State neighborhood leaders gather in Chesterfield

Hundreds of neighborhood leaders from across the state have converged on Chesterfield County to share ideas at the 10th annual Virginia Statewide Neighborhood Conference.

The three-day conference, which wraps up today, brings together citizens and local leaders from more than 20 localities across the state to exchange ideas about keeping neighborhoods safe and sustainable. This year's conference focuses on creating effective community partnerships.

"We hope it creates more community engagement," said Latisha Jenkins, community revitalization coordinator for Chesterfield and this year's conference organizer.

"People can find new ideas here on what they think may work in their community because it has been effective in other places," she added.

Workshops, speakers, exhibitions and networking are the thrust of the annual event, held this year at the Holiday Inn Select Koger South.

It's the first year the conference has invited younger generations of civic leaders, with attendees ages 12 to 16 participating in the Youth Café. "They're having a parallel conference with us focusing on youth concerns in neighborhoods and the things they're seeing," Jenkins said.

Johnny Newman, a former NBA player and Danville native, yesterday addressed the young participants.

Adult attendees heard from Catherine W. Howard, vice provost of Virginia Commonwealth University's Division of Community Engagement.

Today, Billy K. Cannaday Jr., dean of the School of Continuing and Professional Studies at the University of Virginia, will speak. Cannaday is a former state superintendent of public instruction and former superintendent of Chesterfield public schools.

Chesterfield last year took home two honors from the conference. The county's Jefferson Davis Association won Neighborhood Organization of the Year, and Glenn Kemp, president of the Salem Woods Homeowners Association, won Neighborhood Advocate of the Year.

Contact Wesley P. Hester at (804) 649-6976 or .