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Heart & Soul is a resident-driven process that engages the entire population of a town in identifying what they love most about their community, what future they want for it, and how to achieve it.

Through a collection of stories, memories, hopes, and ideas, a plan is developed and put into action. We use that community voice to guide our actions in two ways - we fundraise for something tangible that will better our community and we put it into our official neighborhood improvement plan.

Community Heart & Soul is an ongoing practice that provides municipal officials with a clear understanding of what matters most to their constituents–all the residents–and forges a partnership that builds on the first thing everyone has in common: they all live here. It’s not a report that sits on a shelf; it’s a way of coming together to make your town a better place to live in and visit.

Community Heart & Soul begins with a four-phase, step-by-step process that brings residents together to identify and honor the unique character of their town and the emotional connection of the people who live there.

We are currently in 'Phase One', meaning this is an exciting time to get involved!

Your ideas will help shape this project and how we connect with our community.

Our community is built on personal stories and experiences. It is time to use your voice and your experiences to shift the landscape. Salem City Heart & Soul is the platform for just that. Resident volunteers dedicate a couple of hours a month to connect with other residents to collect stories and ideas. This can happen through events, story sharing, art, and conversations. With what we collect, we craft a vision that is shaped 100% by Salem residents. Our organization then fundraises by leveraging relationships (something we are very good at) to create the exact thing Salem needs.

This is a unique opportunity because, unlike other projects, this is run by Salem residents-just like you.

This a short-term project with long-term results.