Strong Community Requires Connection
As times change and new neighbors arrive, needs change and the vision for what a better future looks like changes, too! The Columbia Valley (CV) is the name of our local urban growth area. In 2011 the Foothills Subarea Plan was developed to describe the vision for how CV’s future will emerge. If you are curious, you can check out the Foothills Subarea Plan at https://www.whatcomcounty.us/1141/Foothills-Subarea-Plan. The Columbia Valley Community Connections effort was started to help neighbors connect with one another and with organizations that serve the people who live in the Columbia Valley. We aimed to ways in which we could create a safe, connected and healthy community for our shared future. The CVCC effort is on a bit of a hiatus as the options for having meetings have changed. However the need for our community to strengthen its connections, and the dreams and hopes for a better future have not changed and there are many organizations and efforts that need you and others to participate to make them stronger and better able to reach our goals! Civic participation is essential to a strong community. When many people contribute a little, we increase the quality and amount of effort because there is more representation across the spectrum of community voices and ideas. And we won’t burn out the few who are doing a lot. Consider participating in the Health Equity Zone effort; the Foothills Community Alliance; the Kendall Parent Teacher Organization; the Kendall Watchdogs; volunteer in a local school; contribute to the Foothills Communication Hub or the Southfork Valley Community Association. In addition, when we all chip in and get involved, we learn about what is happening in our community. We knit the fabric of community more tightly and we cross-pollinate with our ideas, goals and knowledge of strategies that will actually build the stronger community we want! It is only through connection and participating that we can more easily translate those goals into new plans for a better future and how we shape our community and infrastructure to support more of what we want! So, this in an invitation to “Get Connected!” If you are interested in getting connected to any number of efforts in Columbia Valley, email Kristi at executivedirector@wfcn.org
The purpose of Columbia Valley Community Connections is to provide a welcoming place where we can gather and connect to build a strong community. Our shared commitment is to support communication and local leadership. We work together to turn vision into reality, provide solutions to challenges, promote imaginative and inclusive activities and create a more engaged, resilient community for all. kristi.slette@wfcn.org