University of Michigan - Flint

3rd Annual Civic Skills Conference

Friday, November 21, 2008

University of Michigan-Flint Campus

7:45-8:15        Morning Session Registration - UCEN, Michigan Rooms

8:15-11:00      Interactive Box City Workshop - UCEN, Michigan Rooms

11:00-11:30    Afternoon Registration - Northbank Center, Lobby

11:30-12:30    Lunch and Keynote Speaker - Northbank Center, Ballroom

12:45-1:45      Concurrent Civic Skills Workshops - Northbank Center

2:00-3:00        Concurrent Civic Skills Workshops (repeated) - Northbank Center

Ashley Atkinson is the Director of Project Development and Urban Agriculture for The Greening of Detroit. She has worked in the field of community gardening, urban greening, and vacant land reuse for over ten years - first in Flint where she co-founded The Flint Urban Gardening and Land Use Corporation, then as the director of the Detroit Agriculture Network, and currently with The Greening of Detroit where she works with community groups to plan tree plantings, community gardens, and other greenspace in Detroit. Ashley is a graduate of both Michigan State University and The University of Michigan where she studied International Development, Community Organization, and Environmental/Land Use Planning.

Erin Caudell graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Horticulture from Michigan State University. Erin joined the staff at Ruth Mott Foundation at Applewood in 2001 as the Education Specialist and helped co-create Applewood’s Education program. In 2004 Erin became Outreach Program Coordinator where much of her time is focused on providing technical assistance to neighborhood gardeners, nonprofits and government. She was the Project Coordinator for Keep Genesee County Beautiful’s Cultivating our Community Program which planted over 10,000 trees, shrubs and perennials around the city. Erin also has a regular gardening column in the Flint Journal. Erin has been interested/obsessed with food systems and urban agriculture and enjoys farming at her house in Carriage Town. In her spare time she sits as a Director on the Genesee County Conservation District, is a past President of the Red Cedar Flyfishers and enjoys working with watershed and fish conservation and education.

• Spreading the Word: The New Media
• Taking Action: Personalized Politics and Social Change
• Focus on Your Assets: Plug and Play Flint
• Making Your Case: Argument Construction 101
• Creative Collaboration: Multi-Organizational Partnerships
• Layers of Local and Statewide Government

The Community Challege Partners: Community Foundation of Greater Flint, Resource Center, University of Michigan-Flint, in partnership with the University of Michigan-Flint American Democracy Project

To register for the 2008 Civic Skills Conference, visit the link below.

After submitting your registration, you will be directed to campus map, driving directions, and other useful information.

If you have any questions, please call the Office of Special Events at (810) 424-5485.