This course was free to attendees and consisted of immersive sessions that introduced elected officials, community leaders and engaged citizens to the foundational concepts for building stronger, more sustainable communities. Participants were led though seven core sessions which included foundational principles, readiness for change, community engagement, local economies, civic design, comprehensive community wealth, integrated storytelling, and concluded with a capstone exercise for actionable items.

Participants were also given tools for community visioning, tips on facilitation, placemaking principles and more.

Dr. Ted Alter (Penn State) offered his perspective on these sessions. “Pulaski County clearly has many impressive assets to continue to build on in shaping its future,” he said. “Its natural resources and natural beauty, cultural and historical traditions, robust local society, agricultural and manufacturing economy, and family orientation come immediately to mind.  Most important, in my view, however, is the positive enthusiasm, amazing collective commitment, persistence and perseverance, and creativity of the people I have met to ensuring a strong local economy and communities; as well as a high quality of life for all people - individuals and families, young and old, who live and work in the county.”

Dr. Michael Fortunato (Creative Insight Community Development) added, “Growing up in the city it took me into my mid 20’s to realize that rural areas have some of the most interesting, and often overlooked potential. For a long time I have believed that rural areas can overcome that stereotype to become leaders in what truly great communities look like. Those are communities that satisfy not only economic needs, but human, social and environmental needs.”

Upon successful completion of the course, attendees received their graduation certificates and a Forward Thinking Leadership T-shirt.

When asked what she valued about this course, graduate Nikki Earp said, “The CDC was very educational. It was great to see so many people from a variety of backgrounds coming together to talk and learn skills to help Pulaski County continue to thrive and be a great community for all of us to live and work. I’m excited that this can be applied in all sectors of our community from nonprofits to business to government.”

Brian Young added, “I’m really looking forward to applying what we learned here in Pulaski County. Being open to listening to all people’s ideas; we have great resources in our people right here. If we can engage them, what a boost to our ability to get things done.”

Instructors for the course included:

 Dr. Ted Alter, professor of agricultural, environmental, and regional economics at Penn State University and co-director of its Center for Economic and Community Development

Brian Blackford, project manager for the Indiana Communities Institute (ICI) at Ball State University

Dr. Michael Fortunato, Creative Insight Community Development partner, who is also an internationally published expert and researcher on entrepreneurship development

David R. Terrell, executive director of ICI and the RUPRI Center for State Policy. Terrell was the founder of the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs and served under two lieutenant governors.

Attendees of the course included: Amy Beechy, JoLynn Behny, Renee Calabrese, Jill Collins, Adam Collins, Kendra Craft, Nikki Earp, Morgan Federer, Andrew Fritz, Kim Hanson, Adam Huber, Jill Kasten, Sara Kroft, Brandi Larkin, Adam Loehmer, Maurice Loehmer, Lisa Malchow, Nathan Origer, Tony Pesaresi, Kimberly Pinkerton, Courtney Poor, Elizabeth Price, Wendy Rose, Chris Schramm, Justin Schramm, Kathi Thompson, Brian Young, and Kelsie Zellers.

The Community Development Course was made possible by the Community Foundation of Pulaski County as an important program of the three-year Forward Thinking Leadership Initiative, coordinated by Amy Beechy of Project Matters, Inc.

For more information about the work of the Community Foundation, view its website at www.cfopc.org, telephone 574.946.0906 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..