The Orton Family Foundation was formed in 1995 to help citizens in small cities and towns meet the challenges of planning for their future. It started by creating tools and software that emphasized visualization, analysis and alternative scenarios to help townspeople quickly see and clearly understand the range of choices for shaping the future of their communities and the consequences of those choices. In 2008 the Foundation undertook a $10M initiative to develop its “Heart & Soul Community Planning” approach, a new way to engage citizens in visioning and planning as a pathway to vibrant, enduring communities. This Request for Proposals is part of that initiative.
The need for a new approach is predicated on our belief that land use planning in America has yet to live up to its full potential to engage a broad, representative base of local citizens to define and shape the future of their communities. Traditional quantitative approaches to planning use important data about demographic and economic shifts, but frequently fail to account for the particular ways people relate to their surroundings, and usually ignore or discount more nuanced elements like shared values, beliefs and quirky customs that create community. Collecting data about attributes without a sense of shared purpose fails to inform or motivate citizens enough for them to make tough, consistent decisions. We believe that engaged residents drive innovation, take action and create enduring success.
Every town has authenticity, character, spirit—its own heart and soul. One-size-fits-all development means that many towns in America have lost what makes them unique, those special qualities and distinctive characteristics that keep a place from becoming Anywhere, USA. The Foundation works with communities to counter such consequences, first, by helping residents ask each other what they value most about their town and, second, by placing those shared values at the center of the planning process.
Why is a town’s uniqueness important? Why is settling for Anywhere USA a poor choice? Because community character and spirit create differentiation, and differentiation creates social and economic value. A town must discover and describe, protect and support its unique qualities to remain economically vital and prosperous in a competitive world. Distinctiveness makes a place stand out, makes it desirable, and ultimately builds enduring cultural, social and economic success.
Still want to know more? Watch our video, Unlocking Potential: Heart & Soul Community Planning.