This is a question the JCLC Board of Directors (BOD) has received frequently since announcing the location of JCLC 2026. When selecting a site, the BOD took the following ideas into consideration:
- We try to alternate East and West Coast.
- We considered travel restrictions that limited some attendance and/or support to JCLC 2022.
- We sought to find an affordable location considering everything from airport distance to convention center, hotels, and restaurants.
When we visited Spokane, we were welcomed by a surprisingly diverse community embedded into the life of the city, not just on display for our visit. We learned with and about the Spokane Tribe, a rich arts culture, the urban landscape, and support for small businesses and emerging entrepreneurs.
Finally, the City itself has stepped up in a way we’ve not seen previously. They welcome diverse conferences regularly, especially those which have also been held in Albuquerque, the site of JCLC 2018. We believe this site, along the Spokane River, will hold a special place in your hearts after the conference. Cities throughout the United States don’t always look diverse at first glance. But once you connect into the local community, you will find what we all know to be true. Each community is diverse.