Building a Common Vision
1. Why values are important
Human beings are motivated by their values. Common values across diverse groups form the basis of our culture. Understanding a group’s values is an important part of many businesses, and many successful regional visions have started with a process to identify an area’s values. Fundamental values are enduring forces, not fads that come and go with fashion.
2. Identifying Common Values
One of the first steps in the visioning process is to research people’s values, issues and concerns through scientific polls and in-depth interviews. This data forms a foundation for regional planning, the guiding principles around which future solutions will have to be formed. Values such as economic prosperity, a healthy environment, and livable communities are commonly held in most parts of America; however, how those values are maintained and enhanced differs from region to region. This regional process will identify these values, identify threats to those values, and identify ways for those values to be enhanced.
3. Crossing political boundaries
In addition to researching values, the regional project team will conduct in depth polling and interviews on the topic of issues that are of most concern to area residents, what differences exist from place to place within the region, and what ideas people have for solutions to the main issues we will face in the future. By identifying critical issues of common concern, the building blocks needed to build regional cooperation across political boundaries will become evident.
4. Public participation
Our philosophy is to engage the maximum number of participants. However, we recognize that while some people will want to be deeply involved in developing an Upstate Vision, many more people who are interested will have less time to devote. Upstate Together will develop several ways for people in the Upstate region to participate. The process will be open, public and transparent. It will be designed to be accessible to all, regardless of their prior involvement in planning processes.
People who wish to be involved in meetings will be able to participate in exciting workshops that give participants a hands-on experience in designing alternative futures, understanding our opportunities and constraints, and working with their neighbors from across the region on how to address the challenges of tomorrow.
In addition, an interactive website and newsletters will allow people to participate at more convenient times from their homes. Online voting will allow people to decide on options they want to see the region pursue. Newsletters will provide concise information and mail back ballots. Videos and DVD’s will allow participation through the television format as well as modern internet broadcast forms. At every key stage, involvement will be a key priority so that the vision that results will truly be a popular and informed decision by the region’s citizens.