“Chi Pride” flourishes in Upper Chichester with the support of PA Humanities
Upper Chichester’s economic redevelopment expands along with civic engagement and pride with the guidance of PA Humanities and Community Heart & Soul
Snapshot Overview
Location: Upper Chichester, Pennsylvania
Partner: PA Humanities
Key Challenge: Upper Chichester Township wanted to develop its commercial areas while protecting its historic character, neighborhoods, and agricultural heritage, and it recognized the need for strong community input.
The Narrative
Upper Chichester (pop. 17,000) is a cornerstone community in southeastern Pennsylvania with easy highway access to Philadelphia and Wilmington, DE. The township is divided into several neighborhoods, each with its own unique character. Upper Chichester saw an opportunity for renewed economic development, but struggled to bring residents of the many neighborhoods together for a town wide vision. With the help of PA Humanities, the township discovered Community Heart & Soul as a way to plan for the future together and align growth with community priorities.
The Challenges
Challenge #1
Strengthen community identity:
As Upper Chichester grew from a rural farming town to a suburban community, each newly developed neighborhood developed its own identity. Town leadership had struggled to unify these disparate neighborhoods around a common vision for city-wide growth.
Strategy:
Partnering with PA Humanities and using the Community Heart & Soul approach, Upper Chichester actively engaged residents from across the township with community forums, student contests, virtual chats, and story-gathering events designed to bring residents together across neighborhood, racial, and generational lines. Volunteers interviewed more than 400 residents and business owners and collected over 1,000 community data points about what people valued most about Upper Chichester and what they wanted for the future. The Heart & Soul team had to get creative to reach people during the height of the Covid pandemic and those efforts were rewarded with marked increase in momentum and energy as gathering restrictions eased.
Challenge #2
Increase civic engagement:
With so many distinct neighborhoods and a suburban bedroom community feel to the township, many residents felt disconnected from township decision making.
Strategy:
The Upper Chichester Heart and Soul team made sure to meet people where they were, especially in neighborhoods not traditionally involved in local planning efforts. A small group of volunteers grew into a cross-section of residents that represented the diverse demographics of the community. The information gathered from volunteer-led story-gathering efforts informed seven value statements and 30 action items reflecting the priorities of those who live, work and play in Upper Chichester. The outreach paid off with dividends of increased volunteerism, strengthened partnerships among local organizations, and renewed community pride, or “Chi Pride” as they call it here.
Challenge #3
Economic development:
Upper Chichester Township sought to develop its commercial corridors while preserving its historic architecture, distinctive neighborhoods, and agricultural roots.
Strategy:
Through the Community Heart & Soul process, Upper Chichester learned exactly what residents valued and wanted to see in their township: new businesses, a more attractive town center, better walkability, improved building facades, and to make better use of the Route 322 corridor. These desires were addressed with policy changes that allowed new businesses such as microbreweries and food trucks, and programs enacted to encourage new commercial opportunities and streetscape beautification.
The Result
With support from PA Humanities, Upper Chichester used the Community Heart & Soul process to bring more residents into local decision-making, strengthen civic participation, and shape priorities for future growth. Community conversations and storytelling helped identify shared values around small businesses, public spaces, and neighborhood connections, giving township leaders clearer direction for planning and economic development efforts. The process also helped build stronger relationships between residents, local organizations, and township officials that bolstered “Chi Pride” and will continue to support future community initiatives.
Thoughts From Our Partner
“We passionately believe the humanities inspire people to make a difference and come together to advance cultural diversity, economic vibrancy, and an equitable society. With humanities at the heart of planning and development, local values and voices become the foundation for building communities that are connected, innovative, competitive, and strong.”
— Laurie Zeirer, Executive Director, PA Humanities
A Clear Path to Impact
Starting your path towards partnering with Community Heart & Soul is easy.
1
Fill Out a Brief Questionnaire
2
Schedule a Discovery Call
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Make a Lasting Difference Together
