The Bossier Chamber of Commerce hosted the second session of Community Development Institute, a national program aimed at training community leaders and economic development professionals, from June 16 to 19. In partnership with Louisiana Tech University College of Business, the Bossier Chamber offers the only site in the state of Louisiana and serves as a satellite site of CDI Central at the University of Central Arkansas.
The 2025 class is the second cohort of CDI Central in Louisiana and just completed its second session in June. CDI trains leaders on how to strengthen their local economies and build communities. The curriculum is delivered through various formats including a combination of lecture, small group discussions, simulations, and individual projects. The focus is on active, rather than passive, learning.
Armed with the knowledge gained during the first session, participants were able to further explore the big-picture concepts they learned in session one during session two. Curriculum for the session included an Entrepreneurship Panel with the Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program and Prize Foundation, two hands-on simulations, a tour of Barksdale Air Force Base, and a walk audit of the East Bank District.
Simulations require participants to fully immerse themselves in different roles to understand the challenges that can derail community. The Poverty Simulation assigns roles to the participants to help them take on the persona of people living in ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed). The simulation highlights the difficulty in accessing resources for those who have limited access to things like transportation, disposable income or childcare. This simulation was done with guidance from the staff at CDI Central, who has run this simulation for many years.
The Emergency Management Simulation is new and only at CDI Central in Louisiana. Created for CDI Central in Louisiana, this simulation is led by Robert Elliott, Deputy Director of the Bossier Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness. This simulation randomly assigns emergency scenarios to participants, such as hurricane, active shooter, and flooding, where they must do their best to resolve the situation as a community leader. Participants learn best practices for communicating during an emergency or disaster and understand how local, state, and federal government can support communities and citizens in the event of a disaster.
“During this session, a big focus was placed on hands-on experience and simulations to put participants in the shoes of different people who make up our community,” said Jessica Hemingway, co-Director of the CDI Central in Louisiana site. “We also showcased the many entities that support communities and what they do. Understanding the struggles that communities face and recognizing the structures in place to support them is important for the community developers who attend CDI.”
The complete CDI experience is a three-session program, with one week of training per session. Unlike other CDI sites, the Bossier City site will have participants complete all three sessions within one year whereas other sites host participants for one week each year. Participants move through the program curriculum in cohorts and are exposed to a comprehensive, applied approach to the field of community and economic development.
For more information about CDI, visit https://www.bossierchamber.com/cdi-central-in-louisiana/