We teach heritage interpretation planning all over the world and see communities of all kinds working to preserve local lifestyles, encourage their core values and maintain the distinct sense of place that matters to them. And we see developments in some communities that change a unique identity forever to something chosen by one owner or one corporation without the consent and support of the community. You can protect what you hold most dear in your community and bring important local stories into play in ways that help your children better understand where they live. Research has shown that communities that are beloved for their unique lifestyles by local people are often more attractive to guests and tourists.
You must start where you are in the planning process but you jump ahead when you learn from others. Many communities in the world have been working on community improvement strategies for decades. Learn from them, but plan with your own values and objectives in mind. Inevitably this takes cooperation and collaboration among all local stakeholders - government, businesses, non-profits and citizens. This website and blog is devoted to sharing success stories and ideas that can be adapted to your needs.
