2026 CDS Annual Conference

Child care is the backbone of the workforce, enabling the economy to function. The Recruit, Inspire, Support the Early Childhood Profession in Missouri (RISE-MO) project focused on improving the child care ecosystem in Missouri. This project focused on building supports to recruit and maintain the early child care workforce across the state. This project brought the business community into the conversation through a series of data briefs, webinars, Strategic Doing workshops and an employer toolkit. While businesses and educators both value quality child care, they often speak different languages, leading to miscommunication. This project built bridges between these communities.

Local stakeholders in Dublin-Laurens County, Georgia have identified access to quality childcare as a challenge within the community. Additionally, a discrepancy between the services offered by childcare programs and the needs of families and community employers exists. Through UGA’s Archway Partnership and the Mary Frances Early College of Education, a formal needs assessment was conducted to help aid the Chamber Community Foundation in strategically focusing their efforts to make improvements. In this presentation we will share findings from that needs assessment and takeaways for other communities dealing with similar challenges. 



 

Since 2025 legislative cuts to childcare benefits, state residents have been facing significant challenges securing high-quality childcare, impacting their participation in the workforce and family quality of life. This presentation will address some of the issues facing childcare industries and communities - and what our university’s Community Childcare Team is doing to overcome these challenges. We will specifically focus on ways our university is forging regional partnerships to create solutions that fit local needs through creative cooperatives and funding collaborations. In addition to our state-specific data, the presentation will share a U.S. map of each state’s overall childcare national score.

Stemming from concerns expressed by local business owners surrounding the planned permanent closure of a nearby busy intersection, with assistance from members of their department, worked with a local nonprofit and other community partners to analyze how past road closures impacted local businesses. Partially due to the surprising nature of these results, we then worked with the community to “ground truth” these results to help these locally owned businesses present their argument against the permanent closure to the city government and the Department of Transportation.

Ripple Effects Mapping (REM) is a participatory, story-based evaluation approach that captures both the direct and unexpected outcomes of community development efforts. In facilitated group sessions, participants use appreciative inquiry and visual mapping to trace the connections between actions and results. This session highlights how REM can be applied to evaluate collective impact initiatives. Drawing on hands-on experience, we explore when and how REM is most useful. For groups further along in their collective impact work, REM reveals interconnected outcomes and fosters stronger collaboration. For newer groups, careful facilitation is essential to surface insights without discouraging participants, helping to maintain momentum.
This paper explores two key questions that reflect the themes of the call for proposals:

1. How can participatory storytelling approaches like REM make progress and learning visible in complex collective impact initiatives?
2. How should REM be applied (or adapted) across different stages of collective impact work to enhance cross-sector collaboration?

This session details the Moving Waseca FORWARD project, a year-long rural workforce development initiative. The project brought together diverse stakeholders (education, business, government) using a cross-sector collaborative approach to address local workforce needs. Leveraging existing curriculum, the initiative formed task forces focused on agriculture and healthcare to improve career pathway awareness and communication. Presented by Extension educators and a key community partner, this session will share practical lessons on facilitating effective cross-sector partnerships and data-driven community development strategies in a small rural setting.

Key insights will include the value of creating a dedicated space for collaboration, strategies for balancing external data with local lived experiences, and lessons learned on empowering local leadership. Featuring community perspectives and initial results from our 6-month evaluation, this session offers practical, transferable strategies for forging effective cross-sector partnerships to navigate community change.

Communities are navigating an age of mobility, where traditional boundaries no longer reflect how people live, work, and play. This presentation will delve into how mobile data can help communities adapt and respond to shifting economic landscapes. Drawing on findings from Wadena County, Minnesota, this session will explore an innovative approach that breaks down traditional boundaries by utilizing mobile data to reveal new insights into community connections.
By engaging with community leaders, meaningful insights can be determined from mobile data to highlight connections between communities that highlight the impact of housing, job, and transportation corridors in rural counties. Key information from community partners allowed for additional customization and analysis, strengthening the application of the project findings. By demonstrating this collaborative approach, participants will gain valuable insights into the application of this modern tool to make informed and collaborative economic development decisions.

This session presents how SDSU Extension designed, implemented, and analyzed the South Dakota Newcomers Survey, a statewide effort to understand the needs, motivations, and experiences of recent movers. By outlining the survey’s methodology, outreach strategy, analytical approach, and reporting process, the session highlights why newcomers are an essential population for community planning. Participants will learn key findings, how demographic and cultural preferences shape newcomer decisions, and how communities can use these insights to strengthen attraction and retention strategies. The session also demonstrates how states or individual communities can replicate the process to generate locally relevant data.

This leadership program, a collaboration between the University Department of Community Development and ___ University in Kenya, strengthened both human capital (skills and knowledge) and social capital (relationships and connections) for trainers in both countries and the rural leaders who participated in the program. The process involved adapting and co-designing leadership curricula, learning with a core team of faculty, staff and volunteer trainers, and implementing a train-the-trainer model for the Kenyan team as they trained the first cohort of community members. Through peer-learning, trainers and participants strengthened their skills, networks and confidence to harness collaborative energy to navigate challenges and opportunities together.

Lankes stated, “Bad libraries build collections, good libraries build services, great libraries build communities.” Libraries are valued as “third places” (Cabello & Butler, 2017) and community hubs (Putnam, 2004; Kyle, 2015; Settle, 2016) as they are well-positioned to serve community needs. However, capacity is a central consideration in program decisions. Drawing on published cases, longitudinal data from the Public Library Survey, and web analysis to summarize modern library programming initiatives, the authors undertook surveys and interviews with librarians to improve understanding of library involvement in placemaking and how geography of libraries shapes placemaking involvement and practices.   

This session presents survey-based findings from four rural communities on residents' perceptions of the usability of local systems that support entrepreneurship. The presentation focuses on differences between resource availability and ease of use. It introduces a set of measures that practitioners can apply to better understand how community support for entrepreneurs functions from the user perspective.

From 2021-2025, University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension led a cross-sector collaborative to solve a multi-part problem in Wisconsin: inequities in both entrepreneurship and incarceration, alongside high recidivism. Responding with entrepreneurship education for justice-impacted state residents, Extension educators followed the same steps their participants were learning to grow the program. This paper describes the effort through typical Extension program development steps as well as entrepreneurial language. Comparing the two shows that common Extension skills are well suited to social entrepreneurship, which creates a community benefit from new funding and partners. It ends with a discussion of lessons learned and suggestions for trying again.

Discover how to engage youth most impacted by disparities as community architects. This hands-on workshop demonstrates proven community mapping strategies that achieved measurable results—including 13% improvements in health disparities & developing $5 Million worth of amenities. You'll practice facilitation techniques that authentically center youth voice, engage in experiential learning on youth-generated placemaking tools, and develop intergenerational action plans addressing root causes rather than symptoms. Leave with a replicable toolkit for building communities where young people design the conditions to thrive. This experience will have you eager to implement it in your community immediately! 


This workshop embodies "navigating change together" by repositioning young people from passengers to co-navigators charting the course. A key indicator of community health is youth health—we show you with experiential learning how to use local data to engage youth and adults by centering youth voices and mobilizing change to develop thriving communities. 


Traditional approaches respond to youth & community crises reactively, like redirecting a current after it's caused damage. This workshop demonstrates how community mapping paired with results-driven frameworks and authentic youth engagement create proactive currents of change. Young people most impacted by disparities partner with community leaders (who act as listeners and historians). Youth dig into disparities and root causes, design solutions, create maps and together we build intergenerational partnerships where youth and adults thrive. 


Sustainable community change requires bridging generational divides, centering those closest to challenges, and creating structures where youth voice translates directly into thriving places, policies, and practices. Participants experience shared navigation tools—revealing assets, identifying equity gaps, and building collective ownership of solutions. 


Results demonstrate what's possible using the framework. In Frazee, Minnesota (population 1,300) over five years: 13% improvement in youth mental wellness, documented reductions in health disparity gaps, 370% increase in local volunteerism, significant economic growth, $7 million leveraged for community investment, and sustainable intergenerational partnerships.  


This workshop includes practical tools for shifting community development currents—where demographic changes, increasing disparities, and calls for equity demand authentic power-sharing with young people inheriting the communities we're building today. 


Activities: Participants implement the DREAMM Framework using results-based community mapping exercises with youth disparity data, working in intergenerational teams to translate insights into actionable program, placemaking, and policy recommendations. 
Learning Outcomes: 

• Apply the DREAMM Framework to identify root causes and prioritize community-driven solutions
• Facilitate youth engagement that builds sustainable power rather than extracts stories
• Translate intergenerational-generated data into placemaking, funding and policy strategies
• Design intergenerational partnerships that are sustainable
• Implement measurement tools & learn to use the data to leverage investors

Toolkit Includes: DREAMM framework, community mapping templates, fundraising framework, and partnership agreements ready to adapt for your community. 

Building resilience in flood-prone communities requires trusted partnerships. Through a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant, Florida Extension collaborated with the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council to strengthen engagement for the Tampa Bay Coastal Master Plan (CMP). Together, they trained 26 Extension agents and community members to lead listening sessions, piloted in seven counties with 74 residents. Insights were shaped into workshops for 66 local leaders and municipal staff, boosting their confidence and capacity to engage with under-resourced communities. Many participants joined a Community Engagement Committee, which meets quarterly to guide outreach and strategy. This partnership-driven approach ensures diverse voices inform the CMP and future resilience planning.

Wahkiakum County, Washington experiences flooding and erosion that harm property, the economy, and salmon habitat, causing community tension. In response, the Wahkiakum County Marine Resources Committee launched the Wahkiakum Common Ground Workshop Series to build trust and collaboration among local and regional leaders as a foundation for future multi-benefit watershed restoration. Four workshops in 2025 combined presentations, site visits, and small-group discussions using appreciative inquiry and asset-based community development approaches. Thirty-seven leaders participated. Evaluations showed that participation increased trust, connection, confidence to collaborate, and support for shared solutions that reduce flooding and erosion and benefit people, salmon, and the economy.

This case study examines how community leaders in a rural, climate-vulnerable community in North-eastern Nebraska mobilize local resources, social networks, and community involvement to prepare for, respond to, and recover from climate-related disasters. Through in-depth one-on-one interviews with community leaders and members, along with document analysis, the study explores how community leaders identify and leverage local assets and social networks in building resilience, the strategies they use to promote collaboration and shared decision-making during crises, and the challenges they face at each stage of building resilience against climate disasters.
The study aligns with the conference theme, “Community Currents: Navigating Changes Together,” as it demonstrates how a rural community collectively overcomes climate-related disruptions through shared participation and local problem-solving. It highlights how community leaders involve residents, groups, and existing social networks to prepare for, respond to, and recover from climate-related disasters, instead of relying on external experts to handle the situation. The study also fits with the track “Chart Cross-Sector Pathways” by examining how leaders utilize existing relationships to foster collaboration between formal institutions, both locally and externally, as well as with informal networks to coordinate disaster planning and response. The study’s findings offer practical insights into how leaders handle complex challenges to strengthen their communities’ resilience and could benefit other communities facing similar climate-related issues. It could also produce evidence to inform policies to improve the effectiveness and fairness of disaster resilience efforts in rural communities.

The University of Georgia’s Archway Partnership connects higher education resources to community-identified needs and opportunities across Georgia. Presenters will share a proven, award-winning model of collaboration that engages community organizations and stakeholders with all aspects of university work through long-term partnerships and trust building. This workshop will provide tangible examples of enhancing community collaboration and decision-making through specific examples from various Georgia communities. The workshop will illustrate the complexities of civic cooperation, best practices for community engagement, and how these efforts enhance faculty research and student instruction while meeting community needs and building lasting local partnerships.

This presentation shares findings from a quantitative evaluation of two urban community leadership programs. It examines how participants across demographic groups experienced leadership growth, civic engagement, and community empowerment. The analysis highlights strengths, disparities, and cross-sector collaboration strategies that shape community capacity-building efforts. Attendees will gain insight into how leadership development initiatives can promote equitable participation, strengthen community assets, and support sustainable social change.
 

When Hyundai announced their intentions to build a $7.6M EV vehicle factory in a rural part of Bryan County, Georgia, many celebrated the largest economic development project in Georgia history. The factory would bring over 8,500 jobs, as well as numerous suppliers to nearby communities. Some saw this as a once in a generation opportunity to provide good paying jobs in an area with higher than average poverty rates.   


Despite promises of good jobs, the pushback from some local residents was harsh and swift. Many expressed concern that the size and scope of the project would change their community beyond recognition and destroy the small town feel or rural lifestyle. Others expressed concerns about water availability, dwindling availability of farm land, the environmental impact of development, and unchecked sprawl. This paper will examine how three communities confronted and reacted to concerns about growth and development. Through content analysis of newspaper articles, social media posts, and official council and commission meeting minutes, we examine how community residents formed coalitions to oppose development, including the use of narratives to define place and “community.” 

The turn of the 21st century has seen a new settlement pattern of immigrants bypassing traditional urban gateways and locating to rural spaces instead. Rural immigration thus presents a unique opportunity to advance the vitality of small towns. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the experiences of rural immigrants with community leadership. Findings revealed that rural immigrants experience community leadership as a broad practice of service meant for all members of the community, not just a select few. The experience of community leadership by rural immigrants also involves complexities in representation and challenges in developing immigrant leaders.

The Stone Soup Workshop is an innovative hands-on experience that brings individuals from diverse backgrounds, life experiences, ages, and perspectives together for a fun, team-building event. Participants choose ingredients and prepare a meal together while practicing respect as they explore each other’s unique strengths and life perspectives. The workshop creates a safe space for inclusive conversation, relationship strengthening, and fostering of trust across age groups. CDS session attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how this approach creates intergenerational connection through conversation and collaboration as a test ground for further positive change in workplaces, charitable organizations, communities, and homes.
 

This paper describes an experiential learning class involving students engaging with a client community, employing economic concepts and analysis tools to develop a comprehensive community revitalization plan, and demonstrating how students and the community they served can benefit from their work together. Students visited the community to learn about their assets and challenges and used their new skills to develop recommendations. Using Ripple Effect Mapping, we learned that the project gave the students the confidence to return home and use their skills to make a difference. The community reported that the project gave valuable information to move the community forward.
 

     Though the origins of U.S. community development practice are contested, the 1960s and 70s are universally accepted as an important era for the institutionalization of the field. While community development integrated aspects of this era—grassroots empowerment, local participation, and a focus on community assets—much of the more radical elements of the time never took root. As such, this paper revisits the Marxist roots of cultural and political movements of the era to understand the utility of Marxist Theories—traditional Marxism, neo-Marxism, Marxist geography, and racial capitalism—for community development research and practice. Based on my work as a scholar-practitioner in housing, this paper illuminates how Marxist concepts and theories—such as alienation, real community, the intelligentsia, right to the city, and more—push community development researchers and practitioners to think more deeply about the systemic nature of urban and rural challenges, the path toward equitable, democratic, and sustainable change, and their own role in that change.

Please make your way to Armstrong Center during this break for the plenary session and lunch. Thank you.

Lunch will be available for registered attendees.

Start Here. Grow Here. Stay Here.: Cultivating a Local Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Sheffie Robinson, Director of Business Incubation, Georgia Southern University Business Innovation Group (BIG)

Ande Noktes, CEO, Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship 
​Dr. Ande Noktes moved to the Georgia coast in March of 2022 as the founding CEO of
the Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship. She is a social entrepreneur who, over the last
twenty years, has started three schools and coached hundreds of founders in growing
their impact. Her undergraduate studies were at Colorado State University, and she has
a master’s in philosophy from Assumption University in Thailand and an MBA from
Emory. Her doctorate is in public policy from Northeastern University where she
researched women entrepreneurs’ access to capital.
The Lucas Center serves over 350 entrepreneurs, founders, and nonprofit leaders each
year, and the Center has awarded over $250,000 in grant funds to help founders start or
grow their businesses. Most recently, the Center has partnered with the Golden Isles
Development Authority to launch a $500,000 loan fund for pre-bankable entrepreneurs,
closing the capital gap for many of the Center’s viable but not-yet-bankable businesses.
In addition to her work at the Center, Ande’s consulting company has supported dozens
of social enterprises, both for-profit and nonprofit, in strategic planning and growth,
communications and change management, leadership planning and board
development, and building and implementing mission-oriented revenue strategies.

Nick Palumbo, Executive Director, StartUp Savannah
​Following a tour at Embassy Baghdad as a Special Agent, Nick came home and chose Savannah, fell in love with a neighborhood, started showing up to fix what needed fixing, and one thing led to the next: neighborhood association president, then City Council, then Chairman. He has served as Chairman of Savannah City Council since 2020 and led the 100% Clean Energy Pledge that made Savannah the largest municipal solar provider in Georgia, championed Tide to Town to connect 30 miles of trail across 62 neighborhoods, passed landmark animal welfare legislation, and led the adoption of Vision Zero to eliminate traffic deaths.  He leads Startup Savannah, where he and his team built a landmark accelerator from scratch: with an original curriculum, more than 30 partners, and a community of entrepreneurs. Savannah now ranks among the top 20 most startup-friendly cities in America. ​​​​​​