Community Votes! and Dream Projects Are Spot On

Published: March 11, 2016

On the evening of March 10, 2016, the Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation brought back together each of the neighborhood's Quality of Life Plan task forces and others from the community to review all the resulting vision and strategies the teams came up with. It was their first chance to cast their early votes, for projects that would connect them to big dreams for the greater Auburn Gresham neighborhood.

It sure felt like a March Madness event, but at this Quality of Life Plan community meeting the constiuents were clear, there's no competitive bracket here, we are all in it together, and we are not playing games!

The neighborhoods of the greater Auburn Gresham (Auburn Gresham, West Chatham, Washington Heights) made sure their voices were heard the past six months. A good cross-section of residents, businesses, local institiutions, and service partners participated on one or more of eight (8) task forces, each formed to address a key focus issue area, that was dervied from the results of the initial "voice of the commuity" survey. The community survey was first presented on October 29, 2015, at the community quality of life plan, "Your Voice Matters" campaign kick-off event, held at Simeon Career Academy.

Active members of the task forces and many others from the community totaling almost 200 in attendance, came back together to cast their early votes and the community dream projects are spot on! The process was pretty democratic too. Everyone in attendance had a chance to vote on three of their favorite strategies, as they rotated to each of the eight focus areas stations, that are noted below:

Task Force "Mission and Vision of each of the 8 Issue Areas is displayed as Thought Leaders, as guide community through Quality of Life strategies.

Your Voice Matters! Task Forces

Business Development
Education and Youth Development
Faith Based Outreach
Health and Wellness
Housing Development
Safety and Security
Senior Services

To find more about the next steps and the April monthly meetings, click on here to download the schedule of meetings.

It was a fantastic example of a community coming together to dream, discuss and make a plan for itself. It was really empowering to see such a diverse group of south side residents of all ages (youth, young adults, senior citizens) religions (muslims, hebrews, christians, and others) and backgrounds deciding on quality-of-life improvement strategies for ourselves!

Leading the effort, the Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation (GADC) staff and board of directors was "in full effect" and ensured the community had what it needed for a succesful event. The strong community leaders and organizations that facilitated discussions, were focus area thought leaders, and have been enaged and mentoring participants throughout this participatory process. Carlos A. Nelson, executive director of the GADC, closed with simple but powerful words to his contsituency, "I want to say just thank you from the bottom of my heart. Let's continue to meet, plan and implement, we are half-way there!"

Check often the www.gagdc.org web site and the auburngreshamportal.org for upcoming task force meeting schedules, progress and details on the upcoming culminating event this summer, to celebrate our new Quality of Life Plan.

Photos and videos from the extraordinary March 10th, Your Voice Matters! event, at Leo High School and from the Task Force meetings can be found on the GADC Flickr.com/gadc albums. You can also click on the picture below to go directly to the collection of photos Your Voice Matters! Mid-point Planning event, and watch as the evening unfolds. Thanks to everyone who participated and we look forward to see you and many more at the April task force meeting!

See Photos of the Your Voice Matters Mid-point Event, click on the picture below: