Voices and Choices

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Method(s) Used

Name of person who posted the project:

Zaki Nahaboo

Location of project:

United States of America

Date when the project started:

2005

Date when the project ended/project ongoing:

2006

Background to project:

"Voices & Choices was created by the Fund for Our Economic Future
to develop a public mandate for change that will produce a stronger
region with more jobs and better opportunities for everyone"

(America Speaks, (2007), 'Voices and Choices', Available at

http://www.americaspeaks.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.viewPage&PageID=639&d:\CFusionMX7\verity\Data\dummy.txt)

Purpose of project:

To identify the most important socio-economic challenges facing Northeast Ohio's development. Once this was identified and prioritised then solutions were proposed. This was to lay the foundations for the regions economic agenda, which was implemented by Advance Northeast Ohio.

Project activities:

The project proceeded along various stages engaging over 21,000 citizens:

2005
3000 Citizen interviews to identify the regions strengths
Leadership workshops: representatives of businesses and non-profit organizations developed a list of the challenges
2006
Community conversations: 13,500 Ohioans participated in discussions in various public and private locales prioritizing challenges and brainstorming solutions
Leadership summit: 200 leaders provided input on the creation of a set of options for addressing the region?s six greatest challenges.
Online interactive surveys: 1,700 prioritizing solutions for the challenges

Towards the end of each year there was a regional meeting they voted and allocated simulated money to challenges and solutions they thought to be effective.

Project results:

The main challenges identified were: equitable and accountable schooling, reducing urban sprawl, attracting business, reducing government fragmentation, racial equality and a workforce prepared for the future.

The priority challenges, goals and solutions varied with the different respondents, but it successfully managed to state priorities in funding and reforming education and training.

The evaluation by participants demonstrated over 80% of participants throughout the various stages thought highly of the quality of the forum.

Contact details:

info@americaspeaks.org

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