CDI Louisiana

The Community Development Institute experience would not be as impactful without our instructors. These speakers share their experiences and insights with a room full of eager community leaders and really embody the essence of community development. Not only that, they help our participants create lifelong connections as well.

From Identifying Stakeholders to Cybersecurity, Leadership to Workforce 0-5, we appreciate every one of these speakers for sharing their time and talents with us last week, for CDI Louisiana's first training of the year!

A huge THANK YOU to CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System for your assistance and volunteers in executing a meaningful poverty simulation. We couldn’t have done it without you, the Bossier Chamber Diplomats and CDI Louisiana alumni.

The CDI Louisiana Playbook continues with organization, economics, third places, healthy communities and poverty. Conversations are hard, conversations are real and a better understanding for what IS community is appreciated.

CDI Louisiana 2026 day two in the books. The day started with a chaotic simulation of Newtonia. We continued after lunch with Strategic Planning and Visioning, Ethics and Work Force 0-5.

Exciting News: The 3rd cohort of fellows has convened for the 2026 CDI Louisiana! Year 1 is in session with the Community Playbook! Fellows represent 5 states and a variety of professionals and elected officials. Welcome Kristopher Kelley as a Class Director for Year One!

Thank you to our sponsors:
Bonvenu Bank, LA Tech College of Business, Cyber Innovation Center, Barksdale Federal Credit Union, CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System, Louisiana Tech Research Institute and Paragon Press.

Join us in congratulating our newest PCED holders in the state of Louisiana!

Congrats to

⭐️Courtney Hornsby of the City of West Monroe

⭐️Nicole Wilhite of Bonvenu Bank

The Professional Community and Economic Developer (PCED) certification is earned after completing three years of training through Community Development Institute as well as sitting for the exam! In just two years of the CDI Louisiana program, we have increased the number of leaders with the PCED credential in our state from 6 to 16!

Congrats again to these new PCED holders!

🌟 Congrats to CDI Central in Louisiana graduate and Executive Director of Renesting Project, Inc., Emily Jo Manchester-Sanden for being named the 2025 Young Professional of the Year!

🌟 Huge Congratulations to Emily Jo Manchester-Sanden! We’re so proud to celebrate our very own Executive Director of the Renesting Project as the 2025 Young Professional of the Year—selected from an incredible group of 40 Under 40 leaders.

Emily Jo’s heart for service, passion for our mission, and commitment to lifting our community higher inspire us every single day. This honor is so well-deserved!

Join us in congratulating her on this amazing achievement! 🎉👏

Join us in congratulating our most recent graduates of CDI Central in Louisiana who have also earned their Professional Community and Economic Developer (PCED) certification!

Congrats to
⭐️Christian Bergeron of COLAB
⭐️ Alexis Kondratyk of Turner Construction Company
⭐️ Austin Vaughn of The Coordinating & Development Corporation

Participants in the Community Development Institute program are eligible to sit for the PCED exam to earn this recognition after completing all three years of the program.

Congrats again to these three, new PCED holders!