Civic League Invites Neighborhood Leaders to Learn, Connect, Collaborate at Neighborhood Summit

On Saturday, Sept. 25, The Civic League for Regional Atlanta will host its second annual Neighborhood Summit, a daylong event created to foster relationships among community leaders by providing them with a forum to meet, exchange ideas and explore opportunities for collaboration. The Summit begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. and will be held at the Loudermilk Center in downtown Atlanta (40 Courtland St. SE, Atlanta, GA 30303).

"Neighborhoods are the building blocks of our region," says Civic League chair Lesley Grady. "They shape its character. They affect the lives of its families and children. They are where 'community' begins. At this event, we intentionally honor and support champions working in their communities by providing information, access to resources and opportunities to learn from one another."

Attendance at last year's Summit topped 500 and included residents representing community-based organizations, neighborhood associations and civic groups from the 10-county Atlanta region (Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties), as well as professional "community-builders" from the business, philanthropic, nonprofit and public sectors. Neighborhood Summit registration is $20 per person (includes lunch), with senior, student and early-registration discounts available. To register, please visit the Civic League's web site (www.civicleagueatlanta.org) or call (404) 413-0331.

The 2009 Summit featured workshops on Meeting the Changing Needs of Residents; Advancing into the 21st Century with Technology; Developing a Deeper Understanding of Regional Issues and How They Affect Your Neighborhood; Creating Civic Organizations that Last; and Getting Organized for Lobbying and Advocacy Efforts. The 2010 workshops are still in development but will likely touch on similar topics.
Co-sponsors for the 2010 Neighborhood Summit include the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, the Neighborhood Fund and the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta.

The Civic League for Regional Atlanta builds civic engagement through research, education, consensus-building and advocacy, and represents civic interests in the regional policy arena.