The recently founded Institute for Vibrant and Engaged Communities, based at Georgia Southern University, is launching a series of three “Building a Vibrant Bulloch: Uniting for Our Community’s Future” conversations with one Thursday, Sept. 19, from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. in Brooklet at the Randy Newman Community Center, 209 Railroad St.

Further community conversations are slated for Statesboro, specifically in the Russell Union Ballroom on the Georgia Southern campus on Saturday, Sept. 28, 1-2:30 pm.; and in Portal, Thursday, Oct. 3, 6-7:30 p.m. in the Portal Middle High School Cafeteria.

Although the pace and shape of development occurring in Bulloch County are bound to be frequent topics, the conversations are open to any subject of shared interest to local people as they strategize for the future, said Candice Bodkin, co-director of the institute.

“Anyone is welcome at any of the events, they do not need to live in the particular event location to participate,” she wrote.