The CDS 2020 Annual International Conference is postponed to 2021,
still to be held in Fargo, North Dakota, USA
Dear Colleagues:
After a few hurried days of information gathering and deliberation between members of the 2020 Conference Local Host Committee and the CDS Board of Directors, we have unanimous approval from both teams to postpone the 2020 CDS Annual International Conference, slated for July 12-15, 2020 in Fargo, North Dakota, USA. It will be held in July 2021, in Fargo.
It is expected that the conference theme, “Global Challenges – Local Resilience” will be the same, as prescient and relevant as that theme is! (And the 2022 conference is expected to be held in Portland, Oregon, USA.)
The CDS Programs Committee and 2020 Local Host Committee will plan for a one-day (or less) 2020 virtual mini-conference, likely in July, and likely on the impact of COVID-19 on community development and the community development field’s response to it. There may be other online member engagement opportunities leading up to the annual conference in Fargo in 2021. Local Host Co-Chair Gary Goreham and CDS Vice-Chair of Programs KP Williams will be contacting folks who have submitted proposals for the 2020 Call for Presentations, and the conference speakers.
CDS Board elections will go on as planned this spring, and we will figure out how to have a virtual annual CDS Business Meeting in July. This is your official announcement on that, three months out as required. Holding an annual business meeting is a requirement for maintaining our non-profit status. So please stay tuned for more information about the logistics on that.
I want to thank all of the members of the Local Host Team and the CDS Board for their steadfast commitment to thoughtful resolve in the face of a world-scale community and economic crisis. You’ve shown great leadership and teamwork in making this decision to postpone the annual conference. And now I ask for the same resolve from you, our members, to continue your membership this year and to reach out to others in our field and encourage them to join CDS. We need each other more than ever, and the world needs CDS members, too, as front-line community builders through the worst of COVID-19 and beyond.
If you have any questions or would like to help the program efforts in 2020-2021, please email me at
jane@growthandjustice.org
We are also looking for candidates for CDS Treasurer, Vice Chair of Operations, and two Board of Directors seats. Please let me know if you are interested in running for the Board or have recommendations for candidates.
Take care!
--Jane Leonard
2019-2020 CDS Board Chair
