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Strategies to Improve Communities A Case Study in Civic Engagement Noblesville, Indiana Civic engagement has been a passion of the mayor of this fast growing Indiana city since he took office on January 1, 2004. Mayor John Ditslear wasn't yet mayor when the Community Vision for Excellence initiative started in 1993. Its mission was to measure progress on a variety of indicators so that Noblesville would continue to be a great community for residents and visitors. The goals of Vision Noblesville (as it is now called) include helping all residents find meaningful employment, a healthy lifestyle, life-long learning opportunities, social services assistance when needed and available volunteer options. Noblesville's 2010 National Citizen Survey was instrumental in alerting Mayor Ditslear of the need to enhance community volunteerism. According to the survey findings that year, participation in clubs or civic groups was not as strong as it was in other communities. The same was true for attending or watching public meetings and the number of Noblesville residents that volunteered was not remarkably high. Attended a meeting of local elected officials or other local public 18% meeting Participated in a club or civic group in Noblesville Watched a meeting of local elected officials or other City -sponsored public meeting on cable television, the Internet or other media Volunteered your time to some group or activity in Noblesville for community special events which has been very successful and continues to grow. This was followed by hiring a full-time manager of Vision Noblesville. Vision Noblesville has brought together a wide variety of community members to review long-term issues for the city and determine the best way to address these issues. Data are intentionally combined with community stories to help craft solutions which engage all sectors — government, business, education, and nonprofits. Currently, Vision Noblesville has 16 teams whose participants represent 72 different community organizations and businesses. These teams are working on issues ranging from enhancing the arts and creating more environmentally sustainable practices to improving the local workforce and services provided to families in need. All Vision Noblesville team members volunteer their time and expertise. In the coming years, new Citizen Survey results along with other data will help the committees measure their success in achieving each of their established goals, including the goal of increasing volunteerism and civic engagement. Case Studies in linking Civic Engagement for Fund Raising with Measurement Park City, Utah and Boulder, Colorado Foundations can't just snap their fingers and expect 27% money to rain from the sky. Often, potential donors want information to help them understand where limited funds ought to be contributed. Kind of like a 28% stock prospectus, only prettier, the Boulder County Trends Report, a publication of The Community Foundation for Boulder County, and the Park City . 45°r° Mile Post — modeled after the Boulder report — Percent of respondents who did each at least once in last 12 months Being able to analyze the Citizen Survey data about this issue helped the mayor plan solutions. "We learned from the 2010 citizen survey that residents wanted more volunteer opportunities," said Mayor Ditslear. To create a solution, he began a one year part-time pilot program that focused on increasing opportunities for and participation in volunteerism. This resulted in the creation of a volunteer program Civic engagement - Park City eo of respondents who participated last 12 months Mich your car heramel,l Take .he hua wok er ride your hike. This could be co simple o walking 41 rut faumle lunch ehnl or Inking the bozo Ube resat big trarmn.nn> event. G.. la a pablk meslhls. RON tu1141.01t r5ua.ay emY park ('ny ute mining their general ,Haan this vcv. They hold Ovation met*, roc *Ow inpu, al/red. Many one drop meat in and femme ipter.enve wa,e of wgglnng m. Am Woolly. lithe E o'clock nows a getting You don -kin. In d, xa.rr,hi en nei in porn own neighborhood. Take Ow gl..bil prohkma.chn.am change - paakenrgeen o.g'. Ingram "Love Cuts. [her can I»•]p tw and mini Mende.v, em.con3 rngnhcr © 2014 National Research Center, Inc. Page 10