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In July, Gisele Hamm, a program manager at the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IIRA) at Western Illinois University, began her term as president of the Community Development Society (CDS), an organization with a membership of more than 300 community development researchers and practitioners from around the world. She took the helm of the organization—after serving in CDS vice president roles since 2013—at the CDS's 46th Annual Conference. She will serve as president until July 2016.
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IIRA's Hamm: President of Community Development Society

August 27, 2015

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MACOMB, IL — In July, Gisele Hamm, a program manager at the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IIRA) at Western Illinois University, began her term as president of the Community Development Society (CDS), an organization with a membership of more than 300 community development researchers and practitioners from around the world. She took the helm of the organization—after serving in CDS vice president roles since 2013—at the CDS's 46th Annual Conference. She will serve as president until July 2016.

In the role of president, Hamm—who manages the IIRA's MAPPING the Future of Your Community program, a statewide community visioning and planning program that promotes community revitalization through innovative practices and community engagement—will preside over CDS board and executive committee meetings; work closely with the CDS board, as well as with the CDS association management firm and the CDS members to ensure proper operations of the society and further the society's mission; and serve as the CDS spokesperson.

According to Hamm, the CDS facilitates interactions between researchers and practitioners to find effective community development strategies and practices.

"Involvement with CDS has offered me opportunities to interact with other university-based professionals and explore new opportunities for IIRA's rural community and economic development work," she explained. "My experience working with community leaders, public officials and others on various community development issues is beneficial toward helping set a direction for CDS, as well as in helping other board members explore various approaches that will not only retain current members, but also attract new ones. CDS can play a major role in helping communities in the future and can continue its leadership role both domestically and internationally."

Hamm said her work in community development at the IIRA facilitated her involvement with the CDS. Since 2004, she has presented at CDS conferences, served on program planning committees, participated on the CDS's journal editorial board, served on the CDS board, co-chaired the CDS awards committee, published several journal articles and co-edited a special issue on community visioning.

"These experiences have enabled me to network with many community development practitioners and leaders and have made me aware of the extensive knowledge and abilities of members," she noted. "As vice president of program this past year, one of my responsibilities was to take the lead in the coordination and development of the CDS Annual International Conference. I was responsible for the call for abstracts, abstract review process and program development and organization. I worked in partnership with the Lexington [KY] local host committee on theme development, local arrangements, sponsorship and promotion, and I was pleased this year's conference had the highest conference attendance the CDS has experienced for several years."

According to Hamm, for the 2016 Annual Conference (to be held in Bloomington, MN), the CDS officers' goals include meeting or exceeding this year's conference participation.

"I will work with this year's vice president of program to build on the success of the 2015 conference. Also, we aim to increase our international membership and involvement, so we will be looking for ways in which we can more effectively reach and engage those that are involved in community development outside of the U.S. and Canada," she added.

In role at IIRA, Hamm also manages an AmeriCorps VISTA program and various grants and noted that empowering communities from within is more important now than ever before, and CDS principles and practices are at the core of this process.

"My involvement with the Community Development Society over the past several years has provided me the opportunity to increase my community development knowledge and leadership skills," she said. "CDS provides a unique venue for both practitioners and researchers to share innovative ideas and solutions."

For more information, contact Hamm at (309) 298-4019 or via email at GF-Hamm@wiu.edu.

Learn more about the MAPPING the Future of Your Community program at mappingthefuture.org.

Posted By: Teresa Koltzenburg (WIUNews@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing