Community Level Strategic Planning

Working Definition of Community Community: a place-oriented process of interrelated actions through which members of a local population express a shared sense of identity while engaging in the common concerns of life. From Preparing for the Future: A Guide to Community-Based Planning, by Gene L. Theodori

Faith-based Education Recreation Environmental protection Economy Action Generalization Government Community is not a given. Community is a variable. From Preparing for the Future: A Guide to Community-Based Planning, by Gene L. Theodori

Factors Involved in Community Participation Race Gender Age Kind of vehicle Location of vacation Last book read Politics Favorite type of restaurant

Principles of Community Development The long-term theme of community development should be to develop the community as a human relationship structure, rather than to develop things in or through the community. From Preparing for the Future: A Guide to Community-Based Planning, by Gene L. Theodori

Community development must reflect and express the values and wishes of the local population. Principles of Community Development From Preparing for the Future: A Guide to Community-Based Planning, by Gene L. Theodori

Community development requires a commitment on the part of special interest groups to align their efforts with those of other groups. Principles of Community Development From Preparing for the Future: A Guide to Community-Based Planning, by Gene L. Theodori

Community development requires that attention be given continuously to problems and needs in all areas of local life. Principles of Community Development From Preparing for the Future: A Guide to Community-Based Planning, by Gene L. Theodori

Sustained community development requires an organizational structure. Principles of Community Development From Preparing for the Future: A Guide to Community-Based Planning, by Gene L. Theodori

Community development requires communication. Principles of Community Development From Preparing for the Future: A Guide to Community-Based Planning, by Gene L. Theodori

Community development requires a commitment beyond selfish gain, at least by a small number of people in any community who can really make it work. Principles of Community Development From Preparing for the Future: A Guide to Community-Based Planning, by Gene L. Theodori

Kenneth P. Wilkinson “The Community: Its Structure and Process.” Pp. 86–90 in Eileen Zuber, Steve Nelson, and A.E. Luloff, 1998, Community: A Biography in Honor of the Life and Work of Ken Wilkinson. University Park, PA: The Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development. Credit for “Principles of Community Development” From Preparing for the Future: A Guide to Community-Based Planning, by Gene L. Theodori

Identifying the Issue What are the issues that we want to address? Issues are different from strategies/ objectives/values Issues address problems/challenges/ opportunities, not solutions Reframe the topics into issues

Submitted “Issues”

Education Non-credit classes for seniors Better public school education Partnership between schools & businesses Parenting Center Studio School Lecture/seminar series City vs. county school perceptions Senior projects at Starkville High School

Retail Farmers Market Bakery Meat Market

Community Community Relations Leadership Tensions Housing Shortage Declining Infrastructure Industry Recruitment Pregnancy Crisis Center Curb Appeal Humane Society

Community Identification Matrix Pick A Number for Starkville

ActiveNot Active Conscious Not Conscious Community Identification Matrix

Describe Starkville With Regard to the Issue Given the active/conscious choices that you previously made for Starkville, pick a movie that describes your town/county Why does this movie remind you of Starkville?

Stages of Community Development Initiation Organization of Sponsorship Goal setting and strategy formulation Recruitment Implementation

Steps to Strategic Planning Mission Statement – Where do we want to be in 3-5 years Values – What values do you hold dear with regard to the issue? Vision Statement – How do we get to the Mission Statement? Objectives (Goals) – What are the overriding accomplishments we want to achieve? Strategies – What are the specific actions to achieve the objectives?

Developing An Action Plan What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the issue? Who are the stakeholders with regard to the issue? If you were the czar of the issue, what is the one thing you would do? What can your group do really well with regard to the issue? Pick five things your group will do in the next 3 months to address the issue