ICA PARTICIPATES IN THE 38TH ANNUAL NEIGHBORHOODS USA (NUSA) CONFERENCE

ICA's Accelerate 77 project was featured at the 38th Annual Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) Conference in Minneapolis. The conference featured Minneapolis' culture with celebration and entertainment, beginning with Native American dance led by the youth of the Little Thunderbirds Drum and Dance troupe and a live music performance at "Minnehaha Falls," the iconic 53-foot Minneapolis waterfall located in historic Minnehaha Park. 

John McKnight, ABCD Institute

Keynote speakers of the conference included: John McKnight, Asset-Based Community Development Institute Co-Director, Peter Kageyama, author of "For the LoveICA Fellow Jennifer Hirsch leading a discussion of the Cities" and Eco-Entrepreneur, Majora Carter. 

The conference theme, Better Together - Strong Neighborhoods, Strong City, resonated with ICA's vision to connect local resources, people and organizations throughout Chicago's community areas. ICA colleagues Kathy McGrane, Eva Yakutis and Nina Winn co-facilitated a workshop titled "Developing Action Steps for Sustainability". The workshop highlighted ICA's asset-based approach to Accelerate 77 with its unique engagement of university students and community organizations.
 
The Accelerate 77 project continues to look for opportunities to share its approach of encouraging and cultivating a city-wide learning community, while expanding and building upon current methods of engagement.