Mayor Buddy Dyer is calling on residents to join him at the fourth annual Neighborhood & Community Summit: Partnering to Strengthen Orlando. Structured around Mayor Dyer’s Strengthen Orlando plan, the Summit will bring together neighborhood, arts & cultural, civic, community-based and faith-based leaders to gain insight on innovative and exciting City initiatives, discuss community building opportunities and create partnerships that will support our residents and Strengthen Orlando during the nationwide economic crisis.

Summit workshop topics range from foreclosure prevention to improving communication tools to grant writing. The Summit will specifically focus on the Mayors Matching Grant program which gives attendees real world examples of successful collaboration projects. Projects include:

• Helping families explore effective ways to address issues such as conflict resolution, character development, neighborhood safety, domestic violence, personal health, self esteem and problem solving. This program was made possible by a partnership between the Devereux Foundation the Grand Avenue Primary Learning Center.
   
• Improving students’ progress from basic comprehension to a deeper understanding of math and science through games, independent projects, competitions, academic related field trips and direct instruction. This program was developed by Washington Shores Elementary School.

At the Mayor’s State of the City Address, he unveiled his Strengthen Orlando initiative. This comprehensive plan is designed to identify activities to help create jobs, provide economic stimulus, connect residents with vital resources and information and ensure that Orlando remains on track for a prosperous future.

As a part of the Strengthen Orlando initiative, Mayor Dyer pledged to host Responding Tours with District Commissioners, City staff members and partner agencies from across Central Florida to hear from residents and offer direct resources and information. This year, the Summit will serve as the Mayor's first Strengthen Orlando Responding Tour. City staff will be on hand to offer direct resources, information and create partnerships that will support our residents and Strengthen Orlando during the nationwide economic downturn. Participants will have the opportunity to attend a variety of workshops that offer practical tools for helping our community weather tough economic challenges.