2025 CDS Annual Conference

This study explores how Louisiana's three largest cities—New Orleans, Baton Rouge,  and Shreveport—leverage social media to connect with their communities through their  parks and recreation departments. The study uses both content analysis and interviews  to identify strategies and challenges to effectively using technology to enhance  community through the parks systems. This research delves into the effectiveness of  these digital strategies in fostering engagement, promoting park usage, and ultimately  enhancing the quality of life for Louisiana residents. 
Public parks have long served as community hubs, evolving from equitable spaces  breaking class barriers to modern gathering places. The industrial age shifted populations  to cities, increasing the need for public parks. As public parks became a more important  part of government, people realized they contributed to various positive community  impacts. Well-managed public park systems can contribute to a community’s economic  development, enhance healthy living, and address environmental concerns. 
Meanwhile, technology has changed the way people interact and build community,  especially with the use of social media. Public entities, such as public parks, can leverage  this tool for communication, citizen engagement, and mobilizing the public in a resourceful  and productive manner to help them achieve their goals more efficiently and effectively  (Xu & Saxton, 2019; Bhati & McDonnell, 2020). Social media has evolved as the most  effective medium of persuasive communication, public relations, promotion, and  marketing in the 21st century. 
This research examines how the parks and recreation departments of three Louisiana  cities (New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport) utilize social media to build  community. By analyzing their content and interviewing content creators, the study aims  to understand their goals, successes, and challenges. The "Hierarchy of Engagement"  model categorizes social media messages into Information, Action, and Community.  While Information is a common use, a more interactive approach is often more effective. 

In 2017 Facebook presented its vision to be a platform for the global community. In  2018, a year after the announcement, 1.4 billion people were members of Facebook  groups, of which 200 million were members of significant groups and as defined by  Facebook, communities. In 2020, about 60% of the adults and about 69% of the youth in  Israel felt that "networks make you feel part of the community". These data show that  the social network Facebook is an important player in the community arena. 
 This qualitative study seeks to examine the perception of managers of geographic  Facebook communities regarding the definition and purpose of these communities. This understanding will help deepen the place of geographic Facebook communities  on community life and examine whether the geographic Facebook community is a  community 'without kinship' or whether it complements and expands the traditional  community.  
The data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews with fifteen geographic Facebook community managers. Informed by thematic analysis the findings  indicate that Geographic Facebook communities exist not only online but have meaning  in real life such as friendships, mutual help, problem solving, etc. The interactivity  between the spaces - online and physical - blurs the distinction between them. The  Facebook community is perceived as a geographical meeting space similar to a  playground or a neighborhood restaurant.  
The research findings sharpen that the distinction between the geographic community  and the geographic Facebook community is almost imperceptible and that there is an  interaction between the two communities or in fact between the different spaces of the  same community. These communities allow the members of the community a new and  useful opportunity to build and maintain community ties and develop a sense of  community belonging even beyond the physical geographic limitations. This is a  paradigm shift in the concept of community development - moving from involvement  that is limited by the physical space, to involvement that also takes place through the  online space. Dealing and developing both spaces foster connectivity within and  between communities.

Overall description of the program/project: 
Closing the digital divide has been a key objective for communities across the United States. The  University of Wisconsin – Madison Extension Broadband Team addressed this capacity gap through  collaboration and network-building principles. We empowered community members via workshops,  a comprehensive toolkit, webinars, and technical assistance, fostering co-learning and resource  sharing. Our inclusive approach encouraged local ownership of broadband planning, highlighting  successful case studies and practical solutions. We facilitated knowledge sharing and relationship  building across geographic boundaries, engaging all stakeholders, including Tribal entities. Over two  years, we developed 15 webinars, hosted 14 workshops, and provided technical assistance to over 40  communities. 
How our program/project relates to the theme Innovative Pathways to Thriving  Communities:  
Closing the digital divide has been a key objective for communities across the United States.  Communities often find themselves ill-equipped to address the challenge. The University of  Wisconsin – Madison Extension Broadband Team infused collaboration and network-building  principles to address this capacity gap. Through workshops, a comprehensive toolkit, webinars and  technical assistance, we empowered community members to take an active role in broadband  expansion. Our programming fostered co-learning and resource sharing, enabling participants to  gain experiential knowledge and connect as peers. Collaboration was a central theme as we  developed tools and technical assistance that led to effective public-public partnerships. 
People-Driven Solutions: We emphasized inclusive, ensuring all community members' needs are  considered. Our approach encouraged local ownership of broadband planning, providing tools and  knowledge for informed decisions. By highlighting successful case studies and offering practical  solutions, communities could create customized approaches and further build their network. 
Place-Based Collaboration: We facilitated knowledge sharing, relationship building, and collective  impact across geographic boundaries. We encouraged engagement with all stakeholders, including  Tribal entities as sovereign nations, emphasizing that “broadband doesn’t stop at the county line.” 
Program Impact: Over two years, we developed 15 webinars, hosted 14 workshops, created a  comprehensive toolkit, and provided technical assistance to over 40 communities. The ever-evolving  toolkit includes modules on broadband planning and digital equity. We reached 56 out of 72 
counties and 9 out of 11 of Wisconsin’s federally recognized Tribes. This work continues to guide the  expansion of broadband access and digital equity programming for communities across Wisconsin.

Project/Program Description (100 words or less) 
For over 100 years, the cooperative Extension service has been dispersing knowledge accumulated at land grant universities with the rest of the state. They have helped many generations modernize daily practices from farming and gardening to cooking and healthy habits. Today there is a role for Extensions to play in helping everyone in the community make full use of the current digital age. Drawing on program experience, this presentation will explore Extension’s relationship with technology. From helping communities embrace technology to integrating technology into programming, there is much to be learned from Extension so far. 
An explanation of how your program/project relates to the theme Innovative Pathways. You may also include an explanation of how your program/project relates to the conference track(s) selected. 250 words or less. 
Technology is both a challenge facing communities and a tool we can use to help. The digital divide has economic and social impacts, as technology is required for everything: applying for jobs, banking, healthcare, education and more. At the same time, technology offers solutions to many issues facing communities: Telehealth increases healthcare access, online banking assists with staying on budget, and eLearning provides more options for education. With technology being in this unique position to hurt as much as it helps, it is essential for it to be included in community development practices. This presentation will explore both sides of this coin, and how Extension has employed programming to address the digital divide and taken advantage of technology. Through digital inclusion efforts, technology is a powerful tool for social justice and gaining economic autonomy. We will share best practices and lessons learned 

An overall description of the program/project. 100 words or less.
The 1890 Land Grant System has a unique role in serving underserved and unserved communities in digital skills adoption and awareness. Digital skills play a transformative role in empowering underserved communities, offering pathways to economic mobility and sustainable development. However, underserved populations often face barriers such as limited access to technology, insufficient infrastructure, and a lack of digital education. These challenges exacerbate social and economic inequalities, widening the digital divide. Fort Valley University Cooperative Extension staff is equipping underserved communities with digital skills through targeted programs and access to affordable technology, can foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and better job opportunities.  
An explanation of how your program/project relates to the theme Innovative Pathways to Thriving Communities. 
This session shares Fort Valley State Cooperative Extension role in driving inclusive economic growth and community development by leveraging technology and innovative training approaches.
Fort Valley State University (FVSU) Cooperative Extension secured funding to address digital equity gaps by offering affordable technology access and training programs. FVSU Cooperative Extension partnerships equipped rural communities with technology devices and wireless infrastructures. Extension staff collaborative efforts continued with curriculum development and technology trainings tailored to the communities’ skilling and upskilling needs. Their efforts focus on digital skills adoption and awareness impacts community development and fosters connectivity within and between communities.  Extension efforts with digital equity implementation and digital inclusion activities can empower individuals and communities with the tools needed to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

​Click here to download the full academic paper​​​

Affiliation:  
University of Johannesburg, Department of Social Work and Community  Development  
ABSTRACT 
The street vendors contribute significantly to the economy and sustain their livelihoods  through income-generating activities. Poor rural and urban communities often  experience various challenges in their unique settings, including a lack of income generation opportunities, the scourge of poverty, unemployment, inequality, low  education levels, and limited access to socio-economic services (Njaya, 2014).  Finding pathways, innovative practices, and collaboration are critical for community  development practitioners and street vendors to mitigate challenges and enhance the  socio-economic development of communities. The paper seeks to explore innovative  practices and collaborative partnerships for street vendors engaged in income 
generating acting activities. A qualitative research approach and descriptive research  design are the methodologies used in this paper. Data will be collected using  interviews with the street vendors. The findings and recommendations will be  presented to inform policy and practice implications in the community development  sector.  
Key Words: Street Vendors, Sustainable Livelihood, Income Generating Activities,  Social Development, Partnership, Community Development.

This project reflects an ongoing collaboration commenced in 2022 between a nonprofit organization and  a university. The collaboration is focused on innovative technologies to enhance neighborhood  revitalization and community self-reliance. Through this collaboration we are developing and evaluating  a community-based infrastructure that combines artificial intelligence (AI) technology, facilitated by a  smartphone app, with community engagement through direct engagement of residents and a  community advisory board.  
Big data is often aggregated at a scale that masks or dilutes the significance of more refined data at the  neighborhood level. This often results in data analysis and decisions that do not reflect the needs,  wants, and desires of citizens at the neighborhood level. This project is informed by the perspective that  AI projects must be authentically and meaningfully grounded in the lived experience of those who are  meant to benefit from the innovation. Further, this project is about enhancing ordinary citizens' data  collection and data analytics skills. We aim to connect citizens in the community with a data and  applications ecosystem, especially to encourage residents to evaluate service delivery mechanisms and  service gaps. Residents, without requiring expertise in statistics and computer programming, will be able  to create, share, and take advantage of urban data science applications for their neighborhood through  an app developed for mobile devices. Community residents become co-innovators in this process and  are driven by community priorities. The project will culminate in a digital platform that will be  transferred from to the nonprofit for continued use. Organizations that promote social change are well  situated to support citizen-driven data collection and analysis and are natural partners in promoting the  democratization of data.

Rural communities are transforming due to various socio-technical changes, including  deployment of land-intensive renewable energy technologies like large-scale solar (LSS)  facilities (20MW+). Much is speculated but little is known about how landowners in places set to  host LSS facilities perceive community change from LSS, how perceptions may differ depending  on place-based context, and how these insights can inform community development practice.  Drawing on a survey of 1,500 landowners in three New York State counties, this study explores  landowners’ level of support, beliefs about, and experiences with LSS development in their  communities.  
Land-intensive renewable energy technologies, like large-scale solar (LSS) facilities, are being  installed in rural areas at a pace and scale not seen before in the U.S. Specifically, New York  State (NYS) has accelerated siting processes for LSS facilities to meet their climate policy goal of generating 70% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030. It remains to be seen if  deployment of LSS represents an “innovative pathway” for the rural communities set to host  these installations to thrive. To understand the challenges and opportunities in leveraging LSS  development for community benefit, this paper presents quantitative social science data from  NYS landholders about LSS projects in their communities, including their support levels and  perceptions of future community prosperity after LSS development. Our paper advances place based research focused on the potential for LSS to act as an innovative pathway to rural  prosperity and to generate ideas about community development practice in the context of LSS. In  that way, our paper speaks to the ‘technological integration” conference track, as LSS is an  emerging technology that will soon be deployed widely in NYS and beyond, but also the “place based collaboration” track since our work promotes place-based research and reports on regional  variation, local context, and impacts across communities.