The Community Conversations Project engages diverse groups from business, organizations, neighborhoods, and educational settings in a conversation about what it means to educate the whole child, i.e. healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged. This workshop is designed to introduce the Community Conversations model created by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD). Workshop participants will leave with the materials and skills needed to organize and conduct conversations in their own communities. This is a multilevel approach that can also include discussion of local issues such as workforce development, early childhood, or educational equity and access.

Susan Curtin, Ed.D., is an associate professor in the Professional Studies Department of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. She teaches graduate courses in educational research, curriculum, leadership in a global society, and leadership in a pluralistic society. Most recently, she served as the director of the Professional Development Schools partnership which included experience using focus group research to facilitate reciprocity and communication in an urban district-state university partnership.