Strategic Discussions and Forums
The Roanoke Collaboration Project periodically conducts public strategic discussion events and forums. Each is conducted with a large audience and features discussants who are knowledgeable about aspects of a selected topic of importance to the Roanoke Valley.
Each demonstrates courageous collaboration and includes a wide range of perspectives. Some of these events are conducted with a moderated panel of discussants and some involve audience interaction. All are faithful to the Pledge for Constructive Dialogue.
The theme for our 2026 strategic discussion events and forums is, "Courageous collaborations: Bridging and transcending politics. Is the American Dream alive and well in the Roanoke Valley?"
Highlights
Date and Topic Pending
To be scheduled in April 2026.
May 8, 2025
Immigration Healthcare Housing
Group discussions, moderated by local experts, addressed the topic of affordable housing. Experts included:
- Dana Ackley - President of EQ Leader Inc
- Cynthia Lawrence - Director of Workforce Development at Carilion Clinic
- Dr. Cynthia Morrow - Regional Director for Southwest Virginia at Virginia Department of Health
- Jaime McGuire - Immigration attorney with Amaryllis Law Firm
- Erin Burcham - CEO of Roanoke Blacksburg Innovation Alliance / Technology Council
Topics raised included:
- Economic and other benefits of immigration.
- Multiple challenging dimensions associated with immigrants.
- Roanoke Valley had a long history of supporting immigrants.
- Medicaid cuts could cause rural Virginia hospitals to close.
October 17, 2024
Local Elections
William Fralin, former Delegate from the Roanoke area, moderated the meeting. Participants listened to Tracy Clark, President of the Virginia State Association for Registrars, to learn about our current election process. Breakout sessions with groups of bi-partisan stakeholders discussed topics that included:
- Sources of election integrity doubt.
- How to insure safe and fair elections.
- How to help the general public trust the election process.
April 11, 2024
Affordable Housing
Group discussions, moderated by local experts, addressed the topic of affordable housing. Experts included:
- Brent Cochran - President of Renewal3
- Frederick Gusler - Director at Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority
- John Hull - Executive Director of the Roanoke Regional Partnership
- Susan McLarty - Director of the Greenville Homeless Alliance
Questions raised included:
- What is the one most important factor for citizens to understand about affordable housing and the role of the private and public sectors?
- As we envision a future with affordable housing that serves the whole community, what is the most important thing that we will need to start doing, stop doing, or do differently to get us there?
- How can polarity mapping help us understand the dimensions of tradition and progress?
October 5, 2023
Develop Critical Topic Questions
Citizens from communities across the Roanoke Valley, working in breakout groups, identified three topics as critical and in need of attention: gun violence, affordable housing, race relations. Questions raised included:
- Who is shooting? How are youth getting guns? What is the root cause?
- How can we remove barriers and incentivize more (and a variety of) affordable housing stock options – with public / private partnerships?
- Why do you think Roanoke is so persistently segregated?
May 16, 2023
Moving Roanoke Forward
Participants in small groups discussed what they see as some of the Roanoke Valley's biggest challenges and opportunities. Questions raised included:
- What does our community have the most difficulty talking about?
- How do we build community skills in constructive dialogue?
October 3, 2022
Enhance Roanoke Valley Collaboration
Participants in small groups explored ideas to enhance the level of collaboration across the Roanoke Valley. Topics discussed included:
- One Valley, but many different neighborhoods.
- Many agendas, some overlap, and some compete.
