Commonwealth Civic & Community Engagement Forum: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region

Join us for the Commonwealth Civic & Community Engagement Forum, a gathering designed to feel more like a retreat than a traditional conference. Set in the natural beauty of The Parklands of Floyds Fork in Louisville from September 14–16, 2026, the Forum invites higher education faculty and staff to step away from the usual pace of work and spend time reflecting, learning, and connecting together.

This forum creates space to pause and explore the ideas shaping civic and community engagement across Kentucky and beyond. Through thoughtful dialogue, shared experiences, and time in community, participants will have the opportunity to slow down, exchange perspectives, and build meaningful relationships with colleagues who are committed to strengthening partnerships between higher education and communities.

Whether you are deepening existing work or exploring new possibilities, we invite you to arrive curious, open, and ready to connect.

Workshop Call for Proposals

We invite you to submit proposals to lead a highly interactive workshop at the 2026 Commonwealth Civic & Community Engagement Forum. This gathering is designed as a retreat—a space to pause, reflect, and learn together—and we are looking for sessions that embody this spirit by engaging participants through hands-on, experiential, and collaborative activities.

Workshop Guidelines:

Interactive Focus: Workshops should minimize lecture and maximize participant involvement. Think small-group activities, discussions, simulations, problem-solving exercises, or creative explorations.
Practical Takeaways: Participants should leave with actionable ideas, tools, or strategies they can apply in their own work.
Collaborative Learning: Emphasize sharing, peer-to-peer learning, and reflection, rather than one-way instruction.
Relevant Themes: Workshops should align with civic and community engagement in higher education, including partnerships, volunteer management, community-based learning, social impact initiatives, and related topics.

Proposal Submission:

Submissions will be reviewed based on interactivity, relevance, clarity, and potential to foster meaningful dialogue and learning.

Deadline for submissions: May 15, 2026

Submit your proposal here: Coming Soon!

Help us make this Forum a space for deep engagement, practical learning, and meaningful connection—where participants don’t just listen, but actively explore and shape the ideas that drive our work in communities.

Registration

Coming Soon!

Schedule

Tentative Schedule:

*Monday, September 14*
5:30pm - 6:30pm	Welcome Reception
6:30pm - 8:30pm	Opening Ceremony and Dinner

*Tuesday, September 15*
8:30am - 9:00am	Early Bird Self-Care (Optional)
9:00am - 12:00pm	Service Project
12:00pm - 1:15pm	Lunch
1:15pm - 4:45pm	Group Learning and Workshops
5:15pm	Dinner
6:30pm	Optional Recreational and Social Activities

*Wednesday, September 16*
8:30am - 9:00am	Early Bird Self-Care (Optional)
9:00am - 12:00pm	Roundtables and Panel Discussions
12:00pm - 1:15pm	Lunch
1:15pm - 4:30pm	Group Learning and Workshops

Hotel & Travel

Coming Soon!