Community Heart & Soul

Last week Great Falls, South Carolina Community Heart & Soul hosted a “Gather Round the Fire” event to roast some hot dogs, connect with the community and get their stories. Story-gathering is an important part of the Heart & Soul process, and this event was a great way to bring residents together to learn what matters most to them and for the future of the community. Click below to learn more and see some photos from the event. https://lnkd.in/eEJ2X8tp #CommunityHeartandSoul #whatmattersmost #involveeveryone #communityengagement #residentdriven

At Community Heart & Soul, we’re on a mission to build stronger, healthier, and more economically vibrant small cities and towns. Learn about five key benefits of Community Heart & Soul: 1. Pride is restored. 2. New leaders and volunteers emerge. 3. Trust is built. 4. Downtowns are reenergized. 5. History and culture are honored. Ready to shape the future of your community? Contact us today to learn more. https://lnkd.in/et5G7eDY #CommunityHeartandSoul #whatmattersmost #involveeveryone

In this recent webinar from Community Heart & Soul with ICMA - International City/County Management Association, you’ll hear how community engagement with #CommunityHeartandSoul deepens resident involvement while producing compelling action plans and exciting results, from increased funding to renewed community pride. The speakers shared success stories from towns that have utilized Community Heart & Soul. Watch the recording and learn more about how our resident-driven process engages the entire population of a town in identifying what they love most about their community, what future they want for it, and how to achieve it. https://lnkd.in/e6r6bEQv #involveeveryone #whatmattersmost #communityengagement

As Ben Speggen writes in this great piece, the residents of the Community Hearty & Soul town Postville, Iowa, embrace their motto ‘Hometown to the World’ by being intentionally welcoming and working to write their city’s narrative of a brighter future today. Learn more about how Our Postville Community Heart and Soul is involving everyone and uniting residents by asking them to reflect on what matters most about their community, what future they want for it, and how to achieve it. https://lnkd.in/e8Rk5SxD #CommunityHeartandSoul #whatmattersmost #involveeveryone

We’re at the 2024 Philanthropy Leads Conference this week, presented by the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance, diving into the issues and opportunities unique to the philanthropic landscape. Join members of our team at #IPACon2024 for the inspiring session, "Unsung Heroes: Catalyzing Grassroots and Community Leaders," as they discuss the lasting impact of Community Heart & Soul in small cities and towns across the US. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from these incredible leaders and enhance your community partnerships! Interested in learning more about ways to work together to transform communities? https://bit.ly/47ZlMeR #CommunityHeartandSoul #whatmattersmost #involveeveryone #philanthropy #communityleadership #civicengagement

Are you interested in more effective small-town community engagement? Join this free webinar on Tues. Oct. 8 at 1pm EDT in partnership with ICMA - International City/County Management Association to learn about how inclusive community engagement helps small cities and towns identify and achieve meaningful community and economic development goals. Hear from Community Heart & Soul President, Mark Sherman, Michele Bannon, Mayor and former City Clerk for the City of Carbondale, PA and Annie Short, Project Director for Grants, City of Mendota, IL about their experiences firsthand with how the Community Heart & Soul model transformed their communities. Don’t miss it – register today!  https://lnkd.in/e_xRxvuM #CommunityHeartandSoul #whatmattersmost #involveveryone #communityengagement #webinar #economicdevelopment

On the latest EngagingCities Fireside Chats podcast episode, our very own Mark Sherman, President of Community Heart & Soul, is interviewed by host Kelly Hickler, AICP, IAP2, on how Community Heart & Soul empowers residents to shape their towns’ futures and build stronger communities based on what matters most to everyone. Listen to the full episode now! https://lnkd.in/emqUnGFG #CommunityHeartandSoul #whatmattersmost #involveeveryone #EngagingCitiesFiresideChats #communityengagement #communitydevelopment #podcast

🎉 Congratulations to the Mt. Tabor Preservation Project on this well-deserved honor from the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) and Local History! This award recognizes primarily volunteer-operated organizations that best display the qualities of vigor, scholarship, and imagination in their work. This project started as a story as part of Community Heart & Soul and supported by our partner, PA Humanities. Congratulations to all the community volunteers that have made Mt Tabor a success story. #CommunityHeartandSoul #whatmattersmost #involveeveryone #aaslh2024 #mttaborpreservationproject 

Last week along with our partner the Legacy Foundation, Inc., we held a Community Heart & Soul launch event for the residents of Lake County, Indiana. Events like this are a great way to engage the community, build new connections and give residents the opportunity to share their visions and hopes for the future. Interactive activities and collaboration among participants help members of the community get a better understanding of the Heart & Soul process and begin identifying what matters most to residents of the Lake County communities. “There are a lot of hidden voices that don’t have the opportunity or don’t know how to contribute,” said Ian Moran, Community Heart & Soul Senior Program Associate, “It’s more successful for the community when everybody plays a part. Once people go through that process, they can understand everything around them with a plan of action to carry into the future.” https://lnkd.in/edRaEn6i #CommunityHeartandSoul #whatmattersmost #involveeveryone #communityfoundation #CommunityEngagement