Thursday, October 22, 2026 | 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM

PATHWAYS 2026: Owning Our Future is a premier community development conference hosted by Community Development Advocates of Detroit (CDAD), bringing together nonprofit leaders, community-based organizations, policymakers, funders, and residents committed to advancing equitable development.

This year’s theme centers on community ownership, power-building, and system transformation; highlighting how neighborhoods can control their future through land, resources, and collective action.

This year’s conference will feature three dynamic learning tracks designed to explore the systems, strategies, and innovations shaping the future of community development:

Power, Policy + Preservation: Exploring how communities build influence, protect progress, and navigate policy, advocacy, and equitable development in an evolving political and economic landscape.

Organizational Power + Infrastructure: Focused on strengthening the internal systems, leadership, operations, and financial sustainability needed for organizations to grow and lead impactful work.

Ownership, Innovation + Future: Highlighting forward-thinking models around community ownership, technology, storytelling and the future of neighborhood development.