2026 CDS Annual Conference

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

[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].

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.

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.

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.

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