One measure of a community's strength is its ability to discuss, share, learn, and take action together.  The Neighborhood Learning Community hosts a series of conferences each year that engage residents, youth and organization staff in reflection, learning and discussion of themes integral to the NLC philosophy. 

Stay tuned for information about our next Learning Conference! 

Past conferences include: 

May 1, 2006 - "Why Children's Learning Will Improve:  As the Second Shift Initiative Engages a Neighborhood"

Nick Longo, Program Officer at the Kettering Foundation joined us to discuss how neighborhoods, when recognized as vibrant centers of learning and civic engagement, are places of abundance, not scarcity. 

April 29, 2005 - "West Side Transportation Symposium:  A Model for Neighborhood Transportation" 

Co-hosted by the McKnight Foundation, this conference focused on the West Side Circulator model of neighborhood transportation.  Participants discussed how organizational and resident collaboration has made the Circulator and our youth engagement work a success.

March 1, 2005 - "Youth Leadership:  Youth Voice and Community Change" 

West Side youth designed and led this conference to share the important leadership contributions they have made to the Neighborhood Learning Community and to discuss ways to strengthen youth leadership. 

October 19, 2004 - "Learning from our Work:  Using Data to Empower a Neighborhood" 

David Scheie, of Touchstone Center for Collaborative Inquiry, shared data from NLC work and engaged participants in a meaning-making dialouge.  Participants strengthened their understanding of how reflection and evaluation can strengthen their collaective work. 

March 23, 2004 - "Building Community Capacity Through Partnering and Sharing Resources:  How Do We Strengthen the Community by Taking Action Together?" 

Martha McCoy, of the Study Circles Resource Center, was the keynote speaker in a conference that explored how authentic and effective collaboration increases power and impact. 

October 29, 2003 - "The Development of Self and Others as Leaders:  How Do We Share Power and Gain More at the Same Time?" 

Featuring a keynote address by Carleen Rhodes of the St. Paul Foundation, this inaugural conference looked at different conceptions of leadership and initiated a community conversation about leadership on the West Side.