Planning for the future is complicated. The myriad factors that influence a community’s discussions and the decisions that follow occur at many levels and on many topics. The Foundation believes that the early and deep articulation of a community’s “heart and soul”—those unique elements that attract its citizens and keep them there—provides essential cultural handrails to guide and stabilize the community in its planning process. Even with a sound understanding of local character, though, communities must still grapple with deciding where and how to grow, balancing the future with the past, accommodating new people and new voices, and a host of other questions.

In this issue of Scenarios, we consider a number of ways to help small cities and towns make good and lasting decisions. An individual's decision to settle in a town and get involved is essential to a flourishing community, which is lovingly etched by Scott Russell Sanders in his essay, “Home Ground.” Consistent with that power and responsibility to engage in a place, we profile a low-tech, high-touch tool called the “Chip Game” that encourages individual citizens to help decide the appropriate locations for the growth that is sure to come.

Beyond the purely individual perspective, our local elected officials must render decisions on behalf of entire communities. Their actions often spark controversy that can lead to division rather than collaboration, acrimony rather than harmony, and entrenchment rather than proactive implementation. Our interview with Pat Field of the Consensus Building Institute explores CBI’s use of proven techniques and community leadership to build strong relationships and help solve seemingly intractable problems.

And to show that this approach can work on the ground, we've profiled Hinesburg, Vermont, where individuals, elected officials, and town staff have come together to articulate and realize a collective vision. Low- and high-tech decision-support tools along with citizen participation and community-building efforts have helped to fuel Hinesburg's success.

If you find this issue of Scenarios as inspiring as we do, then please join us in October when we convene our second annual conference, CommunityMatters (Oct. 23-25).  Located on the exemplary and beautiful waterfront in Burlington, Vermont, the conference will bring leading thinkers and practitioners together with elected officials, citizen planners and planning professionals to share ideas and practical solutions. Registration is limited to 220 people, so please sign up soon at www.communitymatters.org. We hope to see you there and, in the meantime, good luck tackling the important decisions in your communities.

Thank you,

William Roper
President & CEO