John Mejia, Associate Director, Student and Community Relations, University of Vermont

Every single town/city with an institution of higher education needs to attend the ITGA conference. The town/gown relationship is perhaps the most difficult to maintain as it has so many intersections. At the same time, it is also the one that can spark in communities the love, care, and a sense of belonging that we all yearn for. This is a community that is generous with support and enthusiastic in cheering each other on. I am extremely grateful to be a member.

This is THE go-to conference for learning about community engagement. Professionals from all aspects of city/government/higher education benefit from the workshops, networking and inspiration that occurs. I always leave inspired. I hope to bring others next year.

The ITGA annual conference is the absolute best place to connect with other university community-relations professionals and civic leaders. I always leave inspired and return home eager to share and apply some of the best practices I learned from my peers across the country. 

Every single town/city with an institution of higher education needs to attend the ITGA conference. The town/gown relationship is perhaps the most difficult to maintain as it has so many intersections. At the same time, it is also the one that can spark in communities the love, care, and a sense of belonging that we all yearn for. This is a community that is generous with support and enthusiastic in cheering each other on. I am extremely grateful to be a member.

Unlike other large-scale conferences, ITGA focuses on the community connection between institutions and municipalities. This is the conference I've always been looking for as everyone in attendance has the same goal in mind - how can schools and communities work better, to be better.

I look forward to the ITGA Conference as it's different than most. People are excited, energized and eager to learn and network. Everyone is so kind and welcoming. It just has a great overall vibe to it.

There are so many town-gown innovators in our midst. Attending this conference helps me to connect with other people who are just as engaged in campus and community spaces. I get to learn and network and see the possibilities for affecting real change.

Members of the Town and Gown Association of Ontario, Canada's town-gown organization, were very happy to have attended the ITGA conference. Learning from colleagues in the US and UK was a valuable experience for our members and shows the power of creating international partnerships.