The Center for Community Progress' VAD Academy is a virtual bootcamp designed for public, private, nonprofit, and community leaders confronting challenges related to vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated (VAD) properties in their communities.

Thanks for attending the 2024 VAD Academy on June 5-6! Scroll to the agenda below to download slides and additional resources.

Why Attend?

Vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties harm neighbors and neighborhoods. They threaten public health and safety, keep residents from building wealth, and destabilize local government finances.

Breaking the cycle of vacancy requires a comprehensive approach. But many communities don't know where to start.

Start with VAD Academy. Community Progress is the only national nonprofit dedicated to helping communities tackle the full cycle of vacant property revitalization. At VAD Academy, we'll break down complex systems and share smart strategies for resident engagement, fostering code compliance, and reforming policies and practices to be more equitable, efficient, and effective.

Our goal is to equip leaders with the knowledge to return properties to purposeful use.

What You Will Learn

During VAD Academy, our instructors will guide you through critical topics related to property and neighborhood revitalization. Whether you work with urban, suburban, or rural communities, the VAD Academy curriculum will help you combat widespread abandonment and neighborhood decline.

Each day features field experts discussing vital topics related to VAD properties. After the sessions, instructors will be available for office hours, allowing you to engage and ask further questions.

Register now and take the next step towards revitalizing your community. Learn from the best in the field and connect with peers dedicated to building safer, healthier, more resilient neighborhoods. Secure your spot today and be a part of the change!

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5


10:00 AM–10:15 AM: Opening Remarks | Recording

10:15–11:15 AM: Understanding the Causes of VAD and Frameworks for Solutions | Recording | Slides

11:15 AM–12:15 PM: Strategic Code Compliance 101 | Recording | Slides

12:15 PM–1:00 PM: Lunch Break

1:00–2:00 PM: Delinquent Property Tax Enforcement 101 | Recording | Slides

2:00–3:00 PM: Land Banks and Land Banking 101 | Recording | Slides

3:00–4:00 PM: Office Hours

THURSDAY, JUNE 6


10:00–11:00 AM: Vacant Land Stewardship 101 | Recording | Slides

11:00 AM–12:00 PM: Creative Placemaking 101 | Recording | Slides

12:00 PM–1:00 PM: Lunch Break

1:00–2:00 PM: Resident-First Revitalization | Recording | Slides

2:00–3:00 PM: Office Hours

3:00–3:15 PM: Closing Remarks

Download all additional presentation resources.

For more information, check out our FAQ page or contact Thamarrah Jones, Director of Conferences and Events, at [email protected] if you have further questions.

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“[The VAD Academy allowed me] to clearly see how all the different aspects of our work connect and how they can be leveraged for the betterment of our communities.”

- 2019 VAD Academy Attendee