2027 CDS Annual Conference

The 2027 CDS Annual Conference provides an exciting opportunity to present, discuss, and learn more about the challenges and opportunities we encounter as community development scholars, activists, and practitioners. This regional conference incorporates the Driftless Region of Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, with an emphasis on La Crosse, Wisconsin. La Crosse embodies how geography and natural capital guide, limit, and enhance communities for residents. The conference explores how communities use their natural and social capital to address development challenges. It calls for community developers to highlight creative solutions, understand challenges beyond natural resources, and examine social, political, cultural, and built-environment contexts. Subthemes include Natural Capital (Agritourism, Recreation, Planning, Housing), Community & Social Capital, Student Engagement, Community Engagement, Intergenerational Learning, and Bridging campus and community. Proposals are also accepted on general community development topics and the CDS Principles of good practice.