Call for Session Presenters
Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group (PCRG) and Urban Land Institute – Pittsburgh District Council (ULI) are excited to host the 15th Annual Community Development Summit, taking place in-person on June 4-5, 2025, at Pittsburgh’s Rivers Casino Events Center. This two-day event attracts community development professionals nationwide.
We are now accepting session proposals until March 21, 2025. Selected sessions will feature diverse topics, content, and formats, with preference given to proposals showcasing multiple perspectives and geographies.
Theme: Equity in Action
This year’s theme, Equity in Action, focuses on actively dismantling systemic barriers to ensure fair opportunities for all. We are seeking sessions that highlight practical strategies, case studies, and policies that move equity from theory to practice.
What Equity in Action Looks Like:
Proactively identifying and addressing disparities in access to resources.
Tailoring approaches to meet the unique needs of individuals and groups facing barriers.
Conducting regular assessments and making data-informed adjustments.
Empowering underrepresented communities in decision-making.
Providing targeted support to level the playing field.
Addressing implicit biases and dismantling systemic inequities.
Why Submit a Proposal?
The summit convenes 600+ attendees from across the Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic regions, including community members, students, developers, bankers, philanthropists, advocates, activists, and public-sector leaders. This is an opportunity to share your expertise, spark meaningful dialogue, and contribute to actionable change in the community development field.
About PCRG
Founded in 1988, Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group (PCRG) works to address lending and investment disparities in low-income and underserved communities. As a regional membership organization in the community and economic development sector, PCRG builds the capacity of local leaders to advance racial and economic equity throughout the Allegheny region.
PCRG’s policy initiatives focus on addressing blight, infrastructure, mobility, community banking, asset creation and fair lending. Through research, advocacy, and education, PCRG informs programs that drive equitable development. Today, we convene members, government agencies, and stakeholders to activate opportunities that enable all residents to thrive. Our work is rooted in promoting homeownership, entrepreneurship, and strategies for capacity building and wealth advancement.
Our Values
Advocacy & Collaboration: We believe advocacy, coalition-building, and collective impact are essential for addressing systemic issues.
Diversity & Inclusion: We value diverse voices and perspectives across races, genders, orientations, identities, economic backgrounds, and industries – especially within session presentations.
Excellence & Growth: We seek practitioners who are informed, capable and committed to continuous learning and improvement.
Honest Dialogue: We appreciate presenters who engage in complex discussions with nuance, honesty, and vulnerability.
Resilience & Innovation: We recognize the importance of learning from both successes and failures to drive meaningful progress.
Equitable Investment: We believe strong communities require strategic investments in both places and people to improve quality of life for all.
Session Proposal Criteria & Logistics – Please Read Carefully
As a convener, PCRG recognizes the importance of sharing resources and making a collective impact to improve conditions and quality of life within communities and creating opportunities for all residents to thrive.
A committee comprised of PCRG team members, as well as foundation, university, CDC, financial and intermediary partners will select 12 sessions and two plenary panels. We always work diligently to ensure session content is interesting, relevant, timely, fresh, and diverse.
Session Logistics
Session Length
75 minutes.
Format Options
Interactive presentations, panels, roundtables, debates, and World Café discussions.
Title & Description
Proposals should include a compelling title and a description (max 1,000 characters). However, the Summit Steering Committee has the discretion to change it to more effectively describe the session.
Presenter Guidelines
Each session can have up to five presenters. The person submitting the proposal is the session organizer and main point of contact. The organizer is responsible for coordinating with presenters, PCRG staff, and the Summit Steering Committee.
Final Submissions
Proposals must include contact details for all presenters. If selected, presenters must promptly provide bios and headshots.
Successful Proposals will:
Be complete.
Clearly articulate the session’s focus and learning objectives.
Provide concrete examples, practical tools, or research-based insights.
Offer actionable takeaways for attendees.
Feature diverse presenters with relevant experience and perspectives.
Address timely and relevant issues for the community development sector.
Avoid promotional content for a specific organization or program.
Present strategies or models that can be replicated and applied elsewhere.
Topics of Interest
We encourage sessions that explore one or more of the following topic areas – and/or answer the guiding questions below:
Community & Economic Development
Access to capital and funding opportunities.
Navigating today’s political and economic landscape.
Real estate finance, design, and development:
Affordable rental housing (LIHTC 9% and 4%).
Black and minority homeownership programs.
Homeownership creation and wealth-building strategies.
Comprehensive planning for inclusive communities.
Future of business districts and small business support.
Youth engagement in community development.
Economic Mobility & Advancement
Bank and community initiatives fostering economic mobility.
Programs supporting Black and minority developers.
Financial institutions’ role in small business growth.
Innovative financial empowerment programs.
Mental health services and reducing stigma in underserved communities.
Transit-oriented development and its impact.
Community Organizations of Tomorrow
Collaborative partnerships and collective impact models.
Innovative programming that maximizes community engagement.
Community organizing strategies for inclusive development.
Emerging leadership strategies for executives and boards.
Key Questions for Proposals
What strategies ensure a strong start for an initiative of program?
How can success be measured, sustained, and expanded?
What lessons have been learned from past challenges and successes?
How do you identify when a program isn’t working, and what steps can be taken to adapt and improve?
Additional Considerations for Session Proposals
Proposals outside the listed topics should clearly demonstrate their impact on equity and equality in underserved communities. Sessions that align with PCRG’s mission and showcase lessons learned from diverse organizations — including nonprofits, government, activist groups, businesses, and foundations — will be prioritized.
Proposals may also explore how regional partnerships, state, and national policies influence community and economic development. Relevant policies include the Community Reinvestment Act, Fair Housing Act, Neighborhood Assistance Program, Community Development Block Grants, government budgets, Land Banking, Land Trusts, and minority homeownership initiatives.
Submission Process
Visit pcrg.org/summit to submit your proposal. Deadline: 5 p.m. on March 21, 2025. Let’s put equity into action — one session at a time. We look forward to your proposals!
Need Help?
If you’re unsure how to structure your session, need help identifying co-presenters, or want to discuss your idea, contact Bobby Dennis, Director of Logistics & Summit Coordinator, at 412-277-5691, or email cdsummit@pcrg.org
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