
What is Community Heart & Soul?
Community Heart & Soul is a resident-driven process that engages the entire population of a town in identifying what they love most about their community, what future they want for it, and how to achieve it.
Developed and field-tested over a decade in partnership with over 120 small cities and towns across America, Community Heart & Soul is a proven process for engaging a community in shaping its future.
How it Works
Community Heart & Soul is an ongoing practice that provides municipal officials with a clear understanding of what matters most to their constituents–all the residents–and forges a partnership that builds on the first thing everyone has in common: they all live here. It’s not a report that sits on a shelf; it’s a way of coming together to make your town a better place to live in and visit.
Community Heart & Soul begins with a four-phase, step-by-step process that brings residents together to identify and honor the unique character of their town and the emotional connection of the people who live there.
“The Community Heart & Soul model has been the perfect fit for my organization as we work to strengthen rural Iowa communities. I’ve learned so much about community engagement, helping emerging leaders, and developing authentic relationships with people in our small towns.”
— Jason Neises, Certified Coach Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
Phase 1: Imagine
Heart & Soul teams are formed to build awareness, interest, and commitment in all segments of the community.
Phase 2: Connect
Stories are gathered from residents, leading to the development of Heart & Soul Statements that identify what matters most and reflect what they love about their towns.
Phase 3: Plan
Residents develop action plans to guide future town planning based on their Heart & Soul Statements.
Phase 4: Act
Heart & Soul Statements are officially adopted by town and city councils, incorporated into comprehensive and other plans, and are used to guide future policies and decisions.
The real work of Community Heart & Soul gets underway upon completion of the 4 phases. That’s when Heart & Soul teams put into action the plans they developed based on their Heart & Soul Statements.
Latest News
Featured Town: Upper Chichester, PA
Find out how Upper Chichester transformed community engagement into real action with Community Heart & Soul. From stronger connections to resident-driven improvements, their journey shows the power of listening and working together to achieve meaningful outcomes.
Read moreAnnouncing the "My Community’s Heart & Soul" Valentine Video Contest!
Showcase your love for your town! Enter the My Community’s Heart & Soul Valentine Video Contest by sharing what makes your community special. Submit a short video on Instagram or Facebook with #MyCommunityHeartandSoul for a chance to win. Entries due by Feb. 28—start filming today! 📹❤️
Learn moreCOMMUNITY HEART & SOUL® WELCOMES CAROLINE BIDDLE MCKENZIE AS MARKET DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE
We’re pleased to announce the hiring of South Burlington resident Caroline Biddle McKenzie as Market Development Associate. In this role, she will focus on driving the organization’s impact and fostering new partnerships across the country.
Read moreUpper Chichester Township sought to develop its commercial corridors while preserving its historic architecture, distinctive neighborhoods, and agricultural roots. Recognizing the need for stronger community connections and a shared vision for the future, township leaders and residents adopted Community Heart & Soul. This initiative aimed to unite various groups, including those often underrepresented, and address challenges like ensuring inclusivity and honoring the township’s heritage. The timing was right to foster a community identity and strengthen the sense of place. Community Heart & Soul presented an opportunity to create a unified vision that respected the township’s unique character.
Upper Chichester Heart & Soul, PennsylvaniaGovernor's Award
Upper Chichester Township was awarded a Governor's Award for Local Government Excellence in 2023 signifying their commitment to actively involving residents in the local decision-making processes through the efforts of the Community Heart & Soul program.
Boothwyn Downtown Center plan
Upper Chichester Township developed the Boothwyn Downtown Center plan as well as several other neighborhood plans using Heart & Soul principles for engaging the community.
“One of the best things that happened as a result of going through the Heart & Soul process was that our board of commissioners and local government actively use this process as they go out into the community. They want to engage residents, get their input—what do you hope for the future of your town? How do you want to be involved in making that happen? That in and of itself is a huge success that we as a team are really proud of.”
— Lauren Aaron, Upper Chichester, Pennsylvania
Community Heart & Soul Towns
From Downeast Maine to the Heartlands to the Pacific Northwest, towns and residents are making change in their communities. Click on the map to see where it’s happening and hear their stories. Let us give you a guided tour through the transformation with Community Heart & Soul.