Improving Pulaski County’s future will mean improving its leadership. That’s according to the results of the Community Foundation of Pulaski County’s recent “community conversations” presented to the public Tuesday.
Last fall, the foundation hired Amy Beechy of Project Matters, LLC to gather input from 146 community members from various walks of life. Beechy said that many of the aspirations that emerged were typical for rural areas, such as the desire for a community that’s safe and drug-free, thriving and growing, and welcoming and open-minded. But there was also a strong desire for forward-thinking leadership, something Beechy said she hadn’t heard anyplace else.
“You’re kind of in that stage of community where you’re mobilizing,” Beechy said. “People have had enough. They see that things aren’t working. They’re forming little groups and mobilizing themselves. I have not seen that before, so that’s where you’re unique.”
Some of residents’ specific concerns include a lack of qualified leadership in elected offices, a lack of a shared vision for the community, and a large amount of in-fighting. To solve the perceived problems, residents suggested establishing a leadership academy, boosting training for new and existing leaders, and hiring a county executive.
Community Foundation Executive Director Wendy Rose said the foundation’s board of directors has started working on its next steps. “Our board believes our community is ready for change and ready to move forward, and thus, they are going to focus on the forward-thinking leadership aspiration,” Rose said.
She added that the community foundation plans to apply for a Lilly Endowment implementation grant in March. Foundation officials also hope to make grant funding available to help organizations address the other three aspirations in the report. The report noted concerns about the county’s population decline, high income tax rate, high recidivism rate among offenders, and failure to fully capitalize on its natural resources.
Community foundation officials also hope that other organizations and individuals will use the report as a way to engage discussions and take positive steps toward community growth.
