Young Professionals for Community Transformation

portrait of Rick Smyre

Rick Smyre is president, Center for Communities of the Future, Gastonia, North Carolins, USA

Nicole Garzino is executive director, of the Center for Photographic Art, Carmel, California. As a consultant, Ms. Garzino leads transformative planning and program management for nonprofits, with a special emphasis in cultural organizations, creative projects, and grassroots start-ups, Salinas, California, USA

Eduardo Millet is vice president of business development, McAllen Chamber of Commerce. Currently, he is pursuing his PhD in Local Management at the University of Granada., McAllen, Texas, USA

Wade A. Den Hartog is director of affiliates and charitable partners Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines. He works with affiliates promoting philanthropy in counties and communities throughout the state. He also assists corporate donors, nonprofit organizations and professional advisors with gift transactions and planned giving, Sheldon, Iowa, USA

We live in a time of true transformation where older local leadership struggles to understand that traditional experience and traditional knowledge no longer provide the templates and skills necessary to prepare for a world that is in constant change. It is becoming more and more evident that young leaders are needed to help local communities prepare for a different kind of future. With this in mind, the World Future Society, in collaboration with the Center for Communities of the Future, are pleased to announce the creation of a self-organizing national network of young professionals under 45 who are developing the knowledge and skills of “comprehensive community transformation." The intent of this network is to build “capacities for transformation" and to create interlocking networks of young professionals who have skills and understanding to utilize “futures thinking and transformational action” to prepare local areas for a different kind of future that is increasingly fast-paced, interconnected and complex.

Highlights

The audience will leave this session with an understanding of:
• The use of the ideas of “comprehensive community transformation” to insure healthy communities in the future,

  • How interlocking networks of people, ideas and processes can be designed and implemented effectively.
  • How to utilize systemic thinking and action for the future vitality and sustainability of communities.