Orton Family Foundation

Increasingly, philanthropic organizations are thinking more broadly about how to support systemic change in local communities. On this call, you’ll hear how three foundations are investing in long-term transformation using Community Heart & Soul®, the Orton Family Foundation’s community development model. Speakers: –Brad Ward, director of community philanthropy, Council on Foundations At the Council, Brad interacts with hundreds of community foundations across the U.S. and with colleagues in North America. His specialty is engaging a variety of constituents in community philanthropy and navigating an innovative new era of community leadership and philanthropic engagement for the field. –Gabrielle Ratté Smith, senior associate for strategic partnerships, Orton Family Foundation Gabrielle was a founding member of Community Heart & Soul in Essex, Vermont. In her role at Orton, she helps funders design programs that use the Heart & Soul model to bring about positive change in small cities and towns. -- Kath

For National Community Planning month, we focus on creating successful comprehensive plans that residents feel a sense of ownership about and have a stake in the outcomes. On this call, you’ll hear from three planners who got residents involved through the Community Heart & Soul model. Learn how community engagement leads to meaningful comprehensive plans that align vision and actions based on what matters most to residents. Speakers: --Jane Lafleur, Heart & Soul coach and principal, JB Lafleur Consultants Jane provides community development, planning, citizen engagement and civic leadership training and educational programs throughout Maine and the U.S. Jane received the Professional Planner of the Year award from the Maine Association of Planners and the Northern New England Chapter of the American Planning Association in 2015. --K. Dana Hanley, community development director, Essex, Vermont. Dana played a key role in the development of the Essex comprehensive plan, which received Plan of the Year Award in

Taking on controversial issues is a challenge that every community faces. How those issues are approached can make the difference between a community that thrives and one where divides erode a community’s vitality. Join us for insight and practical ideas and tools for advancing civil discourse from nationally-recognized expert in the field, Carolyn J. Lukensmeyer, Ph. D. and Mayor Thom Harnett of Gardiner, Maine, who has led his way in welcoming new residents and embracing the value they bring to the small town, sometimes in the face of protest. Speakers: --Dr. Carolyn J. Lukensmeyer, executive director, National Institute for Civil Discourse As a leader in the field of deliberative democracy, Dr. Lukensmeyer works to restore our democracy to reflect the intended vision of our founding fathers. She previously served as Founder and President of AmericaSpeaks, an award-winning nonprofit organization that promoted nonpartisan initiatives to engage citizens and leaders through the development of innovative publ

Getting young people involved in community leadership brings fresh perspectives and new energy. Small cities and towns across the country are giving meaningful roles to youth and helping young people realize their voices matter. On this free talk, you’ll hear from youth advocates and a youth leader how to authentically involve the next generation in local decision-making. Speakers: --Laura Furr, program manager for justice reform and youth engagement, National League of Cities (NLC) Laura helps municipal leaders take action on behalf of children, youth, and families in their communities. She assists cities in establishing authentic systems for youth engagement through initiatives such as youth councils, juvenile justice reform, and participatory budgeting. Prior to joining NLC, Laura was the Interim Executive Director and Senior Director of Youth Justice Initiatives at Community Law In Action, Inc., a non-profit that engages youth as active citizens, critical thinkers, and advocates for positive change in Ma

Small towns rely on volunteers for prosperity, but it can be a challenge to sustain volunteer energy and enthusiasm. With a resident-driven approach, Heart & Soul® towns rally community members to increase civic participation and create positive change. Listen in for ideas to keep volunteers motivated and engaged for the long run. Speakers: --Sara Lightner, senior associate of programs, training, Orton Family Foundation Before joining Orton, Sara spent 13 years volunteering and working with volunteers in the Peace Corps. She was director of programming and training for the Eastern Caribbean and for Vanuatu in the South Pacific. Sara directed volunteer and partner trainings and programming opportunities, ensuring that volunteers received the support needed to be successful. --Debbie Moreno, project coordinator, Galesburg on Track Debbie is a journalist, a poet, a parent, and an active volunteer--skills and experience that have transferred to her role as project coordinator of Galesburg on Track, a Community H

No matter where you live, there is something to love about the place you call home. Yet, the common narrative about small towns focuses on what is wrong or what needs to be fixed—vacant storefronts, political differences, young people moving away. Hear how three Heart & Soul® towns are renewing community spirit by drawing on their unique history and heritage and, in turn, sparking revitalization. Speakers: --Delilah Poupore, executive director, Heart of Biddeford in Biddeford, Maine A former textile mill town, Biddeford struggled with stagnant population growth and limited job opportunities. Biddeford’s renaissance began when residents used the Community Heart & Soul® model to create a forward-looking plan that took stock of the town’s unique history and what mattered most to everyone. As the executive director of the Heart of Biddeford, Delilah has played a pivotal role both in implementing the Downtown Master Plan and maintaining momentum beyond the plan’s completion. --Alice Trowbridge, project coordinator

Think philanthropy is just for the wealthy? Think again. Small cities and towns are finding that all residents can be philanthropists. Local wisdom and vision, it turns out, lead to positive change. On this call you’ll hear about effective strategies for encouraging a culture of local philanthropy that builds community vibrancy and prosperity. Speakers: --Lisa Duran, executive director, Grassroots Grantmakers. Lisa has over 30 years of experience in social justice, community organizing and nonprofit work. She supports and connects community investors—mostly foundations—in partnering with residents to lead change. --Don Macke, co-founder and director of entrepreneurial communities, Center for Rural Entrepreneurship. Don helps communities and regions throughout North America grow entrepreneur-focused economic development strategies. He works with strategic partners across the country to deliver customized economic development solutions. Don is also active in community development philanthropy, and conducted the

Gathering, listening to, and sharing stories strengthens the fabric of the community by bringing people together in conversations about what they love about where they live and what they’d like to change. Hearing from residents can also lead to discoveries that the community immediately rallies around, such as an 1870s African-American church in Pennsylvania or a historic theater in Colorado. Three speakers, each with different but meaningful experiences, share how storytelling enriches a community and leads to positive change. Speakers: - Mimi Iijima is the Director of Programs and Special Projects for Pennsylvania Humanities Council. Mimi leads PHC’s effort to strengthen communities through the humanities and by bringing Community Heart & Soul to towns in the Keystone state. - Dani Smith is the great-great-granddaughter of a Civil War soldier who served in the U.S. Colored Troops. Story gathering by the Greater Carlisle Heart & Soul Project led to the discovery of an 1870s African-American church and ce

Deep community engagement gives local leaders the courage to take risks that lead to positive change. The Orton Family Foundation pioneered the community development method Community Heart & Soul® based on that premise. On this call, you’ll hear how three leaders went beyond a "check the box" approach to engagement, working with residents to create ambitious plans that have led to dramatic and lasting results in their towns. Speakers: --Jim Bennett, city manager, Biddeford, Maine, and past ICMA president. Community engagement led the city to buy and tear down an incinerator in the downtown, spurring major revitalization. Jim has an impressive history of public service in Maine, beginning at the age of 21 as an elected municipal official. Over his 35 years of municipal service, the communities he has served have received a number of recognitions, including All-American City designation. He has been recognized by ICMA for several outstanding programs implemented under his direction as well as awarded the Mana

From farm-to-table restaurants and food co-ops to craft breweries and tech startups, it’s an exciting time for small town businesses. Cultivating those businesses and encouraging entrepreneurs is key to thriving local economies. Our panelists, who have owned businesses, worked with entrepreneurs, and helped make their downtowns vibrant, share the secrets of their success. Speakers are: Becky McCray, business owner, author, and publisher of Small Biz Survival, a blog about the challenges and successes of doing business in a small town. Her no-nonsense perspective on local economies lands her in publications from The New York Times to The High Plains Journal. Home is Hopeton, Oklahoma (pop. 30). Joe Wasson, business owner; founder, McComb Economic Development Organization; project coordinator, McComb Region Heart & Soul. Joe owned and managed his family’s furniture business in downtown McComb, Ohio, (pop. 1,600), which closed in 2013. Since then he has worked tirelessly to recruit new businesses to town, formin

The arts can be a creative, meaningful, and effective way to engage residents, particularly those who might not otherwise get involved. In this free 60-minute talk you’ll hear how communities come together using the arts as part of Community Heart & Soul™. Presenters include: Lindsay Varner, project director, Greater Carlisle Heart & Soul in Pennsylvania. Lindsay is using her background in oral history to inspire storytelling efforts in Carlisle. Debbie Moreno, project coordinator, Galesburg on Track in Illinois. Galesburg has tapped local artists in a variety of creative ways, including a portrait project, logo contest, and expressing residents’ ideas as art. Vasanthi Meyette is a school teacher who was an active volunteer in Heart & Soul of Essex, Vermont. The project included a community-wide arts project called Mobilize Essex. More than 70 volunteers and dozens of students from six schools teamed up to create mobiles. Galesburg photo slideshow: http://bit.ly/2e6WOiV.

One of the long-term benefits of Community Heart & Soul™ is the partnerships that are created. Heart & Soul helps organizations and institutions connect and work together in ways that they might not have otherwise. In this call recording you’ll hear from individuals representing organizations large and small that have benefited from connecting through Heart & Soul. Follow along with our Google Doc: http://bit.ly/2bEGva5.

Community Heart & Soul™ is a two-year community development method that calls for broad and deep resident engagement. It's been called a "positive disruptive force" in the towns that sign on. In this free 60-minute talk you'll hear how Heart & Soul projects got results, both short- and long-term and helped create brighter futures for small towns in Colorado, Maine, and Vermont. Speakers include, Liz Subin of Essex, Vermont; Pat Hart of Gardiner, Maine, and Saoirse Charis-Graves of Golden, Colorado. Follow along with our Google Doc: http://bit.ly/25dVQ8g.

Storytelling is a powerful way to broadly engage a community and hear from voices that often go unheard. Hear how storytelling has brought residents together, bridged long-standing divides, and ultimately helped community foundations make positive, lasting, and meaningful impact. This conversation is co-sponsored by Council on Foundations and Orton Family Foundation and focuses on storytelling in the Community Heart & Soul™ method of community development. With guests Nancy Van Milligen, president and chief executive, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque in Iowa; Katherine Kreuchauf, president of the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation in Ohio, Jason Neises, Heart & Soul coordinator, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, and Monica Palmquist, a community organizer who served on her town’s Heart & Soul Team in Cortez, Colorado. Hosted by Fran Stoddard of the Orton Family Foundation. "Our foundation has been leading effective community engagement since 2005. We believe strongly that local decisi

Young people often feel left out of the larger community conversation, yet can bring fresh eyes, optimism and enthusiasm to any initiative. And, in many cases they want to be included, but just haven’t been asked. On this call recording, you’ll hear about the benefits of youth inclusion from the perspective of students and their elders. The results might surprise you. Featured speakers are Mark Nahorney, director of community relations, University of New England, who led an effort to get college students engaged in activities in downtown Biddeford, Maine. Andrew Cimonetti is a sophomore at the University of Vermont from Essex, Vermont. He played a key role in his town's Community Heart & Soul™ project, serving as co-chair of the Heart & Soul Team. Ali Lightfoot is production manager at public radio station KVNF in Paonia, Colorado. She directs "Pass the Mic," a youth (ages 8-12) reporting project that was instrumental in breaking down barriers and bringing new voices into the conversation about the region's

Social media is one important way to reach out to and engage community members and a key communications tool for any Community Heart & Soul project. Hear how social media can work for you in your town with insight and practical tips from Julie Brown, program director at the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation in Ohio and Leslie Wright, Orton communications associate, with host Fran Stoddard. For a great primer on social media watch Julie's webinar on storytelling through social media. It's chock full of practical strategies for putting Facebook to work for you! Watch the webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLJK2s0u-FQ&feature=youtu.be. Follow along with our call note: http://bit.ly/1KKdViM

Community Heart & Soul™ had its genesis in one planning commissioner’s frustration with business-as-usual planning. Orton Family Foundation founder Lyman Orton saw flaws in a development review system that left decisions that affected the entire community in the hands of a few. Community Heart & Soul shifts the paradigm by starting with deep community engagement that results in clear priorities based on what matters most to all residents. Learn more about how this barn-raising approach to community development can benefit your town. Alece Montez-Griego, Orton director of programs, is joined by Rick Muriby, planning manager, Golden, Colorado, and Jane Lafleur, executive director, Friends of Midcoast Maine. Follow along with the Google Doc notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h_wgG-ebp0m-c-N_ih_9xrDtfAJn-Aw3-yCHyd8UUB4/edit

“Involve Everyone” is a core principle of the Community Heart & Soul™ method. Towns that have undertaken Heart & Soul projects have come up with creative ways to hear from community members whose voices might otherwise go unheard. With Meagan Picard, Orton senior associate, Meaghan Carlson, past Heart & Soul project coordinator in Gardiner, Maine, and Robby Henes, Heart & Soul Team member, Heart & Soul of Cortez, Colorado. Both towns came up with creative ways to engage residents, from bar coaster surveys to a "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" photo contest. This call aired live on 8-13-15.

Learn how Orton's Community Heart & Soul™ approach incorporates personal story to illuminate a community's history, priorities, and aspirations, and how those stories can enable residents to drive local decision-making. Orton's Director of Programs Alece Montez-Griego is joined by Elaine Brett, project co-coordinator for the Community Heart & Soul project in the North Fork Valley, which includes the towns of Paonia, Hotchkiss and Crawford, Colorado. Brett worked closely with an innovative program called "Pass the Mic" in which youth interviewed residents to learn more about local industry and report on the Valley's values. Also on the call is Holli Andrews, executive director, Framingham Downtown Renaissance and former intern with Biddeford, Maine's Heart & Soul project where she helped develop a storytelling-based tour of downtown Biddeford that invited residents to record their stories at "HeartSpots" at key locations.

Are community members in your town in the dark when it comes to planning and development issues? Does your local government struggle to recruit volunteers for boards and commissions? If so, a citizens’ academy could be the answer! Citizen planning academies build local leadership, increase awareness, and broaden involvement in community planning. Wayne Senville, publisher and editor, PlannersWeb.com; Leanna Lawson, chairperson, Rockingham County Citizens' Academy; and Kathleen Osher, executive director, Transit Alliance, join CommunityMatters® for an hour-long conference call from June 11. They shared ideas and tips for starting a citizens’ academy in your community. Follow along with our Google Doc notes: http://bit.ly/1ede30F