My Meadville is a collaborative project between the City of Meadville, Pennsylvania Humanities Council, and the Orton Family Foundation. The Orton Family Foundation’s Community Heart & Soul model was used to create My Meadville.
According to the Orton Family Foundation, “developed and field-tested over a decade in partnership with small cities and towns, Community Heart & Soul® has evolved into a proven model for engaging a community in shaping the future.”
There was a four-stage process to follow, and during each stage, the core values of the process were kept in mind!
These core values were:
- Involve Everyone
- Play the long game
- Focus on what matters
Phase 1
- Get Organized
- Create a Work Plan
- Spread the Word
Phase 2
- Gather and Share Stories
- Identify What Matters Most
Phase 3
- Formalize Decisions
- Make Choices
- Develop Options
Phase 4
- Mobilize Resources
- Follow Through
- Cultivate Heart & Soul
