More than 1,000 people from across the country and world will converge on Birmingham this week for the 43rd annual Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) conference.

This is the third time the Magic City has hosted the four-day conference focused on networking and bringing ideas together, said Felicia Mitchell, co-coordinator of the 2018 Birmingham NUSA. The event is expected to have an economic impact of $785,000 on Birmingham and generate about 757 hotel nights.

About 100 city of Birmingham employees will volunteer at the May 23-26 conference that will take place at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel. Local shops and businesses will also be exhibitors at the event.

Conference attendees are expected to primarily stay at the Sheraton, Westin, Tutwiler and Elyton hotels downtown, and the Doubletree Hotel in Five Points South.

Mitchell said conference attendees are coming from 33 states and other countries like Japan and Nigeria. All of Birmingham's neighborhood officials also are invited to attend.

"It is a big deal for Birmingham because with our new administration this is one of the best starts for our mayor who is all about neighborhoods and revitalization," she said. "NUSA is about revitalization, neighborhood and community. To have the support from Mayor (Randall) Woodfin is amazing."

The conference will feature more than 60 workshops, designed to show attendees what neighborhoods are doing across the nation, region and in Birmingham. The topics include: connecting clients to community mental health resources; stabilizing neighborhoods; promoting affordable homes; reinventing law enforcement; drugs and crime in the community; and living in welcoming, diverse neighborhoods.

The award for the best neighborhood revitalization of the year will be presented on Friday. Woodlawn is one of four finalists.

Conference keynote speakers are: Michael Moore, senior pastor of Faith Chapel, who leads a non-denominational congregation of thousands in Birmingham. He is the founder of Mike Moore Ministries, the outreach arm of Faith Chapel;

Dr. Max Michael helped create Congregations for Public Health, a not-for-profit organization of six African-American churches in Birmingham whose mission is to address public health issues in a one-mile radius surrounding each church. He established the Community Health Innovation Awards, which encourages local community-based organizations to apply for a grant that requires participation in innovation and grant writing workshops;

Dennis Harris, the central outreach director and staff pastor at Church of the Highlands in Birmingham. He oversees the church's Dream Center Ministries and Disaster Response.

Brownville Heights Neighborhood Association President Harry Gidden will attend his 29th conference this year.

"When I first started -- it's been a long time since 1989 -- you get a chance to meet a lot of people from different states and different cities," he said. "It gives you an opportunity to meet diverse people and to learn new ideas on how to be a strong community."

Gidden said Birmingham residents can learn a lot from hearing about what other cities and neighborhoods are doing. This year, he said, he is concerned about crime, and wants to learn more about what Birmingham can do to reduce acts of violence.

Overall, Gidden said the 2018 conference will showcase Birmingham, and how it has progressed since the 1960s. "It will show the nation that Birmingham is on the rise," he said.

Prior to the conference, tours of several points of interest in Birmingham will take place, including the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, the museums of Birmingham, and the Crestwood, Norwood, Brownsville, Roebuck Springs and Ensley neighborhoods

A highlight of the conference will be the mayoral panel on Thursday featuring Woodfin; Jackson, Miss. Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba; and New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell.

At the panel, titled "Rebirth, Recreate, Revitalize: How New Leaders are Re-energizing Neighborhood Pride in the South," the newly-elected mayors will share their thoughts on what is takes to recharge communities to bring about change beyond their city borders.

This year's event will also feature the inaugural NUSA youth conference. This conference is for young people ages 13 to 18 who are involved in student government or want to learn more about local government.

"It is our hope that by the time they leave this conference they will not only learn about what city government is, they will have the energy and drive to be involved," said Arron Jackson, conference co-coordinator, who also serves as program manager in the Birmingham Division of Youth Services.

Youth conference attendees will hear from Woodfin and City Council President Pro Tem Jay Roberson. They will also have the chance to network and hold a mock election.

Registration for the youth conference is open through Tuesday.

For more information, on the NUSA conference and to register for the youth conference click here.