Note: This article originally aired on KTAL on July 1, 2025.
By: Joey Johnson

In partnership with the Louisiana Tech University College of Business, the Bossier Chamber of Commerce hosted the second session of Community Development Institute (CDI), a national program to train community leaders and economic development professionals, in June.

CDI trains participants to strengthen local economies and build communities. From June 16 to June 19, participants further explored the concepts they learned in session one. The curriculum included an Entrepreneurship Panel featuring the Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program and the Prize Foundation, two hands-on simulations, a tour of Barksdale Air Force Base, and a walk-through audit of the East Bank District.

Simulations are meant to fully immerse participants in various roles, allowing them to understand the associated challenges.

The Poverty Simulation assigns roles to take on the persona of people living in ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed). It highlights the difficulty in accessing resources for individuals with limited transportation or childcare options.

The Emergency Management Simulation, led by Robert Elliott, Deputy Director of the Bossier Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness, randomly assigns emergency situations to participants. They then must do their best to resolve the problem as a community leader. Scenarios range from hurricane and flooding emergencies to active shooter situations. Participants are taught the best practices for communicating during an emergency and how different levels of government can lend support. The Emergency Management Simulation is new and only at CDI Central in Louisiana.

Jessica Hemingway, co-Director of the CDI Central in Louisiana site, said, “During this session, a big focus was placed on hands-on experience and simulations to put participants in the shoes of different people who make up our community. We also showcased the many entities that support communities and what they do. Understanding the struggles that communities face and recognizing the structures in place to support them is important for the community developers who attend CDI.”

The CDI in Bossier City is a three-session program like other sites, but it differs in time frame. While other sites host participants for one week per year, the Bossier City version has participants complete all three week-long sessions within one year.