Community Development Field

Vision 20/20

Springfield’s Vision 20/20 program was a community-based planning process that involved residents in decision-making processes

Springfield, Missouri
www.ci.springfield.mo.us/vision2020/index.html

Springfield’s Vision 20/20 program was a community-based planning process that involved residents in decision-making processes and encouraged citizens to view referenda as a logical outgrowth of the planning process. Over the course of two years, 350 residents gave more than 20,000 volunteer hours developing the city’s vision plan. As soon as the plan was completed, the city began developing strategies to implement the focus group recommendations. This included creating financing packages, partnering with state agencies and crafting referenda to support the proposed changes. Because residents had been involved in the planning process, all seven tax referenda passed.

About the Author

Alma B. Couverthie

Alma B. Couverthié is a staff member of Lawrence CommunityWorks and an instructor at the Poder Leadership Institute.

Marianna Leavy-Sperounis

Marianna Leavy-Sperounis is a staff member of Lawrence CommunityWorks and an instructor at the Poder Leadership Institute.

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