Orange County Community Conference: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
On October 14, 2023, Orange County will host its in-person Community Conference, an annual event that provides residents an opportunity to learn about innovative ways to improve neighborhoods. This year’s workshops will offer a well-rounded blend of topics for individual citizens, voluntary neighborhood organizations, homeowners associations and other community groups.
“The purpose of the conference is to get residents and community stakeholders together to share new ideas for preserving and enhancing communities,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings. “This year’s workshops are truly impressive and will help residents take advantage of all the services the County provides.”
Workshops include:
To Be or Not to Be: Avoiding Becoming a Fraud Victim – Attendees of this workshop will learn about the complaint types that fall under the Consumer Protection Office staff, including the enforcement authority for Vehicle Trespass Towing and Immobilization Devices, and methods used to resolve those grievances and raise public awareness about unlawful business practices.
Ask A Lawyer – As a board member of a homeowners’ or condominium association, you have a legal responsibility to your community. In return, residents of communities with associations expect their associations to meet certain responsibilities. This workshop offers free legal advice when it comes to neighborhood-related legal documents, processes and practices.
The BIG Merger: Orange County Code Enforcement Merges with Neighborhood Services Division to Improve Communities – This workshop explains how the County’s new approach to code enforcement and gaining compliance embraces a smarter, more collaborative and efficient way to bring code violations into compliance.
Vision Zero: No Sugar, No Calories? Only Safer Roadways – Staff from the Orange County Traffic Engineering Division will detail the County’s strategies for Vision Zero and its goals to eliminate roadway casualties and dangerous conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists by 2040.
Show Me the Money! Grant Opportunities for Beautiful Neighborhoods – How does your neighborhood entranceway look? Will updating the entryway sign, adding new plants or fixing the damaged wall help foster pride in your neighborhood? Attend this informative workshop to find out how the Neighborhood Beautification Grant can assist your community.
Conserving, Protecting and Enhancing the Environment – This workshop, presented by Orange County Environmental Protection Division, will highlight a variety of programs and initiatives such as sustainability, Florida-Friendly Landscaping and other programs that impact residents, businesses and associations.
A Chat with Mayor Demings – This interactive workshop provides the perfect setting to interact directly from Mayor Demings about the groundwork being laid to make Orange County the “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow” by creating a culture of innovation, collaboration, and inclusiveness.
Another highlight of the Conference are the Community Organizations Awards, which include the following four categories: Monica Harris Spires Excellence in Leadership; Excellence in Community Building Projects; Excellence in Neighborly Service; and Clean and Attractive Neighborhood of the Year.
To register, go to 25th Annual Community Conference. To nominate an Orange County resident or organization for one of the above awards, complete the nomination form and email it to Alina Rivera Campo at Alina.RiveraCampo@ocfl.net.