Primer Part II

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMET PRIMER

Part II: “Vision”
By: Stan Foster, PARC Resources President

Vision is an often used but rarely understood concept, in part because no two people see things exactly the same. However, there is a foundation for a common vision in those things that define your community. Tying vision to well respected aspects of your community will allow people to relate to how this effort can build community. Formulating and articulating a vision that builds on the positive and avoids the negative gives you the greatest opportunity for success.

There may be many visionary people in your community, however to create change you must formulate a common vision because vision is only useful if it can spur collective action. The ability to visualize your project in a way that brings more people into the process is essential to achieving worthy goals. A collective vision requires that you regularly evaluate each aspect of your project to make sure that there is a place for everyone who wants to contribute. This means that vision is as much about listening as it is about talking. Hearing what your neighbors are thinking, what your opponents are saying, and what your strongest supporters are feeling will help guide you towards building a shared vision.

Vision is the catalyst that spurs collective action. Unilateral action generally ends in failure. Results are what matters and this takes a collective effort. At project dedications I have often heard people comment that they did not expect a project to “turn out this nice”. This is evidence that even those people who have worked the longest and hardest on the project did not fully visualize the final outcome. Vision is an imprecise exercise which must remain inclusive to invite more participation, even in the final phases of a project. Dreams can inspire, but it is a common vision that motivates a community to act. It has been my good fortune to work with many people who had vision, wisdom and the skills to nurture a shared vision. These are the true visionaries that change the world.