Building Meaningful Community Engagement

Come learn exciting and meaningful ways to connect people with disabilities with their communities and make a real impact together.
About this Event

Are you ready to help individuals experiencing disabilities consciously cultivate deep roots and a true sense of belonging in their local communities?

Led by renowned disability advocate and author Dr. Al Condeluci, this intensive hybrid training equips your staff with actionable, macro-oriented strategies to shatter isolation for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). This training gives your team the exact blueprint to shift from traditional, segregated services to viable, relationship-driven inclusion.

Organizations are encouraged to send multiple attendees to form a collaborative internal team. Together, your will embark on a three-phase journey starting in: an interactive virtual masterclass, three dedicated coaching blocks, and an in-person evaluation session. You won't just sit through a lecture; you will actively learn how to map local community assets, identify genuine participant affinities, and physically connect the people you support to authentic social networks.

WHAT IS THE TIME COMMITMENT?

📌July 8: Kick Off Session (ZOOM) - 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

📌July 15: Optional Group Coaching Session (ZOOM) - open drop in hours from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

📌July 23: Optional Group Coaching Session (ZOOM) - open drop in hours from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

📌July 29: Optional Group Coaching Session (ZOOM) - open drop in hours from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

📌August 12: In Person Wrap-Up session at the Doubletree by Hilton at the Airport (4509 Island Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19153), 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND

1. Shatter Loneliness & Isolation: Gain practical, data-driven frameworks—including the Social Capital Benchmarking Survey and UCLA Loneliness Survey—to measurably reduce isolation and foster real friendships for the people you support.
2. Master "Community Mapping": Learn how to build a localized database of clubs, groups, and civic associations that match the specific interests, hobbies, and passions of your participants.
3. Navigate Community Expectations: Learn to analyze community cultures (their rituals, jargon, and unwritten rules).
4. Leverage Neighborhood Gatekeepers: Discover how to identify and connect with key community insiders who can authentically introduce and welcome those you support into new social circles.
5. Secure the precise tools needed to meet state and national funding compliance for intentional, community-based outcomes.
6. Comprehensive Support: Your registration includes the initial half-day ZOOM training, 3 optional group coaching sessions with Dr. Condeluci to troubleshoot real-world implementation challenges, this an in person session to wrap it all up.

Invest in Your Team, Elevate Your Supports: Register to build a unified front that turns the promise of true community inclusion into everyday reality.

Seats are strictly limited to ensure high-quality coaching and collaborative dialogue. Secure your agency’s spot today to lead the shift from isolation to true belonging!

SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR SELF-ADVOCATES AND FAMILIES
contact Sydney Kane at [email protected] to inquire

CANCELLATION POLICY

Networks for Training and Development, Inc. (Networks) hopes that everyone who registers for trainings and courses will be able to attend; however, we understand extenuating circumstances do occur. All requests for cancellation must be submitted in writing.

To read the full policy, please visit: https://www.networksfortraining.org/cancellation-policy/

FUNDING PROVIDED BY PHILADELPHIA DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL disABILITY SERVICES