b'Making Change Happen: Collaborative Community PlanningBringing thousands of people, of various ages and socio-economic backgrounds, together to share their ideas and opinions as to what they would like to see their community become over the next 20 or so years is no easy task.Yet, since April 2008, over 1200 citizens have been engaged in the city of Keenes visioningand master planning processlaying the groundwork for a vision that will result in a more sustainable, vibrant, and healthy community in Keene for generations to come.While the Master Plan wont be available until 2010, the process itself has already delivered some invaluable benefits. One benefit has been more open communication between the community and its civicleadership. At many of the community forums it was often remarked that it was great tohave a chance to be involved and actually be heard. City of Keene Visioning Process CMC/DH-K Another added benefit has been the increase in citizen engagement. Participation incouncil meetings, planning board meetings, and on city-appointed committees has grown as community members begin to take ownership of shaping the community and see the value in collaboration.The visioning process represents a shift in the relationships among and betweenManagemembers of our community, reports city planner Mikaela Engert. It has opened widethe doors to collaboration and communication, identified and engaged new communityyour leaders, and shaped new partnershipsensuring that our community members andcommunity leadership continue to foster and support all that makes Keene unique; whilenumbers shaping, balancing, and guiding how the community evolves into the future.1 6Engaging Our Community In Health88222_CMC2.indd 18 2/1/10 12:26 PM'