Take Charge
Take Charge is an educational program designed to enable leaders, decision-makers and residents of rural communities face the future. The program used in Virginia is adapted from the "Take Charge: Economic Development in Small Communities" program published by North Central Regional Center for Rural Development. The process helps participants objectively analyze their community, consider alternatives, develop and maintain consensus, strategize, and take action for community development. It helps rural residents take charge of their community's destiny.
Community Indicators for the Take Charge Virginia Program
Change in rural America presents many challenges to rural decision-makers. In the midst of change, however, are opportunities for community betterment. Rural America can "take charge" of its future by recognizing these opportunities, organizing efforts, and mobilizing resources to take action.
The "Take Charge" educational program is designed to enable leaders, decision-makers and residents of rural communities face the future. It helps them to objectively analyze their community, consider alternatives, develop and maintain consensus, strategize, and take action for community development. It helps rural residents take charge of their community's destiny.
Objectives of the Take Charge Program
- Assemble a broad cross-section of people with various positions and interests from the community and enhance communication among these people.
- Help communities explore short- and long-term development strategies and gain a consensus vision of their own future.
- Gain broad community involvement and support through the empowerment of local citizens.
- Assist communities in analyzing their strengths and vulnerabilities and choosing the most appropriate development opportunities.
- Develop strategies to realize community residents' vision for the future.
- Utilize and build upon existing financial, physical, social, human, civic and natural resources (assets) to help realize the vision.
- Implement an action plan whereby the community the community can begin to take charge of their future.
The Take Charge Workshops
The Take Charge program begins with three, three-hour workshops. These workshops are designed to foster collaboration among the citizens of each community, to move the group toward consensus, and to provide a framework for creating a vision for the county.
Workshop #1 - Where are we now?
- Examine historical and current trends and characteristics of the community (community indicators) and consider implications of the future.
- Self examination of the community's strengths and vilnerabilities in terms of financial, social, human, and natural assets.
Workshop #2 - Where do we want to be?
- Develop a collective vision for the future of the community.
- Assess the opportunities for and threats to achieving that vision
Workshop #3 - How do we get there?
- Identify and frame overarching development issues
- Identify existing resources to help address these issues
- Explore alternative ways to organize the community for action
Benefits of the Take Charge Program
- Increased level of participation and ownership in the community decision-making process
- Increased general level of understanding of the community and its strategic position in the global economy
- Expanded pool of leadership and entrepreneurial talent
- More support for crucial decisions on strategic community issues
- Enhanced utilization of local resources
