The strategy group will sponsor three community forums to further explore the concepts of Vision, Successful Initiatives, and Leadership. Open to the public, these forums will be an opportunity for continued community engagement on the issues identified at the Summit and in early strategy group work. The forums will include a nationally recognized speaker and a panel of local leaders discussing how they put comprehensive community development ideas into action.

In April 2005, the first forum brought nationally recognized community development expert, Anita Miller, together with more than 150 local community members to discuss a vision of comprehensive community development.

In June 2005, the second forum discussed collaboration and how the  working together across boundaries is important.  Dr. Susan Lloyd, Director, Building Community Capacity for the MacArthur Foundation led a panel in this discussion.

The final forum in October 2005 provided an update to the Community Development Summit