What Does Heart & Soul Mean to the Planner's Role in Communities?
Disconnect between planners and communities - planning happens at theoretical level. Heart and Soul requires it come from the other direction - people define what they want and then planners implement it.
Need to take time in the beginning to figure out the “vibe” in the community rather than waiting to end of a process (e.g. development process).
See the planner as a guide through this kind of process or as a resource.
Planner fosters a community dialogue, brings a set of tools this and community brings the Heart and Soul.
When to introduce “data” (e.g. demographics) into this kind of process? Maybe later in process, after community starts. Planner needs to be a neutral party, facilitator, maybe bring in other parties to conversation. But makes sure the “whole” picture is represented.
So, how does planner collect information on what the Heart and Soul is? In a real situation, would depend on what was trying to be accomplished, who is initiating it, what are the resources, where planner is introduced in the process. The message is that Heart and Soul is the vital part that is getting missed and need to get this first so somehow process has to get this.
Town plan and zoning formalize the Heart and Soul, planner has a responsibility to make sure Heart and Soul gets in there.
May impact how planners fulfill their roles (vs. changing roles). Someone has to introduce Heart and Soul to town leadership. May not be staff but if you are the only one, then one of roles is to introduce this work. If nothing else, then write a memo about what has been learned. Public planners responsibility in creating a process, civic engagement - this design comes down to the planner’s role - sometimes all pieces of this. A big part of Heart and Soul is this community engagement, so as planning this process, there is a lot from this conference to think about how to develop this process. This is different than the traditional approach - doing the bare minimum in terms of process - this leads to mistrust and bad decisions. Planners need to be much more thoughtful about how this process is designed - what works will be different in each community. So, how receptive will a planner’s boss be to a new approach? Will depend on place, personality. Trying to get government plugged into informal network (e.g. local blog - getting tapped into this info and sharing info). Stepping outside normal process, going to other meetings (outside traditional planning meetings), going to gathering places. But, also have to rely on others to carry the message.
Need to get outside the normal process to capture more community input beyond usual suspects.
Can't be a leader against something, only for - this is hard to do.
We (all) need to be pushing more positive news - write a letter to paper, email others, even if can't go to a meeting.
A lot of people feels disenfranchised - not important enough, or not going to make a difference or doesn't matter. This is not illegitimate b/c this can be result of some planning processes.
Need to find a way to guide conversation about what community wants vs. what they don't want, set the context for this. This changes the question we ask - reframe to the glass half full vs. half empty, and tools of appreciative inquiry as an example.
Orton's Heart and Soul research as a resource to these kinds of approaches.
Discussed differences between small, western towns and many eastern (so. ne) impacts of economic factors, and loss/gain of businesses. Effects of boom, bust cycles on communities - so hard to anticipate.
Housing bust is “irrational exuberance”. Problem with imperfect information, that we didn't check adjustable rate mortgages, financial institutions/some brokers were irresponsible. There is a shared responsibility between institution and individual.