Concurrent Sessions


Wednesday, April 22

3 p.m.–5 p.m.

Thursday, April 23

9:45 a.m.-11:15 a.m.

Thursday, April 23 (cont.)

1:45 p.m.–3:15 p.m.

1:45 p.m.–5:00 p.m.

3:30 p.m.–5 p.m.

Wednesday, April 22
3:00–5:00 p.m.

Discussion Groups

Join an in-depth discussion of the “hair-on-fire” issues facing community developers today.  Discussion groups will be led by some of the most innovative thinkers in the industry.  These groups will be limited in size to ensure a highly participatory environment where you get the chance both to have your perspective heard and learn from other group members. 

Think Global, Act Local—How communities can prosper in light of larger issues, such as “green” building, poverty and global interdependence. 

Session Summary

Moderator: Allen Fishbein, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System

  • What are the implications of globalization for local community developers?
  • How can local community developers create innovative responses to issues that are dominating the world stage?

Innovative Thinking—Processes, practices and tools that move innovation to the value-added stage for communities. 

Session Summary

Moderator: Karen Dabson, RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship

  • How can you maximize the creative potential of your team?
  • What does it take to implement ideas that create extraordinary value for your stakeholders?

The Future of Community Development—How economic and social change are impacting resources, organizational structures and measures of success.

Session Summary

Moderator: Yvonne Sparks, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

  • How can community developers respond to economic and social change?
  • In light of recent economic turmoil, can community developers not only survive but thrive?

Behavioral Economics—How individuals and groups form decisions that have lasting effects on communities.

Session Summary

Moderator: Bill Emmons, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

  • How are marketplaces, returns and the allocation of resources affected by behavioral factors?
  • Can an examination of social, cognitive and emotional factors that affect economic decisions lead to a better understanding of community development?

Philanthropy and Community Development—The changing role of philanthropy in communities.

Session Summary

Moderator: David Luckes, Greater St. Louis Community Foundation

  • As resources are shrinking, what is the effect on philanthropy and, in turn, communities?
  • Are foundations willing and able to develop new vehicles for community development investment?

Changing Demographics—The impact of ethnicity, immigration and an aging population on access to credit and financial services.

Session Summary

Moderator: Lawrence Anderson, NeighborWorks America

  • What innovative financial tools, resources and products are being developed to respond to a rapidly changing marketplace?
  • How do financial service providers mitigate risk while embracing innovation?

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3:00–5:00 p.m.

Reading Circle

Reading Circle participants will explore a cutting-edge new book that has direct implications for community development.  Those who wish to attend are asked to purchase and read a copy of the book in advance and come to the conference prepared to discuss. 

Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

Session Summary

Moderator: Matthew Ashby, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Outliers examines  the factors that determine great success, such as the combination of extraordinary talent and the right opportunities seized at just the right time.  Outliers challenges common assumptions about high achievers as it builds a case for nurture over nature, attitude over aptitude.  The Reading Circle will explore the policy implications these notions pose for anyone interested in replicating success in their own communities. 

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3:00–5:00 p.m.

Mobile Learning Labs

Looking for real-life examples of innovative community development initiatives in action?  The Mobile Learning Labs will give you a chance to visit some of the most inventive programs in the country.

New Models for Community Engagement—Stops include KETC Channel 9 and the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts.

Presenters:

This mobile learning lab centers on the ideas that, in community development, partnerships are critical for innovation and community engagement is key for long-term sustainability.  During a visit to KETC Channel 9, participants will learn about a new initiative to address the foreclosure crisis that engages the community through mass communication.  At the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts, visitors will hear how neighbors are taking an active role in addressing urban development challenges through arts and culture.

New Models for Enterprise Development—Stops include The Incubation Factory and Neighborhood Habitat for Business. 

Session Summary

Presenters:

Fostering an entrepreneurial climate can be a critical component for comprehensive community development plans.  The Incubation Factory is a highly successful model that creates high-technology businesses through idea manufacturing or "value chain."  Neighborhood Habitat for Business develops neighborhood enterprises by expanding the traditional incubation model to include a supportive “grassroots habitat” for local businesses.

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Thursday, April 23
9:45–11:15 a.m.

Film Viewing and Discussion

Experience innovation through film.  Come learn about community development in the comfort of the Chase Park Plaza’s on-site movie theater.  Following the showing, experts will lead a discussion of the issues raised and the implications for other community development efforts. 

Brooklyn Matters: Urban Neighborhoods on the Brink of Change—Who Makes the Decisions?

Session Summary

Moderator: Henry Webber, Washington University in St. Louis

"Isabel Hill’s revealing documentary about the proposed Atlantic Yards project takes an honest look at the complex role that race, class, power and money play in the redevelopment of our communities and calls for a more open discussion about equitable urban development."
-Stacy Sutton, Assistant Professor of Urban Planning,  Columbia University

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9:45–11:15 a.m.

Breakout Sessions

The four key elements  of successful innovation are collaboration, ideation, implementation and value creation.  The Breakout Sessions illustrate each of these key elements through presentations by community developers actively engaged in innovation.  These sessions will share replicable concepts, programs and initiatives that are showing real results for communities.   

Collaboration:  Teamwork is essential to getting things done.  In today’s global and digital 24/7 world, challenges are more complex; it’s becoming increasingly important to bring more, diverse minds to the table and to break down silos.

Ideation:  Fresh, new ideas help your organization stand out.  With heavy competition for resources, organizations must differentiate in order to survive.

Implementation:  What good are new ideas if they are not put to use?  Organizations must engage the best people to champion their ideas and keep those great ideas moving forward.

Value Creation:  You don’t have innovation if your new ideas aren’t creating value.  Organizations must implement ideas and programs identified as most effective in delivering value to stakeholders. 

Strategic University Partnerships—Using data to drive community development initiatives and measure impact.

Session summary

Presenters:

  • Tk Buchanan, Center for Community Building and Neighborhood Action (CBANA), University of Memphis
  • Kelly Lyon, Strategic Growth Institute (SGI), University of Central Arkansas
  • Matt Dozier, EAST Initiative

Presentations:

Focus:  Collaboration
Buchanan will discuss how data collected during a citywide problem property audit are being used to develop strategies for stabilizing the housing market and mitigating the current foreclosure crisis. 

Lyon and Dozier will describe how their partnership is measuring the economic impact of an innovative educational reform effort that combines community service with high-end technology. 

Exploring Financial Innovations that Expand Economic Opportunity

Session Summary

Historical Timeline/New Ideas

Presenters:

  1. Michael Torrens, CFED
  2. Kimberly Pate, CFED

Focus: Ideation
This high-energy, engaging session will provide a history of financial innovation and a look forward to financial innovations that could unfold over the next 20 years.  Participants will predict three to five financial innovations they hope to see in light of current developments in the marketplace. 

The Triple Bottom Line Approach—Using sustainable, economic development to create and restore wealth in rural communities.

Session Summary

Presenters:

Presentations:

Focus: Implementation
Presenters will explore triple-bottom line principles for the creation and restoration of inclusive wealth in rural communities. 

Closing the Nonprofit Equity Capital Gap—Solutions for improving the allocation of capital within the nonprofit sector.

Session Summary

Presenter: Craig C. Reigel, Nonprofit Finance Fund Capital Partners

Presentation (.ppt)

Focus:  Value Creation
This presentation will explore underlying issues of the nonprofit equity gap, appropriate roles of philanthropic funders, emerging solutions and two case studies of practical applications of these solutions. The discussion will outline how equity-like participation by philanthropic funders unlocks capital essential to bringing nonprofits to scale.

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1:45–3:15 p.m.

Breakout Sessions

Open Source Economic Development—Accelerating innovation through collaboration.

Session Summary

Presenter: Ed Morrison, Purdue Center for Regional Development

Presentation (.pdf)

Focus:   Collaboration
Learn about a new approach to economic development based on networks, emphasizing the strategic value of collaboration that balances open participation and leadership guidance.  Borrowing insights from software development, Open Source Economic Development uses open innovation networks to accelerate regional development. 

Opportunities for Innovation in Rural America—Transformative ideas and proven strategies.

Session Summary

Presenters:

Presentations:

  • Brian Dabson (.ppt)
  • Ben Steinberg (.ppt)

Focus: Ideation
Dabson will illustrate how major trends in the coming decades will present opportunities for innovation in rural America and transform how we think about rural people and places. 

Steinberg will report on transformative ideas that are reshaping rural Phillips County, Arkansas.  The session will describe a successful, replicable model for helping impoverished regions build capacity and effectively use resources.  

Foreclosure Analysis—Innovative uses of GIS to predict community change.

Session Summary

Presenters:

Presentation (.ppt)

Focus: Implementation
This session will focus on an innovative tool for foreclosure analysis:  a GIS platform capable of analyzing neighborhood housing health in the context of the current housing market.  This tool provides decision-makers with a framework for understanding possible interventions and their effectiveness.  

Renter Equity—Creating new economic options for low-income households.

Presenter:  Margery Spinney, Cornerstone Corporation for Shared Equity

Presentation (.ppt)

Focus:  Value Creation
Spinney will describe a model in Cincinnati, in which low-income renters who pay their rent on time and help maintain common areas earn “equity credits” toward a cash payment.    This model has been proven to stimulate economic growth within the population and adds value to housing by sustaining high occupancy rates and attracting and retaining residents who build strong communities. 

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3:30–5:00 p.m.

Breakout Sessions

Building Wealth in Low-Income Communities—Examples of collaboration, innovation and sustainable models.

Session Summary

Presenters:

Presentations and Case Study:

  • John Logue and Steve Dubb (.ppt)
  • Lisa Nitze (.ppt)
  • Jacqueline Yates - The Evergreen Cooperative Initiative Case Study (.pdf)

Focus:  Collaboration
This session will explore two examples of collaborative approaches to community development.  First, participants will learn about an economic development strategy centered on worker-owned businesses collaborating with anchor institutions.  This strategy is designed to build wealth in low-income communities.  Second, the audience will learn about Ashoka, the world’s largest network of social entrepreneurs, which is searching for integrated solutions for community development. 

Accelerating Entrepreneurship and Its Impact on Community and Economic Development

Session Summary

Presenter:  Mark Lange, Edward Lowe Foundation

Presentation (.ppt)

Focus: Ideation
YourEconomy.org is one model of entrepreneurial development showing results for local communities. This session will help community leaders better understand the entrepreneurial nature of their markets in order to better focus limited resources

Risky Business—How to  manage risk in an innovative culture

Session Summary

Presenter:  Bethany Spaulding, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Presentation (.ppt)

Focus:  Implementation
Risk management is a critical component of a successful innovation strategy.  In this session, participants will learn how to develop a strong foundation that helps turn ideas into products and services, particularly in a world where economic realities are rapidly changing. 

Innovations in Financing—Creating a continuum of financing options for education.

Session Summary

Presenters:

Presentation (.ppt)

Focus:  Value Creation
IFF offers a Charter School Capital Program that is a model for using school financing  as part of a comprehensive community development strategy. This session will focus on the program’s continuum of financing for charter schools, as well as a credit-enhanced bond program that has received national recognition as an innovative financing tool.   

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1:45–5:00 p.m.

Innovation Workshop

Would you like to learn how to apply the concepts of innovation directly to your organization?  This workshop is a chance to explore innovation in greater detail through an intensive, hands-on learning environment.  The longer workshop format allows for deeper analysis and more participation than a typical breakout session. 

Creating a Culture of Innovation in Community Development Organizations

Session Summary

Presenter:  Langdon Morris, Innovation Labs

What do the most successful and innovative community development organizations have in common?  What do they have in common with the most successful for-profit companies?

This workshop will explore case studies of four highly innovative nonprofit community development organizations and four highly admired leaders in the for-profit world.  We will compare these eight organizations to identify key elements that help them sustain a consistent pattern of successful innovation.

Participants will leave this session with an innovation plan for their own organizations.

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1:45–3:15 p.m.

Community Development Institute Central/Midwest
Joint Meeting

Sponsored by CDI Central (Arkansas and surrounding states) and the Midwest CDI (Illinois and surrounding states)

Professional Training and Networking—Building on the community development institutes.

Presenters:

Currently, there are six Community Development Institutes (CDIs) across the nation providing training and certification to hundreds of community and economic development professionals each year.

Meeting attendees will discuss options for creating expanded national networking and training opportunities for community development professionals and learn more about the Community Development Institutes. 

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exploring: searching or traveling for the purpose of discovery

innovation: to add value by applying a new idea or method to something established.