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Community Visioning

In fall 2002, BEACON began facilitation of a Regional Community Visioning process under the co-sponsorship of the Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland, the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Wicomico Partnership for Families and Children.   

What is “Visioning?” Visioning is a process through which a community asks, “What kind of future do we want for ourselves and our children?  What must we do now to make this future a reality?”  To answer these questions, a community identifies priority areas, gathers and analyzes relevant data, and develops a “vision” or ideal picture of itself in the future.  Community leaders then develop and execute a plan to make this future a reality.

Why do we need a “vision” for the Lower Eastern Shore?  Our region is already feeling impact of significant economic and demographic forces, e.g., the decline of traditional industries, an aging population, rapid in-migration, explosive residential growth, and increasing ethnic diversity. We are also stewards of the unique and irreplaceable Chesapeake Bay watershed.  These realities cross county boundaries.  They bring both risk and opportunity.  They require proactive planning, a willingness to explore new approaches, and a commitment to regional collaboration. 

 

Where are we now? After a year and a half of hard work by the three Lower Shore Visioning Committees, BEACON gave a final presentation on this initiative to the Tri-County Council on May 20, 2004.  This presentation highlighted the following six regional challenges that emerged from the combined work of the visioning teams in Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties:

  1. Water/Sewer Infrastructure

  2. Growth and Development

  3. Demographic Changes

  4. Economic Development & Workforce Readiness

  5. Health

  6. Child and Family Well-Being

 It is BEACON’s hope that the regional visioning process has helped to shine a light on our region’s most critical challenges, build relationships among diverse stakeholders, and create an action agenda for our regional leaders.