Sustainable Black Community
"Without a Vision a People Will Perish"
In early 2009, POISE Foundation began a quest to determine if there was a vision for Pittsburgh's Black community. We began to ask various individuals, organizations and those involved in various intiatives "What is the vision for a Sustainable Black community in Pittsburgh?" A summary of the responses to that question has typically been, I don't know but I agree we need to have a vision to move forward.
So in late 2010, POISE launched a three phased initiative to 1.) develop the vision, 2.) create a strategy to accomplish the vision, and 3.) convene the community to implement the vision.
It is also our hope that the Pittsburgh Region comes to understand that this process, if done correctly, will provide many benefits and has the potential to reduce many costs not only to the Black community but to our region as a whole.
Phase I: Developing the Vision for a Sustainable Black Community in the Pittsburgh Region
POISE Foundation hosted twelve conversations in the African American community focused on developing a Vision for a Sustainable Black Community in the Pittsburgh Region. In addition to the conversations, the Foundation collected feedback using an on-line survey. After speaking with over 300 people, the Foundation compiled the information collected and developed a draft vision statement for the community to review. The Foundation developed a short video to highlight the conversations. Click here to view video.
On Saturday, July 23, 2011, the community came together to review the draft, provide feedback and help refine the vision statement. As a result of the community meeting, a new statement was developed. To help capture the thoughts and emotions expressed at the meeting, the Foundation had a graphic recorder create the pictorials below.
The Vision Statement for a Sustainable Black Community resulting from our conversations is as follows:
A Community that is:
- A Model of Collaboration, partnership and Innovation,
- Uniquely diverse, beautiful, vibrant and connected,
- Reinvesting culturally, spiritually, and economically,
- Creating the best opportunity for everyone to live, learn, work and play.
Next Steps
Now that the vision is completed, we are moving to our next part of PHASE I which is to have a discussion of the values that our community believes are necessary to have in place in order to achieve our vision. We will once again through surveys and conversations within the community determine what our community believes is needed. To add your ideas of values you deem important, click here.
Once we finish our values conversations, Phase I will be complete. The real work of developing a strategy and a plan to implement will begin. It is our hope that this process is highly collaborative and will include many neighborhood representatives, as well as business, foundation, nonprofit, government and other key stakeholders who will provide the necessary human, technological and financial resources to accomplish the task.
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