Community Conference

Get hands-on, make your neighborhood a better place

Overview

The annual Orange County Community Conference provides Orange County residents an opportunity to learn about innovative ways to improve neighborhoods. Workshops offer a well-rounded blend of topics for individual citizens, voluntary neighborhood organizations, homeowners associations and other community groups. This year we return to an in-person conference.

WHEN & WHERE

Saturday, October 14, 2023
7:30 am to 2:00 pm
3800 S. Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando 32829

Virtual on Orange County's Social Media Platforms:

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS

Session A: 9 am – 10 am

To Be or Not to Be: Avoid Becoming a Fraud Victim – The Orange County Consumer Protection Office is tasked with a wide range of consumer safety concerns and conducting free education & outreach programs. This office consists of well-experienced staff, who apply their extensive customer service and investigative skills to help safeguard consumers against unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent business practices. Attendees of this workshop can expect to learn about the complaint types that fall under staff’s purview, including the enforcement authority for Vehicle Trespass Towing and Immobilization Devices, and methods used to conciliate 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. Do you ever wish you had free legal advice when it comes to neighborhood-related legal documents, processes, or practices? Presented by a local attorney that specializes in this field, this workshop is what you are looking for!

The BIG Merger: Orange County Code Enforcement Merges with Neighborhood Services Division to Improve Communities – The Code Enforcement Division recently merged with the Neighborhood Services Division as part of Orange County’s plan to revamp its approach to code enforcement and gaining compliance. This workshop will explain how the new approach will embrace a smarter, more collaborative, and efficient approach to bring code violations into compliance. Additionally, you will hear how the changes will positively impact your community and get answers to questions about code violations.

Session B: 10:15 am – 11:15am

Vision Zero: No Sugar, No Calories? Only Safer Roadways – Ranking in the top ten in a category is normally celebrated; however, landing on that prominent list for the most dangerous metro areas in the country is alarming to say the least. In August 2022, the Orange County Board of Commissioners adopted Vision Zero, a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries by focusing on designing 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 through its ”4E” approach: engineering, enforcement, education, and emergency services.

Show Me the Money! Grant Opportunities to Beautify Neighborhoods – How does your neighborhood entranceway look? Can it use some curb appeal? Will updating the entryway sign, adding new plants, or fixing the damaged wall help foster pride in your neighborhood? If you answer “YES” to any of these questions, attend this informative workshop to find out how the Neighborhood Beautification Grant can assist your community.

Conserving, Protecting, and Enhancing the Environment – Central Florida residents fortunate to call Orange County home are blessed to breathe clean air and be surrounded by numerous lakes, rivers, and springs. 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.

Session C: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm

A Chat with Mayor Demings – Mayor Jerry L. Demings recently started his second term as Mayor of Orange County and continues to be committed to ensuring Orange County provides a quality of life that works for everyone. His commitment drives the initiatives he is implementing, including housing for all, transportation funding, economic development, and increased public safety. This interactive workshop provides the perfect setting to dialogue directly with Mayor Demings about the future and the groundwork being laid to make Orange County the “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow” by creating a culture of innovation, collaboration, and inclusiveness.

Community
Organization Awards

There are 4 Different Community Award Categories:

How To Nominate

If you would like 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.

Sponsorship

If your organization or company would like to sponsor or exhibit at our annual Orange County Community Conference, please contact Neighborhood Services Division at ocneighborhoods@ocfl.net or
(407) 836-4200.

Contact Us

Neighborhood Services Division
2450 W. 33rd Street, 2nd Floor
Orlando, Florida 32839

Email: ocneighborhoods@ocfl.net
Phone: (407) 836-4200

All e-mail sent to this address becomes part of Orange County public record. Comments received by our e-mail subsystem can be read by anyone who requests that privilege. In compliance with "Government in the Sunshine" laws, Orange County Government must make available, at request, any and all information not deemed a threat to the security of law enforcement agencies and personnel.