Join 1000 Friends of Florida for FREE monthly webinars on planning, development and growth issues facing Florida.

The John M. DeGrove Webinar Series honors the legacy of John M. DeGrove by convening experts to examine the most pressing planning, conservation, and growth management issues facing Florida today. These free webinars provide practical insights into legislation, policy trends, and strategies for protecting community planning and the public interest.

Inside the Comp Plan: A Guide to Shaping Your Community
November 18, 2026 | 12:00 – 1:30 PM ET

Your local government’s comprehensive plan shapes where growth goes for decades, and the update process is one of the best chances residents have to influence it. But plans are long, technical, and updated on a timeline that can stretch for years. This webinar brings together experts in land use law, citizen engagement, and comprehensive planning:

• Thomas Hawkins, J.D., AICP, of the University of Florida Levin College of Law, will explain how Florida’s comprehensive plans work and where the law gives residents a role.
• Tia Boyd, AICP, of the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR), will share what citizen academies teach us about how people build the knowledge and confidence to take part in planning.
• Chris Dougherty, AICP, of Inspire Placemaking Collective, will take us inside Citrus County’s 2050 plan update and show how resident input is shaping the draft.

Join us for a practical look at how a plan comes together, and how you can help shape yours.

This event has been approved for American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP CM 1.5, #9338932),  Florida Bar Attorneys (1.5 General CLE #2612557N)​, and Certified Floodplain Managers (1 CEC) . Additional professional certification credits pending.

2027 Florida Legislative Preview
February 17, 2027 | 12:00 – 1:30 PM ET

Join 1000 Friends of Florida’s policy team for a look at the issues expected to shape this year’s session, from growth management and community planning to conservation, water and resilience. We’ll share what’s on our radar, what’s at stake for Florida communities and how you can get involved.

Professional certification credits pending.

2027 Florida Legislative Update
April 14, 2027 | 12:00 – 1:30 PM ET

Join 1000 Friends of Florida’s policy team for a check-in on the bills we’re tracking: what’s moving, what’s stalled and where your voice can still make a difference before session ends.

Professional certification credits pending.

2027 Florida Legislative Wrap-U
May 19, 2027 | 12:00 – 1:30 PM ET

Join 1000 Friends of Florida’s policy team as we look back at the 2027 legislative session, what passed, what didn’t and what it all means for planning, conservation and resilience in Florida communities. We’ll also look at what comes next.

Professional certification credits pending.