How Engagement Leads to Action That Actually Gets Implemented –

do it the Heart & Soul© Way!

Joan WagnerSenior Associate

Orton Family Foundation

Leanne TingaySenior Associate

Orton Family Foundation

Towns completed Foundations

Currently in process

Active interest in Community Heart & SoulApplied Community Heart & Soul

Funders

H&S Philosophy of Engagement

Getting a Community’s Ideas Heard

Discover What Matters

Data to Action

ON THE MENU TODAY…

Learning Objectives

1. Discover tools for understanding the full scope of who is in your

community and how they connect to downtown.

2. Learn innovative strategies for gathering a community’s ideas that

could benefit downtown.

3. Use data from community stories to mobilize support for actions

that can make a positive difference in downtowns.

Why Main Street and Heart & Soul?

Rediscover what’s special about your town

• It makes sure you know who is in your community.

• You hear from alldemographics.

• You prioritize ideas and actions. Together.

• It’s about where you bring the table so everyone can have a seat.

Planning

Residents

Police/ Fire

PTA

Youth

Public Works

Econ Dev

Busin. Owners

Resident Task

Forces Churches

Schools

Council/ Commissions

Shelters/ Kitchens

Gov’t services & Assist.

ClubsService Orgs.

Siloes working, sometimes on similar goals, but unaware of

efforts/mission of others

Enduring vibrant communities require government, community,

Non-profits working together

Knowing your Community’s

Heart & Soul(your common cause)

Econ Dev Plan

Home & Business

Improvements

Soup Kitchen

Comp Plan

School Bond

Backpack Program

Downtown Plan or

Main Street

Single Haul Trash

ZoningLand Use/Dev

N’HoodWatch

Homes for Homeless

Youth Programs

Resident Task

Forces

PTA

Farm to

Table

Pulling Weeds &

Park

W

It starts with a story!

Intentional Broad

Thick Thin

Thin and Broad

Thick and Intentional

let’s gather a story!

Small, convenient shops.

Arts.

14. HEART & SOUL STATEMENTS AND TOWN COMPREHENSIVE PLANSVALIDATING HEART & SOUL STATEMENTS

1Step: 2 3Managing ExpectationsPhase 3: Make Decisions1Step: 2 3

Theme

We treasure our friendly community with its safe, close-knit family feel &

generational continuity which keeps proud history alive, creating a warm & welcoming atmosphere for residents &

visitors alike

Impact/Feasibility Matrix

IMPACT

FEASIBILITY

Lower Higher

Low

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igh

erCREATE THIS MATRIX ON

FLIPCHART PAPER

(Ex.

: val

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to c

om

mu

nit

y; s

cop

e an

d d

epth

of

imp

act)

(Ex.: effort, resources, cost consideration)

Thank you for joining usas we come together to build successful

futures for small towns in Virginia.