This past March the Innovia Foundation partnered with the nonprofit Community Heart & Soul (CH&S) to bring the latter’s resident-engagement model to small towns in Idaho and eastern Washington. The program asks locals what they love about their community and what future communal goals they have, then provides them resources to achieve these goals on their own terms including funding and community coaching.
Innovia’s Chief Community Investment Officer Molly Sanchez and Community Development Consultant Jennifer Stapleton described how the program came into existence, and why it is a needed resource in rural areas. “Many of our rural communities are experiencing unprecedented change and growth which is leaving their residents feeling disconnected and with a sense of loss and concern for the future," Jennifer says. "Our communities are best poised to control their destiny and manage change and growth by understanding what matters most to their residents, what they want protected and what changes could improve their future. Community Heart & Soul is a resident-driven program that brings the table to the community members, gives them a voice and helps them develop an action plan."
“Innovia Foundation believes that strong, vibrant communities are more resilient and able to create positive change, which is why we’re excited about this partnership with Community Heart & Soul" Molly says. "We are committed to being engaged and supporting community momentum. We’re not here to tell residents what to do, we’re here to listen and provide resources. Four years ago, we launched local leadership councils with volunteers from across the region to ground our work in community-identified priorities. What we’re doing now with Community Heart & Soul is the next iteration.”
As a resident-engagement model, CH&S connects with residents on a person-to-person level and empowers them to take the future of their towns into their own hands. Both CH&S and Innovia have taken the lead in specific aspects of their partnership to amplify the work of this resident-driven process.
“Innovia launched the CH&S Grant Program to help rural communities throughout its 20-county service area build community through a resident-driven process and take action on what matters most to its residents" Jennifer says. "The program provides a nationally recognized, proven community development model and technical support through trained coaches, combined with grant funding to support a community-based leadership team, program coordinator and activities. Hundreds of communities across the country have implemented the program and experienced benefits such as increased volunteerism and new emerging leaders, increased civility and trust, improved economic conditions and revitalization activity, increased community investment in important programs and activities and restoration of community pride and confidence."
“We started this process in January, launched in March, and we will be awarding our first grants in September, so we really hit the ground running,” Molly says. “We are providing technical assistance to applicants through webinars and one-on-one meetings to guide them through the process. For communities that may not be grant-ready by September, Innovia and Community Heart & Soul will provide ongoing support and guidance to be prepared for a second round of grants to be awarded in 2025.”
In the long-term, both Innovia and CH&S hope the program will lead to closer communities, difficult–but necessary–conversations in small towns, and a positive outlook for each town’s future.
“A great part of this partnership program is finding those nontraditional leaders, the people you wouldn't expect,” says Molly. “Those are the people looking for.”
Jennifer added, “Those unheard voices. We’d like to hear from them.”
Innovia Foundation's Mission and Vision:
Our mission is to ignite generosity that transforms lives and communities. We envision vibrant and sustainable communities where every person has the opportunity to thrive.
