Visions Into Action (VIA)

(formerly Mayor’s Visioning Committee, and VisionPDX)

Two Sisters Representatives named to the Vision into Action Coalition

The Vision into Action (VIA) Coalition is a broad, community-led alliance of organizations, businesses, government and individuals acting collectively to ensure implementation of Portland’s community vision.  Sisters’ Board member Bob Block-Brown, and Sisters’ Board and Civic Action Group (CAG) member Lyn Kirby, were named to this Coalition in March 2008.  The newly formed Coalition will be initiating and supporting community-based action that advances the values and aspirations expressed through visionPDX.

The VIA Coalition began its work in March 2008, led by a Steering Committee made up of community members from diverse backgrounds and supported by City bureau representatives.

The VIA Coalition Steering Committee will first work to create a framework for community-led action that will help guide vision implementation. Vision into Action aims to launch 2 – 3 large-scale VIA projects/initiatives within the first year. They will also oversee a Vision into Action community grants program, funded by the City of Portland.

With roots in many communities and perspectives, the Coalition will facilitate ongoing collaboration between government and the people it serves and build community ownership of the vision through education and outreach.

Go to http://www.visionpdx.com/action/ for more information.

More about the Vision Process

Sisters Of The Road’s Executive Director, Monica Beemer, was a member of the 50-plus community committee that assisted the implementation of the project.  “This committee represents the diversity of our community,” said Mayor Potter. “They are uniquely qualified to engage Portlanders in deciding what our future will be. Their work will shape our community for generations.”

The best way to predict the future is to help create it. - Anonymous

VisionPDX is about coming together and discussing as a community what is our VISION for a bold future Portland city: PDX.  There’s been a lot of growth in Portland lately: housing costs and building heights/sizes; growth in ecology, growth in population and, growth in diversity.  For too long, Portland has been moving forward without a master vision. No more. Now, we get to create a vision and collectively decide how to manage all of this growth in a way that harnesses all that’s wonderful and minimizes all that’s bad, to create a modern city that’s truly world class and works for all people.

Sisters’ Community Engages

Huge congratulations to our community for completing our first Engagement phase of VisionPDX the Mayor’s Community Visioning Project!  Over 2006, Sisters Of The Road customers participated by providing 499 individual surveys through the Café, at camps, JOIN and other spots throughout the City where our customers live and carry out their day-to-day business.

For more information, check out these links:

1. www.visionpdx.com
2. Letter from Mayor Potter
3. Early timeline
4. Why We Need a Vision