Facilitating Community Change to Improve Your Quality of Life Year End Report

Transcription

1 Facilitating Community Change to Improve Your Quality of Life 2015 Year End Report

2 A note from Miriam Krehbiel, Chair Heartland Visioning listens to the community to understand their thoughts and ideas and then convenes private and public sector leadership to explore and respond to gaps. Our monthly steering committee includes on average 50 Visionary Volunteers who gather into network teams and address community priorities. This committee is diverse with 27% public sector and 73% private sector. This provides an intentional space to work together, dream, imagine, ask hard questions, and tackle the community s issues holistically. Seven years ago this process of listening began to take shape. Heartland Visioning heard the people wanted, A Growing, Prosperous, Dynamic, and Trusting Community, in Topeka and Shawnee County. I say with confidence that Heartland Visioning is a driving force in making this a reality. This work is made possible through public-private partnerships. In fact, for every dollar of public support we have been able to secure four dollars from the private sector. It takes contributions, both financial capital and social capital, to keep this work moving forward. We need you to help us celebrate the progress we have made and push us to achieving even more. To realize the goal of a growing, prosperous, dynamic and trusting community, we need you. I am honored to be a part of these efforts and look forward to a very exciting future for greater Topeka and its residents. Thanks to all of you who step forward to make a difference. Topeka Proud, Visionary Volunteers Public 27% Private 73% Budget Distribution Fundraising 2% Management & general 23% Programs 75% Public 30% Funds Private 70% Funders ( ) Allyn Lockner Bartlett & West Brewster Place Capital City Bank Capitol Federal Foundation City of Topeka Community Bank CoreFirst Bank & Trust Cox Communications The Craig Group, Inc. Downtown Topeka Inc. Equity Bank FHLBank Topeka GO Topeka Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce INTRUST Bank Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority Shawnee County Security Benefit Stormont-Vail Health Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority Topeka Community Foundation Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library UMB Bank United Way of Greater Topeka Visit Topeka Washburn University Westar Energy Contact us John Hunter, Executive Director jhunter@heartlandvisioning.com Kristen Brunkow, Communications and Community Engagement Coordinator kbrunkow@heartlandvisioning.com Jeanie Wulfkuhle, Executive Assistant jwulfkuhle@heartlandvisioning.com

3 A note from John Hunter, Executive Director 2015 was an exciting and fulfilling year for Heartland Visioning. I can t say thank you enough to all you wonderful Visionary Volunteers throughout the community who gave so freely of their time and efforts. As we begin 2016 you will see new initiatives focused on Community Pride and Recruit Topeka and Shawnee County First. We will also continue to facilitate change through projects such as, working with consultants for NOTO and Oregon Trail development, and the revitalization of Seward Avenue in Oakland. Our efforts in 2016 to improve our quality of life and quality of place will have a positive impact on economic development. Topeka Proud, Management Committee Back (left-right): Larry Wolgast, Mayor City of Topeka; Harry Craig, Chairman & CEO The Craig Group, Inc. (Vice Chair); Roger Underwood, Vice President Community Bank; Shelly Buhler, Shawnee County Commissioner; Curtis Sneden, Vice President of Government Relations Greater Topeka Chamber Front (left-right): Cindy Hornberger, Special Assistant to the President & Professor, Washburn University; Marsha Pope, Vice President Topeka Community Foundation; Lisa Stubbs, Program Manager Security Benefit; Miriam Krehbiel, President & CEO United Way of Greater Topeka (Chair); Susan Duffy, General Manager Topeka Metro "I am proud to participate with Heartland Visioning because it is an incredible organization that moves fantastic projects forward. 'Get it done'!!" Lisa Stubbs, Security Benefit It is inspiring to see the wide range of involvement working in a public/private partnership to solve issues related to the revitalization of the Dynamic Core. This process is so vital to our community s future. Mayor Larry Wolgast

4 Bettering Your Entertainment Branding Leadership Team Jayhawk Line Dancing Jayhawk Theatre Collaboration for Topeka 365 Downtown Re-Development Transportation Downtown Plaza Topeka Proud Bikeshare Wayfinding Collaboration Visit Topeka & City of Topeka Downtown

5 Quality of Life Dynamic Core Parks & Rec NOTO Consultant 4th Friday Fitness & preparation for Park Development Master Plan Community Engagements Shawnee County Parks + Rec Riverfront Park/National Parks Service Constitution Hall Community Services Community Pride HHN & Safe Streets Partners Monroe and Downtown NIA Oakland Seward Avenue Development Pine Ridge Prep

6 Listening to understand the community, Survey 2015 In 2015, Heartland Visioning dedicated its efforts toward verifying the community priorities and educating the public about the successful changes in our community since To verify community priorities, we surveyed people during our public presentations held between April and October of We looked for changes in positive perception, areas of pride and continued opportunities for future impact. What do you perceive as positive change in Topeka? Survey Methodology The survey was created by Heartland Visioning staff and reviewed by the Management Committee. Survey respondents were asked to respond to each question by circling provided responses and adding additional comments. Each survey was completed at the end of public presentations including Community Engagements with Shawnee County Public Library, Parks + Recreation, and presentations to retired teachers, Westar, Leadership Greater Topeka, etc. See full list of groups who participated and full survey in our appendix online. Data was tabulated, with extra comments thematically analyzed using the delphi method to sort them into relatable responses. Survey respondents included a wide range of ages from 20 through 65+ with representation both male and female. Different community agencies and organizations were represented in this information gathering process.

7 Why are you proud of Topeka? What do you want for the future of Topeka? Responses

8 The Conveners and Catalyst of the Community s Dream. - Carol Bradbury, Bloomerang Community Engagements * multiple presentations *City Council new members *Community Engagements with TSCPL *Community Engagements SnCo P+R *County Commissioners *GO Topeka and Topeka Chamber * Neighborhood Improvement Associations 20/30 s Club C5-Alive Cosmopolitan Club Fat Wednesday Greater Topeka Leadership Class Heartland Visioning Donor Reception Latino Leadership Organization Management Committee Mayor Township luncheon North Topeka Business Alliance Retired Teachers Association Senior Council of the Chamber Shepherd s Center South and West Rotary clubs Sunflower Association of Realtors Washburn Alumni Association Westar management Project Development Community Pride/Recruit Topeka & Shawnee County First Hosted NOTO Consultant Constitution Hall Downtown Plaza Downtown/Monroe NIA Fourth Friday Fitness Series Historical Collaboration Jayhawk Theatre Levee Tree Cutting Project Oakland -Seward Avenue Oregon Trail Riverfront Park Riverfront Authority Riverfront Stakeholders Transient Guest Tax Process Wayfinding City of Topeka and Visit Topeka Topeka Proud produced media commercials Bikeshare Pine Ridge Prep Topeka Proud, Downtown (4,000+ youtube hits) Community Communications Donor reception Articles in the Capital Journal Kristen s Corner Blog Quarterly updates Visioneer Monthly e-newsletter Social media Website On-going monthly partnership and organizational meetings Branding Leadership Team Visit Topeka Heartland Healthy Neighborhoods Safe Streets PARS Visioning Steering Committee Over-site of Network team Visioning Management Committee