Lancaster2040: Thinking Beyond Boundaries Summit Slated for March 31st at the Ware Center

LANCASTER, Pa., March 13, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Tenfold (https://wearetenfold.org/) and the Coalition for Smart Growth are proud to announce the first ever Lancaster2040: Thinking Beyond Boundaries Summit (https://www.places2040summit.com), to be held March 31st at Ware Center in Downtown, Lancaster.

The Summit, originally planned for 2020, but canceled due to the pandemic, will complement the County's comprehensive plan, Places2040, by exploring how diverse county stakeholders can work together to tackle pressing County issues such as: quality affordable housing, transportation, environmental preservation, water quality, zoning, poverty, political polarization and more.

Sessions will be hosted by a broad array of government, nonprofit, business, and neighborhood leaders under the banner of "Thinking Beyond Boundaries". Each session will highlight existing projects or explore strategies for overcoming the physical, political and ideological boundaries that too often threaten progress.

Summit Committee Co-Chair and former Manheim Township Commissioner, Carol Simpson sees the conference as providing an outlet for collaboration: "We concentrate way too much these days on the things that divide us: rural vs urban, Republican vs Democrat, development vs environment, when there's almost always a way forward that is win-win for everyone." She is confident that the Summit can speak to everyone: "Every attendee should be able to find something that speaks to their interests, passions and shared goal of making Lancaster an even better place to live and work."

Sessions are organized in five tracks. Each track represents a specific way to overcome "boundary" thinking:

• Beyond My Backyard encourages participants to think about planning for their whole community
• Beyond the Bubble emphasizes the ways unlikely partners can and have come together to work on mutually benefit projects
• Beyond the Narrative dives into the ways persistent but untrue narratives hinder the work of collaboration and how data and deep listening can help correct those misconceptions
• Beyond Borders examines cooperation beyond municipal borders to address common needs
• Beyond the Plan highlights issues that are not addressed in the Places2040 plan, but should be considered.

As President of the Coalition for Smart Growth, Joshua Druce believes the summit won't just educate and inspire, but can also help move the needle on important issues. "This isn't going to be the type of summit where attendees hear some good presentations, have lunch and go home. We want attendees leaving the Ware Center fired up about returning to their communities and getting to work."

Shelby Nauman, Chief Impact Officer at Tenfold, is excited about the sheer diversity of topics, people and projects. "Even people who think they know everything going on in the County will be inspired by the work that is already in motion in Lancaster." She hopes the Summit can serve as a reminder that "Lancaster County has always been a special place because of the way we work together."

Millersville University is the Conference's venue sponsor and host. In addition to providing the conference space, its professors, students, and administrators will moderate sessions and present on the ways their research and community work inform Lancaster County's future planning.

"As President Wubah likes to remind us," says Dr. Victor DeSantis, Chief of Staff for Millersville President Dr. Daniel Wubah, "an overwhelmingly majority of Millersville graduates put down roots in the county after graduation. We see the Summit as another opportunity for Millersville to embrace its role in creating the county leaders of tomorrow."

President Dr. Wubah will deliver the Summit Keynote Address.

Keystone Property & Asset Management (https://www.keystonepam.com/) are the headline sponsor. Keystone provides expert Property and Asset Management and are invested in creating a vibrant Lancaster for all to live work and play.

Other track sponsors include: LGH-Penn Medicine, LCSWMA, and the Little Conestoga Blue/Green Corridor Project Partners, all of whom will present during the plenary session on how they are contributing to thinking beyond boundaries in their own work.

Tickets are currently priced at the early bird rate of $45 through March 1st, which includes admission to all sessions and a bagged lunch.

Tickets and Schedule are available here: https://www.places2040summit.com/

For additional information, questions, sponsorship opportunities or to discuss bulk rates and/or affordability options, send an email to: [email protected]

At a Glance: What: Lancaster2040: Thinking Beyond Boundaries
When: Thursday, March 31st 8:00 am-4:00pm
Where: The Ware Center, 42 N. Prince St, Lancaster, PA
Who: Anyone interested in contributing to the future success of Lancaster County
Cost: $45 (early bird rate, through March 1st). Includes: All sessions and bagged lunch

For further questions or to connect with organizers:
Contact: Matt Johnson
717-341-1255
[email protected]

Media Contact

Matt Johnson, Coalition For Smart Growth, 1 717-341-1255, [email protected]

SOURCE Coalition For Smart Growth