The Pennsylvania Humanities Council (PHC) has partnered with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) and The Orton Family Foundation to support the City of Easton as it incorporates a humanities-based approach to community development.
In this unique partnership among a government agency, a statewide nonprofit, and a national operating foundation, the city of Easton will receive a total of $47,000 in funding, with both PHC and DCED providing $23,500; in addition, PHC and the Orton Family Foundation will provide training and technical support worth $53,000.
“We believe the humanities can provide a path to action and long-term positive change in Pennsylvania,” said Laurie Zierer, PHC’s executive director. “With story-gathering at the heart of planning and development, local voices become the foundation for building stronger communities and a better future.”
In 2015, to achieve the greatest impact and broadest reach through humanities-based community development, PHC partnered with the Orton Family Foundation to bring Orton’s Community Heart & Soul® model to Pennsylvania communities. Community Heart & Soul actively seeks the collective wisdom of all residents, including those whose voices are often missing, and brings people together to build stronger, healthier, and more economically vibrant communities.
“Congratulations to the residents of Easton on winning support from PHC and DCED for a Community Heart & Soul project,” said David Leckey, executive director, Orton Family Foundation. “Community Heart & Soul is a catalyst for change that takes into account both the unique character of a town and the deep emotional connection of the people who live there – a town’s ‘Heart & Soul.’ These collective insights into what truly matters most to residents serve to guide a town in making the best decisions about its future and that leads to opportunities—including economic development—that residents might not have discovered prior to Heart & Soul. We are looking forward to what Community Heart & Soul can do for Easton.”
Easton will be the fourth Pennsylvania Heart & Soul Community; the other three communities, Greater Carlisle, the City of Meadville and Williamsport, recently completed a full year of work using the Heart and Soul® model and received $87,200 in second-year funding from PHC, in addition to continued training and technical support from PHC and Orton. PHC hopes to expand the program to include additional cities and towns later this year.
“DCED’s Governor’s Center for Local Government Services is excited to partner with the Pennsylvania Humanities Council and the Orton Family Foundation, as we view it as a unique opportunity to build better communities for all of Pennsylvania,” said DCED secretary Dennis Davin. “By listening to, and including all residents, we can effectively collaborate for better and stronger results.”
