Ideas Into Action

In 2018, the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Greater St. Joseph launched an effort called Imagine St. Joseph 2040. That effort culminated in a vision of what St. Joseph might be by 2040 – a community of value and opportunity, one in which everyone belongs and everyone has a chance to prosper, and one with a culture of collaboration and accountability. 

Many parts of the vision overlapped with concerns raised in our dialogues – providing affordable housing, creating a city and a future that is attractive to youth, ensuring that our community is welcoming to old and new residents alike, and providing all with fair opportunities to prosper.

All of these require connection, communication and collaboration,  as well as ongoing focus, effort and engagement. We need those who can persevere in thinking big and those who can  refine those big ideas, break them up into doable pieces, and follow through.

And we need people who will ask the hard questions to ensure, using words from the Imagine 2040 plan (p. 13), that we “choose to do things that will have the most impact toward our vision” and “prioritize the best interests of the community over any individual or entity.”

In summary, strengthening our community requires people willing to work together to build a more prosperous and equitable future, and to do so over the long term.  Building a stronger community requires you.

Lend your voice! Join us at Bartlett Center on Jan 19, 2024, at 5:45 pm.

Photo credit: ID 146375349 © Andreyyalansky19 | Dreamstime.com