Proposed Special Issue of Community Development Focused on Polarized Communities

 Recently, we have witnessed increased polarization on many levels and in a variety of contexts (e.g., politics, class, race, religion, environment, energy). This special issue aims to move communities beyond binary polarization and discover the more nuanced subtleties hidden within the fog of polarization. We hope this spurs practitioners and researchers to explore innovative spaces for finding common ground within a contimuum of polarization. We invite authors to submit manuscripts that portray illustrative cases of polarization, explore and share alternative methodologies, advance theory around the construct of polarization, provide a comprehensive literature review, or unveil historical perspectives that inform contemporary practice and research in the field of community development.

In addition, and more broadly, we always encourage submissions of comprehensive reviews of the literature focusing on contemporary questions that help inform our field. Manuscripts of this nature may be submitted for any issue, at any time.

Please contact us if you are interested in contributing to this special issue.

Manuscripts will be due by April 15, 2018.

Leanne M. Avery & John W. Sipple

Co-Editiors, Community Development

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Special One-Time Award Recipients

Joint National Association of Community Development Professionals and Community Development Society Award

2017 Ripple Effect Mapping Team: Scott Chazdon, University of Minnesota Extension; Mary Emery, South Dakota State University; Debra A. Hansen, Washington State University Extension; Rebecca Sero, Washington State University Extension; and Lorie Higgins, University of Idaho

2017 Michael Dougherty, West Virginia University Extension Service 

International Association of Community Development Ambassador Award

2016 Randy Adams, Vice President of IACD, Past President of CDS and Former Director of the Rural Community Assistance Program

This award is presented to a CDS member in recognition of a their contributions to community development education.

Outstanding Community Development Educator Award Recipients:

2017 Margaret Stout, West Virgina University

This award is presented to a CDS member in recognition of a their contributions to the practice of community development outside of North America.

International Community Development Practice Award:

2017 Cornelia (Cornel) Hart, National Community Development Polcy Framework for South Africa

The mission of the Community Development Society is to strengthen community development practice, policy, learning and scholarship through connecting, convening and collaborating. 

Community Development Practice aims to be an international journal; thus, article submissions from persons whose first-language is not English are welcomed and encouraged. This document provides some practical points for writers whose first-language is not English, so that their articles may be read more favorably by reviewers. Additionally, all authors looking to submit to Community Development Practice can use these tips as they prepare their manuscripts.

1. Keep your sentences succint. Sentences that are fewer than 20 words are best suited for the journal. Longer sentences are likely unnecessarily complex, and your points may get lost. The use of colons (:) for lists and commas (,) are great, but ensure proper semicolon (;) use.
2. Use brackets and parentheses wisely. All in-text references should be located within parentheses. The use of parentheses and brackets for other purposes should be done sparingly.  Consider using commas instead of parentheses and brackets in your narrative.
3. Avoid contractions. Your writing is expected to be more professional than colloquial. Do not use contractions, such as couldn't, shouldn't, wouldn't, can't, isn't, aren't, won't, etc.
4. Spell out ordinal numbers. Instead of using numerical notation like "1^st," please use "first." There are exceptions regarding titles, such as the 47^th Annual International Community Development Society or 2^st Century.
5. Avoid passive writing when possible. You are welcome to use the word "we" when you speak about the work your co-authors and you have directly enacted. Otherwise, please avoid using the term "we" in any impersonal forms.
6. Use consistent verb tenses throughout. Most likely you are describing work that you have finished conducting, so please use the past tense throughout your manuscript unless you are speaking to on-going work. Please also use past tense in any literature reviews or references to the work(s) of others.
7. Have others read your work prior to submission. An editor will look at your work prior to passing it on to reviewers. Submissions with many grammatical errors will be returned to authors prior to review for revision.

Please direct any additional questions or concerns regarding writing style and manuscript form to Craig Talmage, Editor of Community Development Practice at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Airport Information

Community Development Society 46th Annual International Conference

July 19-22, 2015

Hilton Lexington Downtown

Lexington, Kentucky

Blue Grass Airport, 4000 Terminal Drive, Lexington, KY 40510

Blue Grass Airport, Ground Transportation:  https://www.bluegrassairport.com/ground.html

Conference Housing

Community Development Society 46th Annual International Conference

July 19-22, 2015

Hilton Lexington Downtown

Lexington, Kentucky

Hilton Downtown Lexington

369 W. Vine St., Lexington, KY 40507

Connected to Rupp Arena and the Lexington Convention Center via skywalk, this modern high-rise hotel offers contemporary decor and custom-designed beds, plus desks, 40-inch flat-screen TVs and complimentary WiFi in guest and meeting rooms. Amenities include a trendy martini bar, and acclaimed grill restaurant, a fitness center and a heated pool.  Free self parking is available to all registered hotel guests.  

CDS members receive a special room rate of $119 (plus applicable taxes). You may reserve your room at this link. The "call-in" code is UKCDS. To make a room reservation by phone, call 859-231-9000.  Reservations must be made by June 24 to receive the CDS Conference rate. 

The Hilton is booked for July 18^th. Here are other options for July 18, and a map showing their location in relation to the Hilton: https://goo.gl/maps/IhsC3

• SpringHill Suites Lexington
  863 S. Broadway, Lexington, KY  40504 - Near the University of Kentucky  for $179 USD  per night
  Marriott hotel(s) offering your special group rate:
  Book your group rate for Community Development Society
  Phone:  859-225-1500 (Ask for Community Development Rate)
  Start date: 7/18/15
  End date: 7/19/15
  Last day to book: 6/18/15 

• Gratz Park Inn
  http://www.gratzparkinn.com/
  120 West Second Street, Lexington, KY 40507
  1.859.231.1777
  Ask for Will Smith, Sales Manager, mention CDS and he will provide a discounted rate of $159/night in their boutique hotel
  Walking distance from the Hilton

• Hyatt Regency, Lexington
  http://lexington.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html
  401 West High Street, Lexington, Kentucky, USA, 40507
  1 859 253 1234
  Rooms starting at $198 available online (they have a limited number of rooms available)
  Very close to Hilton

Champions Court I (University of Kentucky Dorm Rooms)

344 Martin Luther King Blvd., Lexington, KY  40526

CDS has made special arrangements for dorm rooms at a low cost at Champions Court I on the University of Kentucky campus, about .8 miles from the Hilton.  Guests will have their own private bedroom along with a shared bathroom and common area and access to lounges, recreation rooms, laundry, and a community kitchen.

Cost is $35 per night, which includes sheets, blanket, washcloth, towel and pillow.  Make reservations at this link.  Please list Community Development Society International Conference as your conference affiliation on the individual reservation request form.

Keynote Presentations

Community Development Society 46th Annual International Conference 

July 19-22, 2015

Hilton Lexington Downtown

Lexington, Kentucky

Monday, July 20, 8:00 – 9:15 am

Welcome and Keynote Address

Speaker: Jamie Bennett, ArtPlace America

ArtPlace America (ArtPlace) is a ten-year collaboration that exists to position art and culture as a core sector of comprehensive community planning and development in order to help strengthen the social, physical, and economic fabric of communities.  ArtPlace focuses its work on creative placemaking, the set of practices in which art and culture work intentionally to help to transform a place.

Tuesday, July 21, 8:00 – 9:00 am

Keynote Presentation

Speaker:  Michael Rios, University of California, Davis, author of Dialogos:  Placemaking in Latino Communities

Negotiating the Place of Culture and the Culture of Place:  Unlike the problems of sprawl, environmental degradation, and climate change, there are no straightforward technical solutions to working more effectively with culturally diverse communities. In this plenary session, Michael will discuss the difference that culture makes and how places can be viewed as sites of world-making through negotiations of belonging, authorship, and power to establish what groups can expect of one   another.

Wednesday, July 22, 11:45 am – 1:00 pm

Closing Luncheon and Keynote Presentation

Speaker:  Natasha Bowens, author

Join the author of the book, The Color of Food: Race, Resilience and Farming, released March 2015, as she provides a community development lens to look at food, race and social justice.  More information about the Color of Food may be found on: http://thecolorofood.com/.