County Visioning Process Encourages Participation From All

“Howard County is in the enviable position to set a standard for other communities across the country.” Christopher Gates, president, National Civic League

More than 100 residents, activists, involved citizens and officials will convene tonight, March 2, at Historic Savage Mill to begin the process to develop a vision and plan for the future of Howard County.

Initiated by The Columbia Foundation, facilitated by the National Civic League and chaired by Dr. Charles I. Ecker and Sandra T. Gray, Howard County -- A United Vision proposes to create a vision and goals for the future, and a plan to achieve them.

Howard County is faced with many challenges: new leadership at all levels, issues surrounding growth, a graying population, increasing diversity and a rising demand for social services. What happens when the county is built-out? And there has been an enormous influx of newcomers into the county--many of whom never heard Jim Rouse's dream, and never knew the county before Columbia. Where is the sense of community?

All this and more was what The Columbia Foundation's Community Needs Committee, chaired by superintendent of schools Dr. Michael Hickey, heard 18 months ago when its members began talking to county residents. Howard County is great, but what happens next? And why is there little sense of community? This is something that people dearly long for, but do not know how to achieve.

Sandra Gray, vice president of Leadership for Independent Sector, and then a board member of The Columbia Foundation, had a partial answer. Engage the National Civic League (NCL) to assist in the design and facilitation of a countywide visioning process that brings together everyone in the community. “When Sandra brought us the National Civic League, it was a perfect fit,” says Barbara Lawson, executive director of The Columbia Foundation. “[President]Chris Gates was an inspiration.”

Founded in 1894, the NCL is dedicated to strengthening citizen democracy and promoting the principles of collaborative problem-solving and consensus-based decision making. The NCL uses an inclusionary and collaborative planning process that works, a process that builds community while creating a vision and plan for the future. NCL staff has worked with communities around the country--from Charlotte to Santa Barbara--successfully.

The NCL was engaged, and an Initiating Committee of 18 people began meeting in October of 1998. This committee, a diverse group of involved residents, met four times to concentrate on identifying sources of support, staffing and community outreach. Richard Weber, a county resident for 19 years and newly retired from IBM, has been involved since March of 1998. “I've always been impressed by Howard County,” he says, “and I thought the Foundation might have some opportunities for community volunteer work. I am very enthusiastic about supporting and contributing to the future of the county. This project can effect real change.”

By January 1999, the project had evolved into a Coordinating Committee and an Outreach Committee, had hired staff and had arranged for the Association of Community Services to be its fiscal agent. It also raised funds. The Columbia Foundation provided seed funding and in-kind services, and The Rouse Company, The Ryland Group, the Columbia Association, Howard County General Hospital, Norwest Financial and Howard County Government have all contributed thus far.

By the end of January, the group had recruited chairs and developed a list of citizen “stakeholders” representing different perspectives, views and interests from all sectors of the county. Sandra Gray was an obvious choice to be co-chair. “We all have the responsibility for creating a civil society,” she says, “no matter what our economic level, ethnic background or zip code. It is incumbent upon all the people of Howard County to make the community what they want it to be.” Former county executive Chuck Ecker, well-known for his inclusionary style, agrees: “Let's get everyone at the same table. You know, we all have the same goal--to live in a great place.”

The National Civic League process will have the stakeholders meet 12 times, from March 2 through October, to establish specific, measurable objectives and to work in partnership with appropriate agencies, organizations and individuals to achieve these objectives. The United Vision Outreach Committee is charged with keeping the community informed of the process and soliciting opinions on issues. All meetings will be open to the public, and a countywide community meeting will be scheduled for April or May.

The overarching goal of Howard County -- A United Vision is to engage a truly representative group of citizens to create a vision statement describing where the community wants to be in the future. From there, working with individuals and county institutions, they will identify outcomes they wish to achieve and develop plans for each.

Rather than a document of vague concepts, the NCL process produces a final product that consists of specific action plans, each owned by a sector of the community: business, government, nonprofit groups or individuals. Because all segments of the community will develop and own this agenda, it will have significant impact on such quality of life issues as education, health and economic development. All the citizens will become “co-owners” of the public agenda.

To become involved in Howard County -- A United Vision, please call 410-313-6422.