This is a great networking week in Lansing! The 2025 Building Michigan Communities Conference is Wednesday & Thursday, and CEDAM's Annual Membership Celebration is Wednesday evening. There’s still time to register for CEDAM’s Annual Membership Celebration: ow.ly/UKI850VRfcB

Join us next Weds, May 21, for the next webinar in the CED 201 series, Economic Inclusion! The panelists will discuss current work at their organizations, their career journeys, & their thoughts on advancing economic inclusion initiatives in MI. Register: app.glueup.com/event/communit…

We’re still accepting nominations for the 2025 Gene Kuthy & the CED Leader of the Year Awards. Our Gene Kuthy Award honors an exceptional board member who goes above & beyond. Our CED Leader of the Year Award honors an individual facilitating creative & impactful initiatives.

It’s been a busy month for CEDAM’s Housing Development Team! April 28-May 2, they hosted our signature Real Estate Development Boot Camp in Detroit. CEDAM’s next Boot Camp is Sept 15-19 in Marquette. Registration will open in June. Keep an eye on our page: cedamichigan.org/training-and-e…

Thank you to everyone who joined us at our Annual Membership Celebration last week! It was a pleasure networking and celebrating impactful leaders in the CED field with you. We’re looking forward to celebrating with you again next year!

During the celebration, we announced our new board members: Aaron Cooper (region 9), Jameka Williams (at-large), Michelle McGregor (region 5), & Rawley Van Fossen (at-large). We also said a loving goodbye & thank you to outgoing board members, Dana Christian & Libby Palackdharry.

Join CEDAM and MassTimber@MSU this Thursday, May 29, at 10am ET for a webinar on the growing role of mass timber in community-driven development across the state and region. Register today! app.glueup.com/event/explorin…

The board officers were selected for CEDAM’s 2025-26 Board of Directors: Essence Wilson, President DeAmo Murphy, Vice President C.J. Felton, Secretary Angela Benifield, Treasurer To see a full list of our Board of Directors, and learn more about the members, visit our website!

Big news! Harbor Beach Community Schools has launched Huron County’s FIRST Children’s Savings Account (CSA) program, enrolling 530 students from kindergarten through 12th grade. To learn more about the Storrs Family CSA program, check out our blog post: cedamichigan.org/2025/05/welcom…

There's still time to register for the 2025 Small Town & Rural Development Conference! Join the Rural Partners of Michigan at Crystal Mountain from June 9-11 as they mark two decades of empowering Michigan's rural communities. We hope to see you there. ow.ly/VEQe50W1IpX

Registration for the 2025 Small Town & Rural Development Conference closes soon! Don't miss your chance to join us as we celebrate 20 years of empowering Michigan's rural communities at Crystal Mountain from June 9-11, 2025. Register today: app.glueup.com/event/2025-sma…

🎉Congratulations to our Director of Member Engagement, Jameka Williams, on being selected to serve on the Board of Directors for CEDAM (Community Economic Development Association of Michigan)! #MeritNetwork #CommunityDevelopment #BoardService #Michigan #CommunityLeadership

Join us next Wednesday, June 11, for our final CED 201 webinar, Community Planning. Both professionals will discuss their current work at their organizations, their career journeys, and the systems needed to sustain this work over time. Register today: ow.ly/E99w50W4bE6

#FellowFeatureFriday Last month, our Community Development Fellows gathered in Detroit for their destination gathering. While together, they received trainings from Michigan Green Communities' Danielle Beard, MEDC Community Planner, Katie Rappe, and CEDAM's very own Housing Team.

Registration is open for the 2025 Community Champions Summit: Advancing programs, policy, & possibilities! This two-day conference will bring together community & economic development professionals, policymakers, & stakeholders from across Michigan. More: ow.ly/xN4450W6Hou

The deadline to submit your nominations for the 2025 Gene Kuthy Award and the Community Economic Development Leader of the Year Award is approaching quickly! Nominations are due for both awards June 25 at 5pm ET. More: ow.ly/XE9H50W7O5b

CEDAM is pleased to introduce our new executive director, Eddie N. Fakhoury, starting June 16! Read our full press release: cedamichigan.org/2025/06/eddie-…

The CEDAM office will be closed next week and will close at noon on Fridays throughout the summer (June 20-Aug 29). We will also be closed June 19 & Sept 1. We hope you also take some time to relax and enjoy the weather!

As we continue to strive for a more just and inclusive society, Juneteenth is an opportunity to reflect on the past while actively working toward a future. True community economic development must dismantle barriers and create pathways for everyone to thrive.