Through actively seeking the collective wisdom of all residents, including those whose voices are often missing, Community Heart & Soul brings people together to build stronger, healthier and more economically vibrant small cities and towns based on what matters most to everyone.
We devoted more than a decade working with small cities and towns to develop a community development model that empowers residents to shape the future of their communities. Community Heart & Soul fosters teamwork, engagement, and energy from within the community.
Community Heart & Soul is a catalyst for positive change that provides a roadmap for small cities and towns to build a brighter future based on what matters most to everyone. Community Heart & Soul works because the community works together to make it happen.
Phase 1:
Lay the Groundwork: Build a solid foundation by identifying partners and leaders, spreading the word, and developing a road map for successful Heart & Soul community engagement.
Phase 2:
Explore Your Community: Gather residents’ stories and build relationships across divides. Identify what matters most, which leads to creation of Heart & Soul Statements. Examine how Statements are affected by community trends and conditions.
Phase 3:
Make Decisions: Guided by Heart & Soul Statements, identify options for the future and base decisions on what matters most to everyone and best enhances and preserves the community’s “Heart & Soul.”
Phase 4:
Take Action: Partners and residents work together to take action and ownership. Heart & Soul Statements are applied to future decision-making and become part of the fabric of the community.
From Down East, Maine, to the Heartland, to the Pacific Northwest, Community Heart & Soul projects are underway creating positive change that is resident-driven and recognizes both the unique character of a town and residents’ deep emotional connection to where they live.
Learn moreSounds great! What’s next?
If community development and decision-making based on what matters most to everyone sounds like a great idea, and creating plans that lead to action sounds like the way to go, then let us connect you with resources to learn what it takes to get started.
Here are a few steps we suggest and a link to the resources to get you started:
Why wait? Let us help you discover your town’s Heart & Soul and get you on the
path to building a community that is stronger, healthier and more economically vibrant!