Civic and Community Engagement Commons^™

The Community Development Society Students And Young Professionals Initiative, John C. Hill, Gary A. Goreham

Community Development Practice

There is a growing recognition of the role of youth in community development. Their roles range from serving on youth committees in local development organization to training for careers in the community development profession (e.g., Brennan, Barnett, & Lesmeister, 2007; Christens & Dolan, 2011). Thus, encouraging young professionals and graduate students to become members in professional associations or organizations is crucial for networking, professional development, and collaborative efforts towards community development. In an attempt to bridge potential pitfalls associated with student involvement in a professional association, an ad hoc meeting of graduate students and young professionals was convened at the …