I was a "Community Connector" for Grand Rapid's new Master Plan [Bridge to our Future]. While, of course, there are critiques and criticisms, that the process successfully engaged with with - in sum - a demographic of people which corresponds to the demographics of the community on multiplex axis (race, age, gender, education) was a monumental achievement.
Hopefully this bolsters the credibility of the plan as it moves into implementation phase. Some of that is going to need to bore through tiers of political firewalls.
I have no fiduciary relationship with Grand Rapids' Planning Department or Planning Next. Community Connectors were all volunteer.
Probably adopt the NYC model; try to remove and replace as many ADOS (American Descendants Of Slaves) as they can. "We have a growing African-American population! Literally!"
I was a "Community Connector" for Grand Rapid's new Master Plan [Bridge to our Future]. While, of course, there are critiques and criticisms, that the process successfully engaged with with - in sum - a demographic of people which corresponds to the demographics of the community on multiplex axis (race, age, gender, education) was a monumental achievement.
Hopefully this bolsters the credibility of the plan as it moves into implementation phase. Some of that is going to need to bore through tiers of political firewalls.
I have no fiduciary relationship with Grand Rapids' Planning Department or Planning Next. Community Connectors were all volunteer.
Probably adopt the NYC model; try to remove and replace as many ADOS (American Descendants Of Slaves) as they can. "We have a growing African-American population! Literally!"