program to develop conservation plans using spatial analysis and community input. All efforts emphasize participatory design, equipping communities with practical tools to manage growth, preserve character, and address environmental challenges.



Speakers
TO

Tamara Ogle

I am a NACDEP Member, Purdue University
N/A
avatar for Kara Salazar

Kara Salazar

Assistant Program Leader for Community Development & Sustainable Communities Extension Specialist, Purdue University
N/A
AT

Aaron Thompson

Purdue University
N/A
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 111 - University Hall
  Classroom 111 - University Hall, Balance Preservation and Progress - Program/Project Presentation

8:30am EDT

Navigating Change: From a Historic District to Building an Urban Homesteading Network
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 111 - University Hall
The current climate crisis (and the plethora of interwoven issues) has forced communities to come up with innovative solutions to address numerous challenges from poverty and hunger to building climate resilience, especially in urban settings. As communities rise to these challenges through building collaborative networks, deploying social capital, and brainstorming contextualized solutions, navigating and managing change has become an integral part of the community process. Using a community driven initiative to build an urban homesteading network in a historic district in Dayton, OH this presentation will discuss how the community navigates change and enacts innovative solutions that address community challenges. 

Speakers
FF

Felix Fernando

University of Dayton
N/a
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 111 - University Hall
  Classroom 111 - University Hall, Balance Preservation and Progress - Program/Project Presentation

8:30am EDT

A Tale of Two Counties: A Study of Intersectoral Stakeholders’ Preferences Regarding Economic and Entrepreneurial Development
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 120 - University Hall
This study summarizes stakeholders’ preferences for promoting economic growth by facilitating sustainable businesses and entrepreneurship in economically distressed regions in South Carolina. A survey was conducted in a randomly selected rural county and an urban county to capture stakeholders’ preferences for pathways to bolster economic development. Thus, the survey captured stakeholder perceptions regarding challenges and opportunities of economic and entrepreneurial development including any regional dynamics associated with a rural and an urban community. The survey responders represented various stakeholder groups including local business owners, executives, public officials, officials of non-profit organizations. The survey recorded stakeholders’ feedback on pertinent questions including economic and entrepreneurial development challenges and opportunities, environmental sustainability, skills-enhancement training to increase employability of residents, and public-private partnership opportunities. Study results will convey multi-sector stakeholders’ perceptions and suggestions as insights for urban and regional economic development practitioners, policymakers, and academicians. Besides, the results of this study will be useful for anyone interested in economic and entrepreneurial development in South Carolina, especially those focused on sustainable growth in areas that include census tracts designated as Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZs).
Speakers
AK

Abdullah Khan

School of Business, Claflin University
Not applicable
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 120 - University Hall
  Classroom 120 - University Hall, Connect Across Rural-Urban Divides - Academic Paper

8:30am EDT

Childcare Demand Forecast & Market Analysis 2024-2033
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 120 - University Hall
This research project focuses on the availability of childcare in an eight-county rural and urban area in coastal Georgia. The Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America is directly adding 8,500 jobs to this region, increasing the demand for labor in this area. Community leaders identified Childcare as a factor keeping people out of the labor market. This study establishes, for both rural and urban counties, the current and future supply of and demand for childcare in the region. It also identifies where gaps in care exist and strategies to address the challenge.
Speakers
avatar for Benjamin McKay

Benjamin McKay

Director - Center for Business Analytics and Economic Research, Center for Business Analytics and Economic Research, Business Innovation Group at Georgia Southern University
Benjamin P. McKay is an applied economic development and public policy researcher with nearly two decades of experience supporting economic development, public decision-making, and strategic planning across Georgia. He currently serves as Director of the Center for Business Analytics... Read More →
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 120 - University Hall
  Classroom 120 - University Hall, Connect Across Rural-Urban Divides - Program/Project Presentation

8:30am EDT

Bridging Generations for Community Impact: Collaborative Leadership through Youth Empowerment and Neighborhood Leadership
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 123 - University Hall
The Youth Empowerment Program equips young people with leadership, advocacy, and civic engagement skills to influence processes and drive community change. Through experiential learning, mentorship, and collaborative projects, YEP fosters confidence, critical thinking, and a sense of agency among youth. Participants engage in real-world problem-solving, connect with local leaders, and develop strategies to advance equity and economic mobility in their communities.
Speakers
DT
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 123 - University Hall
  Classroom 123 - University Hall, Navigate Generational Partnerships - Program/Project Presentation

8:30am EDT

Innovating Community Food Access: Placemaking and Positive Youth Development in East-Central Phoenix
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 123 - University Hall
Creighton Community Foundation (CCF) operates within low-income, food desert neighborhoods in east-central Phoenix, Arizona, where structural inequities contribute to limited access to nutritious food, under-resourced schools, and constrained pathways for youth advancement. Serving more than 28,000 residents annually, CCF advances a community-based model that integrates positive youth development with neighborhood revitalization strategies to improve life outcomes for high-risk youth and foster long-term community vibrancy. Consistent with community development scholarship that positions schools as neighborhood anchors and catalysts for social capacity-building (Chaskin, 2001; Green & Haines, 2016), CCF collaborates with school districts, local organizations, and residents to align resources, expand capacity, and co-create programs responsive to local priorities.

This study will employ an exploratory descriptive case study design to examine the role of community food access and placemaking strategies in strengthening youth development and neighborhood well-being. Specifically, the study will analyze how a community-supported agriculture (CSA) and edible garden model fosters social cohesion, intergenerational engagement, and shared ownership of community spaces. Descriptive, longitudinal community-level data will be utilized to assess patterns of food access, household stability, and youth participation in leadership and mentoring programs.

Drawing on evidence-based youth empowerment and ecological resilience models (Ginwright, 2010; Lerner et al., 2005), CCF’s programs integrate hunger relief, nutrition education, leadership training, and after-school engagement. By embedding food security initiatives within youth development ecosystems (Alkon & Agyeman, 2011; Kretzmann & McKnight, 1993), CCF demonstrates how school-community partnerships can disrupt intergenerational disadvantage and cultivate community well-being. This presentation highlights partnership design, data findings, and a replicable framework for community-rooted innovation.

Speakers
PK

Patsy Kraeger

Civance Research
N/A
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 123 - University Hall
  Classroom 123 - University Hall, Navigate Generational Partnerships - Academic Paper

8:30am EDT

Youth Navigating Changes Through Intercultural Dialogue in an International Sustainability Challenge
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 123 - University Hall
Northern Skies Resort, a social-entrepreneurial hospitality enterprise grounded in regenerative and place-based values, is the first international sponsor of the WU Vienna University of Economics and Business Sustainability Challenge, partnering with Algoma University's BRIDGE lab, signaling meaningful bridges between northern, community-embedded enterprises and global sustainability education initiatives. The project aims at designing an authentic, contemporary tourism experience, fostering deeper connections with nature while tackling real-world sustainability challenges in cross-cultural, interdisciplinary teams within the organization, and building a long-term, sustainable business. The presentation explores how nature-based hospitality, technological advancement, and cultural storytelling can foster collective well-being, eco-consciousness, and sustainable lifestyles.

Speakers
SK

Sandra Kurian

Algoma University
-
DJ

Dr. Jody Rebek

Algoma University
-
AP

Adith Pradeep

Algoma University
-
ZP

Zhiyu Pan

Algoma University
-
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Classroom 123 - University Hall
  Classroom 123 - University Hall, Connect Across Rural-Urban Divides - Program/Project Presentation

9:45am EDT

Break: Research Posters, Silent Auction, Exhibitors
Tuesday July 21, 2026 9:45am - 10:30am EDT
University Hall Lobby

Tuesday July 21, 2026 9:45am - 10:30am EDT
University Hall Lobby
  University Hall Lobby, Break

10:30am EDT

Bridging university students to communities across Georgia
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 101 - University Hall
The Archway Partnership, a Public Service and Outreach unit at the University of Georgia (UGA), has established an innovative and thriving partnership with UGA’s Terry College of Business Institute for Leadership Advancement (ILA) through years of collaboration. During the ILA course, students are paired with community partners across Georgia to address critical community projects, several focused on significant change. These partnerships are facilitated through Archway, which serves as the conduit between real-world challenges and students in the ILA program. Through these interactions, students learn to navigate working with clients, learn about Georgia communities, apply classroom content in real-world settings, and clients gain a fresh perspective on ways to change and adapt.
Speakers
AJ

Angel Jackson

University of Georgia
N/A
DA

Donald Addison II

University of Georgia
N/A
RC

Rosanna Cruz-Bibb

Archway Professional (Hart County), Archway Partnership - University of Georgia
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 101 - University Hall
  Classroom 101 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Program/Project Presentation

10:30am EDT

Scaffolding Community Capacity: A Community-First Model of University Engagement
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 101 - University Hall
The Connected Resilient Communities (CRC) program, a part of University of Georgia’s Archway Partnership, partners with local leaders, students, and faculty to address community-identified priorities through asset-based, collaborative design. CRC projects, ranging from heritage preservation and environmental planning to early literacy, health assessment, and downtown revitalization, apply participatory approaches to generate implementation-ready solutions. Working across rural, micropolitan, and small-city contexts, CRC strengthens local capacity, nurtures cross-sector partnerships, and buildstowards long-term community resilience. This presentation highlights CRC’s model and showcases project examples demonstrating how communities create innovative, place-based pathways toward thriving futures. 



Speakers
SB

Seth Brookshire

Archway- University of Georgia
n/a
HG

Heidi Grogger

Archway-University of Georgia
N/a
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 101 - University Hall
  Classroom 101 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Program/Project Presentation

10:30am EDT

Student Experiential Learning Through Youth, Community, and Economic Development in Philipsburg, PA
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 101 - University Hall
[program name] is an emergent program developed from [organization] to bridge university resources and research to community identified priorities. To achieve this, [program name] draws on the research based Collective Impact methodology to bridge institutional and community partners around shared goals, metrics, and strategics. In [town, state], [program] Scholars are working hand-in-hand with local partners to support community needs and goals. Through this program, graduate students in [program] grow as leaders, communicators, and collaborators in community engagement plans. The focus of [program] is to center student experiential learning to develop and sustain impactful community-centered partnerships across [state].

Speakers
avatar for Emma Steely

Emma Steely

Keystone Community Partnerships, Penn State Outreach
None
RL

Rachel Layvey

Keystone Community Partnerships, Penn State Outreach
None
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 101 - University Hall
  Classroom 101 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Program/Project Presentation

10:30am EDT

A Typology of Power in Community Land Trust Governance: Cases from Memphis and San Diego
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 104 - University Hall
     Community land trusts (CLTs) have grown as an alternative model of land use to limit housing speculation and counter displacement of residents. Emerging scholarship argues the capacity of CLTs for more transformative politics and social justice is often undermined by an over-focus on affordable homeownership production (DeFilippis et al., 2019; Lowe, 2025). A better understanding of the transformative potential of CLTs requires attention to local politics, community control, and embeddedness of local solutions in complex power structures. We use Gaventa’s power cube to perform comparative power analysis of four CLTs in Memphis and San Diego and find that CLTs vary in their potential for community control based on origins, funding mechanisms, approach to partnerships, and vision for the future. Our findings suggest the need for further qualitative research to understand the heterogeneity of CLTs in terms of community power, but also more policy support from different levels of government to support community-controlled CLTs.
       This paper addresses multiple aspects of the conference theme, Community Currents: Navigating Change Together. Historically, individual community wealth building (CWB) models—such as CLTs—emerged as grassroots responses to the inability of public policy to address systemic issues in land use and housing. These models continue to be experimented with to overcome historical marginalization and contemporary shifts in urban and rural governance and development. Nonetheless, the origins, mission, and goals of these models vary widely depending on the mix of stakeholders involved, the requirements of funding, and the capacity available. As such, community development knowledge and theories are essential to assess the potential for sustainability in individual iterations of these models. 

 
Speakers
AH

A.T. Harrison

Research Associate, Housing Justice Lab, University of Toronto

avatar for Josh Newton

Josh Newton

Postdoctoral Researcher, University of California, San Diego
N/A
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 104 - University Hall
  Classroom 104 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Academic Paper

10:30am EDT

Community Resilience: Creative, Cross-Sector Strategies for Equitable Development
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 104 - University Hall
Communities face rapid shifts such as U.S. government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) policy changes, rising costs, and demographic transitions. This session highlights three innovative, cross-sector approaches to resilience. First, a mom-and-pop grocery in a food desert partners with local colleges and expands its culturally relevant hot deli to include healthy to-go options. Second, an in-house created video explains how to use SNAP at farmers markets, using visuals, narration, and captions to overcome language barriers and boost sales. Third, a neighborhood economic development corporation leverages a “Food Crawl” to share its strategic plan, recruit volunteers, and connect youth to entrepreneurship.
 

Speakers
PA

Prasanta Anumolu

UW Madison Extension Milwaukee County
Ability to share a slide presentation
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 104 - University Hall
  Classroom 104 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Program/Project Presentation

10:30am EDT

From Displacement & Absence to Return: Navigating Repair on Portland’s Hill Block
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 104 - University Hall
This presentation shares lessons from the redevelopment of Portland’s historic Hill Block, once a thriving center of Black life and later erased by urban renewal and state-led displacement. The project is a Black-led, community-governed organization working to restore housing, economic infrastructure, cultural space, and long-term stewardship to land that sat vacant for decades. Framed through a reparative development lens, the presentation examines how community development in action can move beyond politics toward repair by centering truth telling, redistribution, and community-led governance.

Speakers
avatar for Azalea Renfield

Azalea Renfield

Cheif Executive Officer (CEO), Williams & Russell CDC
Azalea is the Chief Executive Officer of Williams & Russell Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit dedicated to community and economic development. She is responsible for strategic direction and oversees all areas of the organization, including policy, housing and economic... Read More →
TN
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 104 - University Hall
  Classroom 104 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Program/Project Presentation

10:30am EDT

A Process Model of Cross-sector Collaboration Centered on Public Libraries: Collaborative Governance and Co-production
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 109 - University Hall
This presentation examines a process model of cross-sector collaboration centered on public libraries, based on case studies of two municipal libraries in Japan. It explores how libraries function as connective hubs linking government, schools, welfare agencies, private actors, and community organizations through collaborative governance and co-production. By analyzing everyday practices such as participatory workshops and inter-organizational partnerships, the study highlights the potential of public libraries as social infrastructure that supports trust-building, coordination, and inclusive community development.
Speakers
SO

Satoko Okano

Associate Professor, Naragakuen University
Not applicable.
MT

Mai Tanihara

Osaka Shin-Ai Jogakuin University
Not applicable.
KK

Keiichiro Kokubo

Kurashiki City College
Not applicable.
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 109 - University Hall
  Classroom 109 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Academic Paper

10:30am EDT

Building Safer Public Spaces Through Youth Leadership
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 109 - University Hall
The Transportation Education and Safety Youth Ambassador (TESYA) program empowers immigrant and refugee youth to become community safety leaders and transit educators through a cultural liaison and train the trainer model. Youth gain knowledge about transportation options, bike and pedestrian safety, mobility justice, and climate conscious travel, and share this information within their communities. TESYA ambassadors also support DMA Play Streets by helping transform neighborhood streets into pop up spaces for intergenerational play, physical activity, and social connection. Through these program activities, TESYA strengthens neighborhood safety, increases transit literacy, and builds youth leadership that supports long term community development and safer public spaces.

Speakers
LS

Lisha Shrestha

Portland State University/ Division Midway Alliance
NA
LM

Lorena Mora

Programs and Partnership Manager, Division Midway Alliance
NA
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 109 - University Hall
  Classroom 109 - University Hall, Harness Cultural Energy - Program/Project Presentation

10:30am EDT

Charting Synergistic Pathways for Increased Water Efficiency in Coastal Georgia
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 109 - University Hall
This paper presents an initial, mixed-methods assessment of water efficiency in Coastal Georgia. Funded by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, this study utilizes stakeholder survey and focus groups to identify socially feasible “synergistic opportunities” for water reuse and resilience. Rather than advancing technical designs, we analyze stakeholder data to assess perceptions, willingness to collaborate, and barriers to implementation, which provides a foundational input for priority projects. Results highlight leverage points for cross-sector collaboration, providing a data-driven framework, and targeted policy recommendations to shape the regulatory landscape for sustainable resource management in rapidly developing coastal communities.



Speakers
SR

Stetson Rowles

[email protected], Georgia Southern University
n/a
FP

Fatemeh (Panah) Naeijian

[email protected], Georgia Southern University
n/a
JS

Jayce Sudweeks

Georgia Southern University
n/a
TW

Taylor Woodard

Georgia Southern University
n/a
SA

Selina Ayittah

Georgia Southern University
n/a
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 109 - University Hall
  Classroom 109 - University Hall, Connect Across Rural-Urban Divides - Academic Paper

10:30am EDT

Does Place Matter for Caregiver Well-Being? Evidence from Urban and Rural America
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 111 - University Hall
This study examines the relationship between well-being and geographic context among informal child caregivers in the United States using 2022 North Central and Northeast Caregiving Survey data. We assess urban–rural differences in well-being and the role of caregiving-related life changes. Regression and Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition analyses show a statistically significant advantage in well-being for urban caregivers. About one-third of this gap is explained by observable factors, primarily income and employment status, while two-thirds remains unexplained. Employment changes related to caregiving are particularly detrimental to the well-being of rural caregivers compared with their urban counterparts.
Speakers
ZB

Zuzana Bednarik

North Central Regional Center for Rural Development/Purdue University
none
SG

Stephan Goetz

Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development/PennState
none
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 111 - University Hall
  Classroom 111 - University Hall, Connect Across Rural-Urban Divides - Academic Paper

10:30am EDT

Mapping the Gaps: Navigating Workforce, Geography, and Care Access to Build a Regional Overnight Respite Network
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 111 - University Hall
This presentation examines uneven access to overnight respite care in Western NY through the lenses of geography, workforce, and system design. Using regional data, travel-time analysis, and workforce modeling, it reframes respite scarcity as a network problem rather than a site-level issue. The session explores how strategic siting, cross-county collaboration, and community college partnerships can transform a partially built system into a coherent regional infrastructure—improving equity, sustainability, and family trust while strengthening workforce pipelines critical to long-term community health.



Speakers
DS
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 111 - University Hall
  Classroom 111 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Program/Project Presentation

10:30am EDT

Measuring Civic Capacity Across Place: How the Civic Muscle Index Identifies Strengths Across Rural and Urban Communities in Missouri
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 111 - University Hall
The Civic Muscle Index (CMI) is a platform designed to measure, visualize, and strengthen the civic conditions that support thriving communities across diverse geographies. Combining research-based indicators with interactive data tools and narrative content, the CMI provides locally relevant insights for rural, suburban, and urban communities alike. This presentation will highlight the CMI’s development, methodological framework, and practical applications—showing how communities are using the tool to build shared power, collaboration, and belonging while bridging place-based differences.

Speakers
avatar for Jamie Kleinsorge

Jamie Kleinsorge

Assistant Director, CARES - University of Missouri Extension
None
SH

Sarah Hultine Massengale

Assistant Extension Professor of Political Science and State Specialist in Community Development, University of Missouri - St. Louis/Extension
NA
CR

Claire Rippel

University of Missouri
None
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 111 - University Hall
  Classroom 111 - University Hall, Connect Across Rural-Urban Divides - Program/Project Presentation

10:30am EDT

Arts, Culture, and Humanities as Community Development Infrastructure: Findings from the Nebraska Cultural Investment Report
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 120 - University Hall
The Nebraska Cultural Investment Report is a first-of-its-kind, statewide mixed-methods study examining how arts, culture, and humanities contribute to community development in Nebraska. Through quantitative indicator analysis and qualitative case studies in five diverse communities – rural, micropolitan, and urban – the project shares how cultural investment contributes to economic vitality, community vibrancy, and individual well-being. The research demonstrates how cultural assets, local leadership, and creative infrastructure shape community identity, strengthen social cohesion, and support long-term resilience. Findings offer actionable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and community partners working to advance creative and sustainable development. 

 

Speakers
MV

Morgan Vogel

University of Nebraska at Omaha
N/A
avatar for Josie Schafer

Josie Schafer

Director of the Center for Public Affairs Research, University of Nebraska at Omaha
N/A
MP

Meagan Paez

University of Nebraska at Omaha
N/A
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 120 - University Hall
  Classroom 120 - University Hall, Harness Cultural Energy - Program/Project Presentation

10:30am EDT

How should we evaluate creative placemaking? Experiences and observations of placemaking practitioners in the United States
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 120 - University Hall
This study addresses the research gap in understanding practitioner perspectives on evaluating placemaking initiatives, a popular cross-sector process used to enhance community vitality and public spaces. Through interviews with twenty (20) U.S. practitioners, the research identifies wide variations in evaluation requirements, capacity constraints, and challenges linked to complexity, leadership transitions, and data limitations. Despite these barriers, effective evaluation supports learning, advocacy, and funding outcomes. Findings highlight the inherent tension between flexibility and structure in current evaluation practices while underscoring the need for collaborative, systematic, and context-sensitive approaches. This study contributes to broader discussions in cross-sector initiatives.

Speakers
avatar for B. Kathleen Gallagher

B. Kathleen Gallagher

Assistant Professor, Texas Tech University
n/a
avatar for Leigh Hersey

Leigh Hersey

Associate Professor & MPA Coordinator, University of Louisiana Monroe
n/A
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 120 - University Hall
  Classroom 120 - University Hall, Harness Cultural Energy - Academic Paper

10:30am EDT

How Volunteers and Cross-Sector Partnerships at Free, Outdoor Concerts Improve Community Health Outcomes
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 120 - University Hall
This presentation from the Levitt Foundation—a national creative placemaking funder supporting the largest free outdoor music series in America—explores how volunteer-driven community action, strengthened through cross-sector partnerships with public health organizations, help grantee communities navigate change and ultimately improve health outcomes. Using several Levitt Music Series communities as case studies, the session highlights how volunteers from healthcare institutions activate public space in partnership with cultural programming, providing a connection with community members in a welcoming and joyous setting and building trust in local health providers—ultimately leading to healthier communities in times of uncertainty.

These case studies demonstrate how the Levitt model of free, outdoor concerts taking place in accessible public spaces—with ample opportunity for volunteering and cross-sector partnerships—connects community members and cultural programming with public health resources. Together, these case studies reflect how communities chart collaborative pathways, harness cultural energy, and ultimately make public health a more visible and attainable goal for community members.
Speakers
avatar for Sharon Yazowski

Sharon Yazowski

President & CEO, Levitt Family Foundation
N/A
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 120 - University Hall
  Classroom 120 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Program/Project Presentation

10:30am EDT

Analyzing how James Oglethorpe's Plan for Savannah Implemented the CDS Principles of Good Practice
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 123 - University Hall
Engage in learning how the Savannah Plan of 1733 developed by James Oglethorpe aligned with CDS Principles of Practice Framework. The presentation will focus on how the good principles of practice have been enhanced as Savannah evolved through growth and change into a modern era while preserving its historical roots. 












Speakers
JB

Jerry Braatz

University of Wisconsin Madison Extension
Projector 
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 123 - University Hall
  Classroom 123 - University Hall, Balance Preservation and Progress - Academic Paper

10:30am EDT

Great Scot! How I Became a Groupie of Sir Patrick Geddes & What We Can Learn from Him Today
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 123 - University Hall
Sir Patrick Geddes, the “grandfather of modern planning,” believed communities evolve like living organisms—shaped by culture, economy, and environment. While teaching in Scotland, I explored Geddes’ holistic approach, which anticipated today’s practices in placemaking, citizen participation, economic development, sustainability, land use planning, and historic preservation. His emphasis on collaboration, cultural vitality, and hands-on engagement resonates today. Geddes taught us to work with the natural energy of communities, bridging divides and balancing preservation with progress. This session reintroduces Geddes’ timeless ideas and invites discussion on what we can learn from them today.



Speakers
avatar for Todd W. Johnson

Todd W. Johnson

Land Use & Community Development Outreach Program Manager, The University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Cooperative Extension
Nope.
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 123 - University Hall
  Classroom 123 - University Hall, Balance Preservation and Progress - Program/Project Presentation

10:30am EDT

Negotiating Face in Local Deliberative Institutions: How Decisions are Made in Ontario’s Municipal Heritage Committees
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 123 - University Hall
Local governance is executed in a diverse range of settings, from formal councils to informal settings in the voluntary and private sectors. Determining action in these settings, however, requires discussion and debate before decisions are taken and executed. Using discourse analysis, this paper analyzes citizen-populated committees of council in an Ontario municipality to highlight the conversational strategies used to reach decisions. Up to now, the large body of governance literature has typically focused on how we ought to reach decisions rather than how we actually do reach them. Understanding existing practice points to more effective strategies for collective decision making.

Speakers
SM

Sean Meades

Associate Professor, Algoma University
None.
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Classroom 123 - University Hall
  Classroom 123 - University Hall, Balance Preservation and Progress - Academic Paper

11:45am EDT

Break: Research Posters, Silent Auction, Exhibitors
Tuesday July 21, 2026 11:45am - 12:00pm EDT
University Hall Lobby

Tuesday July 21, 2026 11:45am - 12:00pm EDT
University Hall Lobby
  University Hall Lobby, Break

12:00pm EDT

Luncheon and Plenary Session: What’s Next, America? Deliberation, Community Development, and the Civic Work Ahead
Tuesday July 21, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm EDT
Ballroom - Armstrong Center
Facilitated by the National Issues Forum Institute

As communities navigate change, uncertainty, and opportunity, how can we strengthen the civic muscles needed to talk, decide, and act together? This luncheon plenary will introduce What’s Next, America?, a national initiative that uses the nation’s 250th milestone as a springboard for deeper deliberation and shared local action. Through expert insights, community development perspectives, and interactive moments, participants will explore how deliberation can build trust, surface shared priorities, and support community-driven next steps.
Tuesday July 21, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm EDT
Ballroom - Armstrong Center
  Ballroom - Armstrong Center, Main Event

1:30pm EDT

Break: Research Posters, Silent Auction, Exhibitors
Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:30pm - 1:45pm EDT
University Hall Lobby

Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:30pm - 1:45pm EDT
University Hall Lobby
  University Hall Lobby, Break

1:45pm EDT

Building Cross-Sector Partnerships to Support Recovery in Rural Communities
Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Classroom 101 - University Hall
This panel brings together panelists from a local nonprofit recovery organization, state and local governments, higher education institutions, businesses, and community organizations to support recovery for those with substance abuse disorder. These partnerships and programs seek to support individuals in recovery while also building and strengthening ties to community and support networks.


Panel Presentations:
DFCS Family Support 
Discussion of work with Georgia Department of Family and Children Services to support families in recovery that interact with the system.
Peer Support for Incarcerated Individuals
Discussion of Peer Support services in the local jail for those seeking help for recovery.
Center for Addiction Recovery
Discussion of partnership with Georgia Southern University’s Center for Addiction Recovery which provides support for students in recovery as well as research and training on issues related to addiction and recovery.
Speakers
CT

Catherine Tootle

Freedom Through Recovery
N/A
Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Classroom 101 - University Hall
  Classroom 101 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Program/Project Panel

1:45pm EDT

Navigating Change with Rural Stories and Action
Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Classroom 104 - University Hall
Navigating Change with Rural Stories and Action
This panel will highlight how learning through stories and supporting rural-led action is informing stronger partnerships with rural places for research, funding, network building, and advocacy.  Panelists include university researchers, a not-for-profit, and rural leaders who will share why stories matter in their work and how what is learned from the stories and process are helping to navigate changes for their institutions, in new partnerships, and within rural communities.
This panel focuses on the themes of navigating change together and connecting across urban-rural divides.  The three projects are connected by their focus on collaboration, shared understanding, and aligned outcomes focused on rural voice and power- action steps prioritized in the Thrive Rural Framework by Aspen Community Strategies Group and in the CDS principles of good practice. The panelists represent diverse institutions working across local, state, and national geographies.  They are connecting rural and urban partners and supporting capacity for rural leaders to create more vibrant and resilient rural places through health equity, food access, leadership, and arts and culture.  In a time where decreasing budgets, misinformation, and disconnection are making community change work more challenging, the panelists will discuss the outcomes of their intentional investments - of funding, time, flexibility, and network-building - in strategies focused on rural stories and action. This panel will share examples of how cross-sector and cross-geography collaboration can use stories and connection to move beyond the usual silos toward shared solutions. 
Panel Presentations:
The Rural Missouri Stories Project
From 2023-2024, researchers studied the lived experiences, narratives, and values that shape rural Missouri life and inform perceptions of communities’ ability to thrive. This presentation will share the research process and outreach, lessons learned, and how the data and process are informing other rural Missouri initiatives.
Rural Assembly Everywhere
Rural Assembly Everywhere, a program of the Center for Rural Strategies, is an annual gathering uniting people nationwide who care about rural places, neighbors, and community issues. This presentation highlights how Rural Assembly invites participants to imagine new ways to expand opportunity, share resources, and build a connected rural America.
Missouri EATs and the Missouri Rural Food Access Partnership (MFRAP)
Missouri Rural Food Access Partnership is a network of urban and rural food system partners exploring a statewide food financing initiative. This effort is informed by local strategies and stories shared through Missouri EATs – a program to uncover innovative community solutions for improved food access through community engagement, networks, and local action planning.
 
Speakers
SH

Sarah Hultine Massengale

Assistant Extension Professor of Political Science and State Specialist in Community Development, University of Missouri - St. Louis/Extension
NA
MM

Madeline Matson

Center for Rural Strategies
NA
TF

Taneum Fotheringill

Center for Rural Strategies
NA
BM

Bill McKelvey

University of Missouri Extension
NA
JH

Joan Hermsen

University of Missouri
Two additional speakers: Kandice Grossman, Truman State University and Rebecca Scott, University of Missouri
avatar for Jackie Spainhower

Jackie Spainhower

University of Missouri Extension
N/A
Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Classroom 104 - University Hall
  Classroom 104 - University Hall, Connect Across Rural-Urban Divides - Program/Project Panel

1:45pm EDT

A progress report on how community development approaches can help local government develop a holistic, refugee-centered model of resettlement.
Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Classroom 111 - University Hall
The U.S. system of refugee resettlement was built for arrival, not for belonging.  The long, complex work of helping refugees build new lives here requires a new framework -- one that approaches resettlement as community development and that brings local government and civil society together as genuine co-governance partners.  With voices of lived experience, field-based practitioner insight, and theoretical grounding, the presenter is trying to build this new framework and apply his ideas with a newly-elected mayor and a well-established community-based organization.  He will share a progress report and invite responders to comment and critique.
 
Responders:
Satoko Okano
Todd Johnson
Speakers
DM

Dave Mammen

Church Administrator, Rutgers Presbyterian Church (New York City) and Welcome Home Jersey City
I will recruit two scholars from the CDS membership to serve as Respondents on this panel.
Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Classroom 111 - University Hall
  Classroom 111 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Present and Respond Panel

1:45pm EDT

An Introduction to the Coming Together for Racial Understanding Curriculum
Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Classroom 121 - University Hall
For the past 8 years, the Coming Together for Racial Understanding (CTRU) program series has been held in communities across the U.S. Over this time, the series, mainly facilitated by Extension professionals, has provided facilitated dialogue around complex issues to foster larger community efforts to address these important issues. As the Community Development Society partners on the CTRU effort and the curriculum and program efforts are offered though CDS, this workshop provides an opportunity to experience a sample of the program and invite feedback from CDS members.

Participants of this workshop will:
  • Experience dialogue as a tool to address complex community issues by participating in a portion of the Coming Together for Racial Understanding curriculum (program in total is 6-8 2-hour sessions).
  • Be able to provide initial feedback on the Coming Together for Racial Understanding curriculum.
  • Provide guidance and affirmation to the CTRU and CDS transition team.
Speakers
ME

Michelle Eley

North Carolina State University
no special requests
avatar for Lisa Hinz

Lisa Hinz

Associate Extension Professor, Leadership and Civic Engagement, University of Minnesota Extension
no special requests
ME

Mary Emery

University of Nebraska - Lincoln
no special requests
DP

Dionardo Pizana

Michigan State University Extension
no special requests
Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Classroom 121 - University Hall
  Classroom 121 - University Hall, Harness Cultural Energy - Experiential Workshop

3:00pm EDT

Assessing Access to Care in Refugee Communities: Survey Development
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Armstrong Center Lobby
Refugee communities face cultural and structural barriers to healthcare that existing validated survey tools do not fully capture. This project develops a comprehensive, culturally responsive survey instrument designed specifically for refugee populations. Using validated survey development methods, an environmental scan, a modified Delphi process, translation protocols, and cognitive interviewing, the research team—through shared decision-making with a resettlement agency and current refugees—co-created a multilingual tool addressing access, speed, cultural relevance, and behavioral factors influencing care. The resulting instrument provides actionable data to support community organizations and service providers in improving equitable access to care for refugee communities.


Speakers
CB

Craig Borie

University of Kentucky
N/A
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Armstrong Center Lobby
  Armstrong Center Lobby, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Research Poster

3:00pm EDT

Bridging Data and Service Learning: Housing Insights for Newton County’s Expanding Industry
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Armstrong Center Lobby
The University of Georgia Archway Partnership worked with local stakeholders in Newton County to assess housing affordability, focusing on apartment rentals and income levels amid rapid economic growth. Guided by locally identified priorities, this university–community partnership connected public sector data needs with academic expertise. By incorporating service learning, the project provided community leaders with actionable insight while giving a UGA student hands-on experience in public policy analysis and applied research.
Speakers
JB

Jeffrey Burke

University of Georgia
N/A
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Armstrong Center Lobby
  Armstrong Center Lobby, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Research Poster

3:00pm EDT

Charting Consensus: A Consensus Framework for Postsecondary Youth Impact in Rural Communities
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Armstrong Center Lobby
This research poster presents a Consensus Framework for Postsecondary Youth Impact in Rural Communities, developed for the University of Nebraska’s Rural Fellows program. Grounded in Collective Impact Theory, Ripple Effects Mapping, and community-based participatory evaluation, the framework supports rural communities and cross-sector partners in co-creating locally meaningful indicators of success for postsecondary youth engagement. The poster illustrates how shared goal-setting, reflective evaluation, and adaptive learning processes can strengthen community-defined outcomes while supporting youth development and long-term rural vitality.

 
Speakers
avatar for Blair Bagley

Blair Bagley

University of Nebraska-Lincoln
None
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Armstrong Center Lobby
  Armstrong Center Lobby, Navigate Generational Partnerships - Research Poster

3:00pm EDT

Closing the Rural Climate Gap: An Integrated Development Ecosystem for Adaptive Capacity in Rural Georgia
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Armstrong Center Lobby
This research poster presents a systems-based theoretical model for addressing the "rural climate gap," where limited institutional capacity amplifies vulnerability to climate stressors such as extreme heat. Using a rural county in Georgia as a site of analysis, the poster conceptualizes an integrated development ecosystem centered on a Community Land Trust (CLT) and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) partnership, with mission-aligned social enterprises. Grounded in systems theory and causal pathway analysis, the model illustrates how coordinated land stewardship, mission-aligned capital, and workforce development can strengthen endogenous adaptive capacity while addressing the structural drivers of climate vulnerability in under-resourced rural communities.

Speakers
TW

Taylor Woodard

Georgia Southern University
n/a
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Armstrong Center Lobby
  Armstrong Center Lobby, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Research Poster

3:00pm EDT

Community-level Housing Functionality and Recovery Modelling for Coastal Georgia.
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Armstrong Center Lobby
Coastal Georgia is frequently affected by natural disasters, including hurricanes and floods. Hurricane Helene revealed the vulnerability of coastal built infrastructure systems. Despite many buildings remaining physically intact during this storm, building systems experienced severe functionality loss due to prolonged service disruptions of essential utility systems, including water losses and power outages. This study assesses residential building systems functionality by connecting the physical performance of buildings with utility outages. The physical performance of residential buildings and infrastructure systems is modeled using the HAZUS model. Water and electrical power infrastructure systems recovery is then modeled by incorporating current infrastructure decision-making practices, and building functionality recovery is modeled through housing-level recovery. The proposed model is tailored and applied to Chatham County, Georgia, for a hurricane disaster scenario. The proposed model will benefit resilience-focused urban disaster risk planning and decision-making.
Speakers
SR

Stetson Rowles

[email protected], Georgia Southern University
n/a
RK

Ram Krishna Mazumder

Georgia Southern University
n/a
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Armstrong Center Lobby
  Armstrong Center Lobby, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Research Poster

3:00pm EDT

Empowering Youth for Life Beyond Graduation: The Navigating Through Life Initiative
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Armstrong Center Lobby
This poster showcases the Navigating Through Life program in Newton County Schools, a cross-sector initiative that equips high school seniors with practical life skills through strong community partnerships. Developed in collaboration with educators, local government, nonprofits, and business leaders, the program reflects a shared commitment to preparing youth for successful transitions into adulthood. Attendees will learn about the program’s development, structure, and implementation, as well as strategies for adapting the model in their own communities. The poster will highlight how collaborative partnerships strengthen community resilience by empowering students with essential skills while deepening sustained relationships between schools and local organizations.
Speakers
JB

Jeffrey Burke

University of Georgia
N/A
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Armstrong Center Lobby
  Armstrong Center Lobby, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Research Poster

3:00pm EDT

Examining the Rural-Urban Interface in Community Development: A Systematic Scoping Review
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Armstrong Center Lobby
Rural and urban spaces tend to be researched, addressed, and funded as separate economic, social, and political challenges despite the fact that rural sociologists have described the so-called rural-urban divide as not a divide at all, but rather an interdependent space of interaction. However, limited scholarship within the United States examines how and why rural and urban communities are connected and its implications for community development researchers and practitioners.
The interdependent rural-urban ties that bind rural and urban communities continue to be mostly invisible. In order to strengthen the ties that bind rural, suburban, and urban communities, we need to first identify and make them visible. Empirical evidence that demonstrates the interdependencies of rural and urban spaces is crucial for practitioners, researchers, and policymakers to better navigate interdependent rural and urban community development. However, the primary body of literature relative to rural-urban interdependence and linkages exists within international settings. In the United States, limited scholarship exists that explores how rural and urban places and communities impact or influence the other, despite the fact that “today's societal and global problems often have a large rural dimension (e.g., labor mobility, energy development, climate change, food production, waste disposal) that imposes new challenges that affect all Americans, regardless of where they happen to live” (Lichter & Ziliak, 2017). 
This project systematically reviews literature in the community development field that examines rural–urban interdependence, providing a structured and transparent overview of existing scholarship and mapping what is known about rural–urban relationships in the United States. This scoping review informs a research agenda by examining how the rural–urban interface is conceptualized within the field and identifying priorities for future research on rural–urban linkages.
Preliminary findings reveal limited scholarship focusing on rural-urban interdependence within the community development field in the United States. Studies examining rural-urban interdependence primarily focused on linkages related to financial and cultural capital.
Speakers
EW

Ellen Wolter

University of Minnesota Extension
None
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Armstrong Center Lobby
  Armstrong Center Lobby, Connect Across Rural-Urban Divides - Research Poster

3:00pm EDT

From Planning to Practice: Launching the Connect Newton Implementation Initiative
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Armstrong Center Lobby
The Connect Newton Implementation Initiative (CNII) was launched as a pilot funding initiative to support K–12 teachers in delivering workforce-connected lessons aligned with local career pathways. Developed through collaboration among education, industry, and community partners, and funded by Georgia Power, the initiative provides financial and structural support for teacher-designed, career-relevant classroom projects. The first-year pilot tested the application, review, and implementation process, offering early insight into how teacher-led workforce instruction can be supported while informing refinements for year two.
Speakers
JB

Jeffrey Burke

University of Georgia
N/A
BS

Brittany Standifer

University of Georgia
N/A
SB

Seth Brookshire

Archway- University of Georgia
n/a
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Armstrong Center Lobby
  Armstrong Center Lobby, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Research Poster

3:00pm EDT

Intergenerational Collaboration in Youth Activism: Learning from the Lived Experiences of Girl Activists of Color
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Armstrong Center Lobby
This poster presents a qualitative study exploring the lived experiences of girl activists of color, focusing on the challenges they encounter engaging in social change. Using an interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach, semi-structured interviews captured participants’ narratives about navigating activism, asserting their voices, and sustaining engagement despite political, social, and cultural obstacles. Findings illuminate how these youth make meaning of their activism within environments that are often inhospitable, revealing strategies for resilience, self-advocacy, and community impact. In doing so, this research provides insights for educators and community organizers seeking to better support youth-led social change via intergenerational collaboration models.
Speakers
AD

April Diaz

Fort Hays State University
n/a
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Armstrong Center Lobby
  Armstrong Center Lobby, Navigate Generational Partnerships - Research Poster

3:00pm EDT

Mapping Septic System Vulnerability and Microbial Contamination Pathways in Coastal Georgia (Sapelo Island)
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Armstrong Center Lobby
This poster presents a geospatial assessment of septic system risk in Georgia leveraging open-source environmental and socioeconomic data. Septic system locations are spatially linked with soil conditions, groundwater depth, flood hazards, land use, and demographic indicators to identify areas where system failure risk is elevated. Multi-criteria spatial analysis and hotspot detection methods are used to classify deterministic risk (i.e., high-, medium-, and low) zones and validate patterns using inspection and permit records. The resulting risk maps provide a decision-support tool for identifying priority areas where septic risks threaten public health and where alternative sanitation strategies may be most viable.

 
Speakers
SR

Stetson Rowles

[email protected], Georgia Southern University
n/a
HA

HM Asif Uz Zaman

Georgia Southern University
n/a
RK

Ram Krishna Mazumder

Georgia Southern University
n/a
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Armstrong Center Lobby
  Armstrong Center Lobby, Balance Preservation and Progress - Research Poster

3:00pm EDT

Navigating cultural currents: Clinicians’ perspectives on culturally sustaining behavioral and mental health services for refugee communities
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Armstrong Center Lobby
Providing effective healthcare for refugee populations is a key US public health priority. In Washington State, partnerships among community organizations, resettlement agencies, and health systems help communities navigate change together by connecting refugees with essential supports. Because understandings of health vary across cultures, meaningful behavioral/mental health (BMH) care must harness cultural energy, honoring refugees’ strengths and experiences. Yet many providers lack capacity for culturally responsive, evidence-based care. This qualitative study explores Washington clinicians’ perspectives surrounding culturally sustaining BMH approaches. Findings aim to strengthen capacity and inform practices that honor the diverse cultural energies that shape refugee healing and resilience.
Speakers
avatar for Caitlin Bletscher

Caitlin Bletscher

Associate Professor, Washington State University Vancouver
None
SW

Shelby Whatcott

Washington State University Vancouver
None
OE

Osamudiamwen Egbon

Washington State University
None
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Armstrong Center Lobby
  Armstrong Center Lobby, Harness Cultural Energy - Research Poster

3:00pm EDT

Women-Led Social Enterprises, Community Assets, and Economic Development in Puerto Rico: Navigating Gender Equity Through LEAP Social Enterprise and La Goyco
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Armstrong Center Lobby
This research poster examines the intersection of gender, community-based programs, and economic development in Puerto Rico through a qualitative case study of women-led initiatives. Using Appreciative Inquiry, focus group discussions, and community asset mapping, the study highlights how organizations such as LEAP Social Enterprise and Taller Communidad La Goyco address systemic barriers, including wage inequality, domestic violence, and the underrepresentation of women in leadership. Grounded in the Capability Approach and the Community Capital Framework, findings demonstrate how gender-sensitive social enterprises expand women’s agency while strengthening community resilience through education, cultural preservation, and local resource mobilization.
 
 
Speakers
MV

Mnguashima V Soomiyol

Rutgers University-Camden

Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Armstrong Center Lobby
  Armstrong Center Lobby, Harness Cultural Energy - Research Poster

3:45pm EDT

Bridging Campus and Community: Collaborative Solutions for Housing Needs
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 101 - University Hall
Housing instability presents critical challenges across all communities. In three Georgia counties, the University of Georgia Archway Partnership’s Issue Work Group model is addressing these needs through collaboration with community partners and resources from UGA. Leveraging student engagement, faculty mentorship, and data-driven decision-making, three community issue work groups have developed initiatives, conducted research, and mapped assets. This session highlights strategies for higher education-community collaboration, experiential learning, and building sustainable solutions to local housing challenges.
Speakers
JB

Jeffrey Burke

University of Georgia
N/A
SH

Sara Hand

University of Georgia
N/A
VD

Valerie Dixon

University of Georgia
n/a
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 101 - University Hall
  Classroom 101 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Program/Project Presentation

3:45pm EDT

Citizen’s Assembly for Homelessness Response in a Small City
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 101 - University Hall
Communities across the nation are struggling with rising rates of homelessness, driven by growing inequality and skyrocketing housing costs. In response, many community coalitions are emerging to address these problems. However, integrating diverse public perspectives, including people with lived and living experience, has not been integrated into many of the planning processes. This paper presents findings from a pilot program using a “citizen’s assembly” to inform a community-plan to address homelessness. Results from pre- and post- surveys demonstrate that citizens assembly are collaborative and worthwhile, fair and balanced, and encourage participants to gained new perspectives. Qualitative data from participants demonstrates a impactful experience for participants and community partners.

Speakers
GZ

Garret Zastoupil

University of Wisconsin-Madison
N/A
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 101 - University Hall
  Classroom 101 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Program/Project Presentation

3:45pm EDT

CommUNITY and College Partnership: “Where Mountain Creek Flows, Community Grows”
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 101 - University Hall
This dynamic partnership navigates change to revitalize Mount Holly Springs (MHS), PA, through intergenerational and cross-sector collaboration in asset-based community and economic development. This partnership includes elected officials, businesses, nonprofits, community-based organizations, college students, faith communities, and residents.   After understanding MHS’ strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, college students offer “food for thought,” including catalytic investments in education/workforce training, infrastructure, cultural energy, business mentoring, sustainable growth, environmental preservation, and transformation of a school into a commUNITY center, complete with grant application language. With permission, I could also facilitate a discussion of conference participants' examples of Community Development 
Speakers
avatar for Rick Coplen

Rick Coplen

Adjunct Professor of Economics and Community Development, Central Penn and Elizabethtown Colleges
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 101 - University Hall
  Classroom 101 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Program/Project Presentation

3:45pm EDT

Community radio as a conduit for community development in South Africa
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 104 - University Hall
Despite various criticisms against the media, community radio has made its mark globally as a medium for facilitating community development. While communities face various problems and deliberate on how to solve them, community radio has continuously played pivotal role in providing platforms for engagement among community members, policy makers and non-governmental organizations as they navigate change together. This paper looks at the role that Forte FM plays in providing such developmental opportunities to the community of Alice, where it broadcasts from. The theoretical framework for this study relies on dialogic communication as a normative theory of participatory communication as propounded by Paolo Freire (1973) and the democratic-participant theory, as the study unpacks how participation and communication on radio, help to facilitate development. The study adopts qualitative research method and two focus group discussions were conducted in two areas in Alice among selected listeners of the radio station, while in-depth interview was conducted with the radio station manager to know their views. Study findings revealed that community radio helps to bring change to communities by facilitating discussions and proffer solutions on topical community issues such as poor service delivery, gender-based violence and health issues among others. Additionally, the findings noted that community radio continues to give a voice to the voiceless and facilitates various opportunities for development.

Speakers
OO

Oluyinka OSUNKUNLE

Department of Communication, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa
None
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 104 - University Hall
  Classroom 104 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Academic Paper

3:45pm EDT

Connecting Producers, Partners, and People: A Rural Success Story
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 104 - University Hall
From 2023–2025, University of Missouri Extension united nonprofits, government agencies, businesses, schools, and community organizations to strengthen rural food systems and support local agricultural economies. Through 31 events funded by USDA and state partners, Extension distributed over 19,000 pounds of protein, 2,850 bottles of honey, 250 produce bags, and 1,200 pumpkins, benefiting thousands of households while sustaining local producers. These efforts engaged 25 faculty and staff, 72 volunteers, and 46 partners, creating a collaborative model addressing food insecurity, promoting health, and boosting economic resilience. Extension’s cross-sector approach demonstrates how partnerships can achieve shared goals for thriving communities.

Speakers
avatar for Jennifer R. Williams, JD

Jennifer R. Williams, JD

University of Missouri Extension
Jennifer R. Williams, JD is an Extension Engagement Specialist for the University of Missouri Extension, serving six counties in Southeast Missouri.

As an Engagement Specialist, Jennifer is a resource for county Extension councils, providing training, guidance, and support to the council as it oversees the county’s educational programming and local office management.  Jennifer also remains active as an Extension educator, offering... Read More →
KB

Kelley Brent

University of Missouri Extension
None.
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 104 - University Hall
  Classroom 104 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Program/Project Presentation

3:45pm EDT

From Vision to Vessel: Building a Community-Led Ecosystem for Food, Land, and Climate Resilience
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 104 - University Hall
This program centers a community-led ecosystem approach to community development that integrates food systems governance, community economic development, land stewardship, climate and disaster resilience, and policy translation. Using Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and cross-sector collaboration, grassroots organizations, cooperatives, academic partners, and public agencies work together to align vision with coordinated action. The initiative prioritizes shared leadership, community knowledge, and long-term capacity building to strengthen local resilience and economic opportunity. Through participatory governance, data-informed decision-making, and place-based strategies, the program advances equitable development while sustaining community voice and cultural identity. The theme Community Currents: Navigating Change Together reflects how community development unfolds where multiple forces converge—across sectors, generations, geographies, and histories. This program embodies that reality by intentionally working at the intersections of food systems, land use, climate resilience, economic development, and policy implementation. Rather than treating these as separate domains, the initiative operates as an integrated ecosystem guided by Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and community-led governance.

Speakers
EH

Erica Hall

Florida Food Policy Council/Storm Squad
n/a
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 104 - University Hall
  Classroom 104 - University Hall, Chart Cross-Sector Pathways - Program/Project Presentation

3:45pm EDT

From Cultural Assets to Local Economies: Newcomer Entrepreneurship and Integration
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 109 - University Hall
This study examines refugee entrepreneurship as a community-driven pathway for integration that balances cultural preservation, traditional entrepreneurial knowledge with economic adaptation and practices in the United States. Grounded in Putnam’s Social Capital Theory and guided by a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach, the research explores how interactions between refugee entrepreneurs and host-community members generate trust, networks, and opportunity structures. The study centers refugees as knowledge holders who leverage cultural assets, generational entrepreneurial knowledge while navigating local markets, institutions, and regulatory systems. Findings contribute to community development practice by highlighting how place-based, relational strategies can support inclusive economic growth that fosters positive integration for newcomers.

This study explores how immigrant and refugee entrepreneurship functions as a community-embedded integration strategy that balances cultural preservation with adaptation to economic and institutional change. Anchored in Putnam’s (1993) Social Capital Theory and informed by a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) framework, the research examines how social bonding and bridging capital emerge through interactions between immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs and host-community members, organizations, and institutions.

Rather than conceptualizing integration as a linear process of assimilation, this study highlights how immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs draw upon cultural knowledge, community practices, and transnational ties while simultaneously building relationships within local markets and governance systems. Through CBPR, immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs and community partners are engaged as co-creators of knowledge, shaping research questions, interpretation, and practical implications. This approach ensures that the study reflects lived experience and community-defined priorities while strengthening trust between researcher and participants.

The study investigates how trust, trustworthiness norms, and institutional relationships influence refugees’ access to information, resources, and entrepreneurial opportunities, particularly in contexts marked by limited human and financial capital and structural barriers to formal employment. It also explores how community-based networks help mitigate these constraints and foster economic participation, social belonging, and mutual accountability.

By centering place-based interactions and participatory knowledge production, this research contributes to community development scholarship on inclusive growth, immigrant integration, and entrepreneurship. Practically, findings offer guidance for practitioners, policymakers, and community organizations designing refugee self-sufficiency and economic development programs that honor cultural heritage while supporting pathways integration to their new social and cultural context. 
 
Speakers
LS

Lisha Shrestha

Portland State University/ Division Midway Alliance
NA
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 109 - University Hall
  Classroom 109 - University Hall, Balance Preservation and Progress - Academic Paper

3:45pm EDT

Hawkinsville, Georgia as a Case Study for Community Revitalization Utilizing University-Community Partnerships
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 109 - University Hall
In 2020, Hawkinsville, Georgia, was selected for a university program. With a huge community buy-in of nearly $70,000 in pledges, the process took place during the COVID-19 pandemic and resulted in a plan to revitalize the downtown core of the city. By 2025, Hawkinsville has completed all of the short and medium-term goals, with only long-term goals remaining. This case study examines how the partners worked in tandem with the City and County, and how the community accomplished various phases of the plan alongside the University.
Speakers
avatar for Sherrié Raleigh

Sherrié Raleigh

Archway Professional, University of Georgia Archway Partnership
N/A
DB

Danny Bivins

University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government
N/A
TC

T. Clark Stancil

University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government
N/A
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 109 - University Hall
  Classroom 109 - University Hall, Balance Preservation and Progress - Program/Project Presentation

3:45pm EDT

Navigating Community Currents: What Journal Editors Are Seeing—and Where the Field Is Headed
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 109 - University Hall
This program/project presentation brings together editors from Community Development and Local Development & Society to share field-level insights into how community development scholarship and practice are evolving amid accelerating change. Drawing on editorial data, reviewer experiences, and submission trends, the session examines how generational shifts, practitioner–scholar collaboration, cultural storytelling, and emerging technologies are shaping what knowledge circulates in the field. Designed for practitioners, scholars, activists, and educators, the session emphasizes sense-making, dialogue, and practical guidance for navigating publishing and knowledge co-production in community development.

Speakers
avatar for Craig Talmage

Craig Talmage

Associate Professor of Business Management and Entrepreneurship, Hobart & William Smith Colleges, Community Development (Journal)
N/A
NW

Norm Walzer

Local Development & Society
None at this time. We may add the new editor of LD&S when decided.
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 109 - University Hall
  Classroom 109 - University Hall, Balance Preservation and Progress - Program/Project Presentation

3:45pm EDT

From Global Insights to Local Impact: Community-Centred Infrastructure Governance for Sustainable Development in rural South Africa
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 111 - University Hall
Effective infrastructure governance is essential for driving inclusive economic growth, particularly in rural and under-resourced regions. While global models increasingly embrace community-centred approaches to infrastructure planning, implementation, and oversight, many local development agencies in Africa continue to operate within centralised and technocratic frameworks that marginalise community voices. This desktop research paper explores how international best practices in infrastructure governance, drawing on experiences from Chile, the Netherlands, and South Korea - can inform locally responsive solutions in the Joe Gqabi District, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Using participatory governance theory, institutional theory, and public value theory as analytical lenses, the study examines how infrastructure systems can be reoriented to prioritise social inclusion, accountability, and sustainability. The findings highlight inclusive stakeholder engagement, decentralized decision-making, institutional coordination, and capacity development as critical enablers of effective community-centred infrastructure governance. The paper concludes by proposing a practical governance framework for municipalities and government agencies aimed at translating global insights into tangible local development outcomes.
 

Speakers
VP
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 111 - University Hall
  Classroom 111 - University Hall, Connect Across Rural-Urban Divides - Academic Paper

3:45pm EDT

Mapping Parks Accessibility: Creating a Policy Taxonomy
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 111 - University Hall
Public parks play a crucial role in community building by strengthening neighborhoods and fostering positive change. The National Park Service’s Accessibility Task Force introduced inclusivity strategies in 2012, followed by state-level policies supporting park accessibility. This research develops a taxonomy of these policies based on measurable characteristics and their alignment with the ADA Outdoor Guidelines. It further expands on this taxonomy by conducting a comparative case study on policy implementation in rural and urban parks, addressing the gap in rural park research (Veitch et al., 2013). Findings aim to guide community development practitioners in advancing inclusive, accessible strategies.



Speakers
avatar for Leigh Hersey

Leigh Hersey

Associate Professor & MPA Coordinator, University of Louisiana Monroe
n/A
CH

Courtney Harris

University of Louisiana Monroe
n/a
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 111 - University Hall
  Classroom 111 - University Hall, Connect Across Rural-Urban Divides - Academic Paper

3:45pm EDT

Co-Designing: Participatory planning to rescue communities facing climate migration
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 120 - University Hall
The challenges of climate migration and community resilience are highly relevant in The Gambia, particularly in a coastal community like Jinack Island. An island in the mouth of the Atlantic Ocean that has recently been a spotlight for smuggling of migrant to Europe through the “Backway” (irregular migration to Europe). This academic paper will put the participatory planning model into context and assess its effectiveness in strengthening communities to adopt a responsive approach to climate-induced relocation through a structured, co-designed model. Using Jinack as a case study, research, integrate participatory mapping, storytelling, and design charrettes to engage both migrants and would be migrants.  Findings reveal that participatory processes not only enhance adaptation strategies but also mitigate tensions surrounding identity, belonging, and resource allocation (Adger et al., 2013). In this context, the participatory co-design model proposed in this study offers a practical and inclusive framework for addressing both climate and migration challenges. By incorporating participatory mapping, the community of Jinack can identify environmental risks such as erosion hotspots while also mapping migration routes and vulnerabilities. Ultimately, integrating participatory co-design into The Gambia’s response framework can help policymakers to address irregular migration not only as a human security issue but also as a development and climate adaptation challenge. By prioritizing community engagement, local knowledge, and inclusive governance, this approach enhances resilience and offers sustainable alternatives to risky irregular migration pathways.
Keywords: climate migration, participatory planning, community resilience, adaptation
Speakers
ST

Sarjo Touray

The University of The Potomac
NO
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 120 - University Hall
  Classroom 120 - University Hall, Harness Cultural Energy - Academic Paper

3:45pm EDT

Community Currents in Action: Youth-Led Narrative Change for Education Equity in the Mississippi Delta
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 120 - University Hall
Community development requires navigating change in ways that honor lived experience, cultural knowledge, and collective voice. This presentation aligns with the conference theme, Community Currents: Navigating Change Together, by demonstrating how youth-led storytelling serves as a powerful cultural current for advancing education equity in rural communities. Community Currents in Action examines a Mississippi Delta initiative that engaged young people as narrators, documentarians, and advocates of their own educational experiences. Through storytelling workshops and documentary production, youth transformed personal narratives into tools for civic engagement, community dialogue, and policy awareness.


The project illustrates how cultural energy, rooted in storytelling, reflection, and creative expression, can be harnessed to navigate structural inequities while building leadership capacity among young people. By centering youth voice, the initiative fostered intergenerational learning, strengthened partnerships between community organizations, educators, and families, and supported participatory approaches to community development. The presentation highlights how working with, rather than against, the natural energy of youth experiences creates pathways for collective understanding and action, particularly in under-resourced rural contexts. This session offers insight into how storytelling can function as both a community engagement strategy and a method for navigating change together.


Dr. Shequite Wilson-Johnson of Mississippi Valley State University | One Voice | GAP Leadership Program was also a part of creating this presentation.
Speakers
avatar for Alfonzo White

Alfonzo White

Mississippi Valley State University | Action Community for Education Reform (ACER)
No additional speakers beyond those listed.
DT

Dr. Theresa V. Rash

Mississippi Valley State University
No additional speakers beyond those listed.
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 120 - University Hall
  Classroom 120 - University Hall, Harness Cultural Energy - Program/Project Presentation

3:45pm EDT

Contemplative Practice in Community Development: Reclaiming Contemplation for Collective Liberation
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 123 - University Hall
In Western societies, contemplative practice is often considered an individual endeavor; however, throughout human history, contemplative practices—activities and rituals that nurture inner awareness and reflexivity have also been employed in the service of community connection and resilience. Moreover, these practices and rituals have had deep historical roots across diverse cultural traditions and have the potential to inform contemporary approaches to community development, particularly through the arts. For instance, in Hawaiian culture, practices such as hula and oli (chants) serve as contemplative acts that connect participants to ancestral knowledge, communal identity, and environmental awareness, fostering cohesion and shared meaning. Appalachian communities have historically used contemplative folk arts—storytelling, music, and quilting—as means of reflection, resilience, and intergenerational transmission of values, supporting both personal and collective well-being. African American contemplative traditions, including spirituals, gospel music, drumming, and call-and-response rituals, have long functioned as mediums for the collective processing of grief and trauma, fostering social solidarity, and cultivating communal empowerment. In addition to the Christian monastic contemplative practices rooted in medieval Scottish history and in historical Gaelic/Celtic daily blessings and devotional practices, folk rituals such as saining and caim open collective contemplative spaces deeply rooted in place, material culture, and embodied presence.
 
Envisaged as community development practice, these practices have the potential to nurture collective compassion, calmness, and creativity in the service of community wholeness. This paper provides visceral examples of how communities across cultures employ contemplative practices in response to natural disasters, political and economic challenges, and overall divisiveness within communities.  The paper is intended to stimulate healthier deliberation and debate about the use of contemplative practices in community development. 


Speakers
RH

Ronald Hustedde

University of Kentucky
No special requests
RH

Rosalind Harris

University of Kentucky
None
DB

Dr. B. Nalani Butler

Keenesaw State University
Access to power point
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 123 - University Hall
  Classroom 123 - University Hall, Harness Cultural Energy - Academic Paper

3:45pm EDT

Creating Pathways to Reconciliation Through Incorporating Indigenous Voices and Culture into the Development of Impact Benefit Agreements (IBAs) on First Nation Traditional Territory
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 123 - University Hall
This paper is a declaration for leaders to engage in ongoing and edifying activism in the form of Indigenous advocacy. Due to the unjust generational trauma of Indigenous peoples, this work promotes Indigenous authorship, participation, and empowerment, specifically in negotiated land agreements, commonly known as Impact Benefit Agreements (IBAs). Red Pine Economic Development Corporation (EDC) (pseudonym), a for-profit Indigenous organization owned by Red Pine First Nation, holds two IBAs that lack Indigenous participation, voice, and culture. To address this omission, this paper provides direction to Red Pine EDC to redraft a more fulsome cultural chapter of the IBA, involving Indigenous leadership in the form of an Indigenous-led Advisory Council (IAC). The cultural chapter will be a culmination of Indigenous sovereignty practices, language reclamation, and decolonization methodologies. 


This paper focuses on historic preservation connecting the past and future of Indigenous peoples by discussing the discriminatory history of Indigenous peoples in Canada and encouraging reconciliation, which is not a “one-size-fits all” solution to colonial trauma; rather, it is a practice that is unique to each nation (Peters, 2019). This paper directly relates to the theme “Community Currents: Navigating Change Together”, as this work focuses on the needs of Red Pine First Nation members. Community development as highlighted in the conference theme, is achieved when different forces converge. This principle is echoed in this paper as it calls for decolonization practices in resource extraction industries, such as mining corporations, a traditional capitalistic environment in which decolonization has not been prioritized. It amplifies Indigenous voices and promotes the peaceful and activist work among leaders from polarizing backgrounds; First Nations and mining corporations, to achieve reconciliation. Specifically, this work relates to the conference sub-theme “Harnessing Cultural Energy” which highlights the important role cultural traditions such as storytelling play in promoting unconventional partnerships to propel communities forward. This work utilizes storytelling as an evaluation tool which aligns with TribalCrit tenet number 8 which states: “Stories are not separate from theory; they make up theory and are, therefore, real and legitimate sources of data and ways of being” (Brayboy, 2005, p. 430).  Ultimately, this paper promotes decolonization and reconciliation practices between First Nation communities and industry partners in a manner that situates Indigenous cultural needs at the forefront. 




Speakers
DH

Dr. Hannah Caicco

Algoma University
N/A
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 123 - University Hall
  Classroom 123 - University Hall, Harness Cultural Energy - Academic Paper

3:45pm EDT

Exploring the Manifestations of Community Leadership Structures
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 123 - University Hall
This qualitative study, as part of a larger mixed-methods study, explored the manifestations of community leadership structures –capacity for change, community growth mindset, civic engagement, and effective local leadership– and the differences in these manifestations between communities with a record of leadership success and their matched counterparts. Findings showed that a community's leadership system is highly complex and multidimensional, extending beyond individual leaders. Differences in the system between the two community types were also evident, especially in the type of community mindset, resilience to negativity, portrayal of a united front, and bringing diverse voices together.

Speakers
ME

Mary Emery

University of Nebraska - Lincoln
no special requests
LH

Lindsay Hastings

University of Nebraska-Lincoln
---
JY

Justine Yeo Bircher

University of Nebraska-Lincoln
N/A
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Classroom 123 - University Hall
  Classroom 123 - University Hall, Harness Cultural Energy - Academic Paper

5:00pm EDT

CDS Membership Committee Meeting
Tuesday July 21, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
Classroom 101 - University Hall

Tuesday July 21, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
Classroom 101 - University Hall
  Classroom 101 - University Hall, CDS Committee Meeting

5:00pm EDT

CDS Program Committee Meeting (all subcommittees)
Tuesday July 21, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
Classroom 102 - University Hall

Tuesday July 21, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
Classroom 102 - University Hall
  Classroom 102 - University Hall, CDS Committee Meeting

6:30pm EDT

Awards Banquet & Live Auction
Tuesday July 21, 2026 6:30pm - 8:30pm EDT
Ballroom - Armstrong Center

Tuesday July 21, 2026 6:30pm - 8:30pm EDT
Ballroom - Armstrong Center
  Ballroom - Armstrong Center, Conference Main Event
 

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  • Classroom 103 - University Hall
  • Classroom 104 - University Hall
  • Classroom 109 - University Hall
  • Classroom 111 - University Hall
  • Classroom 120 - University Hall
  • Classroom 121 - University Hall
  • Classroom 123 - University Hall
  • Monday Night Event
  • Offsite Location
  • Outside the Ballroom - Armstrong Center
  • Parking Lot - Outside Armstrong Center
  • University Hall Lobby
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