Inspiring Positive Change
Leaders in coastal Alabama have developed Coastal Conversations as a platform for increased civic awareness and engagement across our region.
Working together with members of our community, we will host world-class experts on critical issues like diversity and inclusion, social justice, health, education, work force development, housing, the environment, infrastructure, tourism/hospitality, leadership/civic engagement, entrepreneurship and small business.
Our goal is simple: to make our region the best place to live, work and play.
With a start-up grant from the J.L. Bedsole Foundation and facilitated by Coastal Alabama Partnership, our mission is to address challenges in our community and to create positive change.
Inspired by the success of the Studer Community Institute and Civic Con in Pensacola, FL, we will do this through hosting civic conversations, engaging expert thought leaders and developing best practices.
Let’s start the conversation and together we will inspire positive change.
Interested in learning more about our programs?
“We want to start the conversation and enable citizens and organizations to work toward effective solutions.”
— Michael Chambers, Executive Director
NEWS & NOTES


Meet Dr. Ron Ferguson
Ronald F. Ferguson is an MIT-trained economist who focuses social science research on economic, social, and educational challenges. He has been on the faculty at


Meet Chuck Marohn
As communities seek to reinvent themselves in the post-COVID era, what should their growth strategy be? Court investors…or enable entrepreneurs? Chuck Marohn, founder of Strong


Meet Costas Christ
With a dynamic career spanning decades, Costas has gained many titles: Ecotourism Pioneer, Sustainable Tourism Visionary, Award-Winning National Geographic Travel Writer – to name a