With the right approach to community involvement, small cities and towns can thrive. Community Heart & Soul®, a nonprofit organization dedicated to resident-driven community development, recently partnered with ICMA for a webinar to explore how meaningful community engagement can transform small cities and towns.

Principles Rooted in Community

Mark Sherman, president of Community Heart & Soul shared an overview of the organization’s signature process. The approach helps residents identify what they love about their town, set future goals, and determine how to achieve them. It follows three principles—involve everyone, focus on what matters most, and play the long game—and is structured into four phases: Imagine, Connect, Plan, and Act. Each phase builds on the last to ensure the work is rooted in community priorities and values.

Grants to Get Started

Sara Lightner, senior director for programs, introduced the Community Heart & Soul Seed Grant Program, which offers financial support to communities that are ready to implement the Community Heart & Soul model. Successful applicants can receive a $10,000 grant, with the expectation of a one-to-one cash match upon receipt of the funds. 

Stories from Heart & Soul Towns

Michele Bannon, mayor of Carbondale, Pennsylvania, shared her community's journey with the Community Heart & Soul process and highlighted the positive outcomes that have resulted from their involvement. For Bannon, the process was an opportunity to directly engage residents and move beyond top-down planning.

"By doing Community Heart & Soul we were able to get out into the community... it pulled us together, made us realize we all have the same goals and values, and we want to work through this to the same outcome."– Michele Bannon, mayor, Carbondale, Pennsylvania

Annie Short, director of special projects, talked about Mendota, Illinois’ community revitalization efforts through Community Heart & Soul as a powerful example of how tragedy can spark positive transformation. In 2022, Mendota experienced two major fires that devastated parts of the town, leaving vacant lots in their wake. The fires led to a realization that the community needed to unite and take action for the future. Data from stories gathered during Community Heart & Soul was instrumental in securing grants, including funding for sidewalk improvements, downtown revitalization, and resulted in the formation of an arts commission, recognizing the role of arts in Mendota's cultural landscape.

"Mendota really is going to rise From the Ashes... everything that's been going well since the fires has been a result of Community Heart and Soul."– Annie Short, director of special projects, Mendota, Illinois

Key Takeaways 

• Community Engagement: Actively involving residents in shaping their future ensures that all voices—especially those often overlooked—are heard. This approach leads to increased civic participation and a sense of ownership over local decisions.
• Focus on Positive Storytelling and Strengths: Instead of focusing on problems, Community Heart & Soul shifts the focus to what matters most to residents. This positive framing inspires residents to work collaboratively toward shared goals and fosters a sense of pride and optimism about the future.
• Collaboration Across Organizations: Engaging a wide range of local organizations—such as chambers of commerce, libraries, and housing authorities—broadens the reach of community engagement. 
• Civic Shifts: Community Heart & Soul helps shift the culture around civic engagement often resulting in more residents running for office, increased volunteerism and more community-driven projects. 
• Resilience and Recovery: Mendota’s recovery after tragedy and Carbondale’s post-industrial renewal exemplify the resilience of small towns when residents are united by a shared vision. Both communities leveraged Community Heart & Soul to turn adversity into an opportunity for growth, fostering a more connected and hopeful future.
• Sustained Momentum: Maintaining momentum is critical to ensuring that the energy and ideas generated through community engagement leads to sustained, tangible improvements.

The Community Heart & Soul process is more than just a set of guidelines—it's a pathway for small cities and towns to build stronger bonds and create lasting positive change. By engaging every resident and focusing on what truly matters most to the community, towns can overcome adversity and create a bright future for all.

Want to learn more? Watch the full webinar recording on the ICMA Learning Hub to gain valuable insights and see how these principles can work in your town. And listen to ICMA's Voices in Local Government podcast to hear how Bucksport, Maine, overcame losing a major industry to revitalize their economic development with a community-first approach.