International Town and Gown Association 2023 ConferenceBuilding Resilient Communities
This past June, LINK Strategic Partners (LINK) was thrilled to attend the International Town-Gown Association (ITGA) City & University Relations Conference in Fort Collins, Colorado. Poppy Humphrey, Director of Standards & Accountability; Jevin Hodge, National Engagement Coordinator; and Joe Falcone, Videographer joined LINK President Michael Akin at this three-day conference where they gathered with industry colleagues to discuss strategies for addressing common challenges in town-gown communities.
Team LINK served as sponsors as well as presenters at this annual event, which was themed around building resilient communities. LINK participated in the session, “Strategic Planning: How the University of the District of Columbia Ignited the Path Forward.” This discussion highlighted the development of the University of the District of Columbia's (UDC) strategic plan, and the innovative approaches used to engage students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community representatives. LINK joined Dr. Monique Guillory, Chief of Staff at UDC, in the discussion which highlighted the collaborative efforts and unique approaches to stakeholder engagement which underpinned the strategic formation process.
LINK President Michael Akin acted as the moderator for the live-streamed panel, “Safety and Security in a Nighttime Economy, US and UK Leading Practices” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_Bt_OdzjYw). He was joined by LINK’s Jevin Hodge, along with Justian Maher-Krawiec, Project Lead for Nighttime Economy Solutions LTD (https://www.nighttimeeconomy.com/); Steve Patterson, Mayor, City of Athens, OH; and Beth Bagwell, Executive Director of ITGA. This lively panel, set against the backdrop of the picturesque Rocky Mountains, discussed how an appealing nighttime economy improves communities by bringing economic contributions, energy, and greater inclusivity. Panelists further considered how safety and urban design were critical aspects to maintaining growth and a positive environment.
The LINK team’s final panel was entitled, “Second-Chance Hiring: Providing Empowering Educational Pathways to the Workforce” (https://vimeo.com/840889606/a3074365f4?share=copy). On this panel, LINK was joined by representatives from the Pivot Program at Georgetown University (https://pivot.georgetown.edu/), a one-year transition and re-entry program focusing on business and entrepreneurship, and UK-based Skill Mill (https://www.theskillmill.org/), along with LINK’s own Joe Houston Jr, founder of We Fit Nation, LLC (https://www.wefitdc.com/). This discussion highlighted the barriers faced by returning citizens, particularly rejoining the workforce, and how blended learning environments provide both direction and opportunity for the employer and the individual.
The three-day ITGA conference provided engaging conversation on the future of stakeholder engagement and the further development of town and gown relationships in communities globally. This opportunity strengthened existing industry ties, as well as provided new introductions to Team LINK, and we are looking brightly ahead to implementing key takeaways, as well as our return to next year's ITGA conference.
“The ITGA is a perfect example of a space which ignites the spirit of this network, fostering connections, understanding, and true collaboration. It is a testament to the power of coming together, to share practices to create a harmonious tapestry of off-campus neighborhoods. Through shared aspirations, we can build resilient communities,” says LINK Director of Standards & Accountability, Poppy Humphrey.
“I was thrilled to attend ITGA as both a proud board member and as President of LINK. I began my career in town and gown relations, so the work of ITGA is deeply rooted in my and LINK's ethos. It's so exciting to see how the organization continues to grow year after year,” says LINK President Michael Akin.
To learn more about the work of ITGA, visit https://www.itga.org/
Second Chance Hiring: providing Empowering Educational pathways to the Workforce
https://vimeo.com/840889606/a3074365f4?share=copy
Safety and Security in a Nighttime Economy, US and UK Leading Practices
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_Bt_OdzjYw
About LINK Strategic Partners
LINK Strategic Partners is a strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and social impact consulting firm proudly based in Washington, D.C. In 10 years, LINK has expanded from a small local shop to a dynamic firm with hundreds of local, regional, national, and international clients. Our world-class and diverse team of professionals ranges from 17 to 94 years of age and leads our offices in D.C., Phoenix, St. Louis, New York, Austin, Atlanta, and Manchester, England. LINK’s mission-driven work includes thousands of hours of pro bono work provided to community partners. Visit www.linksp.com.
