HUTCHINSON—The Hutchinson Community Foundation is conducting a survey to kick off the second year of its Love Where You Live Community Empowerment Initiative.
The initiative is meant to amplify residents’ voices, encourage community engagement and promote collaborative action. Data from the survey will be used to inform future initiatives and grants to help residents make lasting change and build community pride.
Year one of the survey identified civic improvements in rural Reno County, blight and housing as priorities. Projects to expand a community garden in Sylvia, improve the Arlington Community Building, and launch a Love Where You Live initiative in Haven received Reno County grants earlier this year.
“We were so pleased with the response to the first year of this effort,” Director of Strategy Kari Mailloux said. “We had 1,022 people who gave their input on the survey, and the turnout at the community workshops that followed was enthusiastic. But this year, we want to reach even more people—especially young adults, renters, communities of color and rural residents—to get even better data. Broad input makes the priorities and collective perceptions more credible and actionable. Every voice we hear is one more perspective shaping our shared future.”
Community-level reports will be available in the winter.
Residents 16 or older can take or download the survey at renosurvey.com. For every 50 responses, Hutch CF will donate $50 to a local food pantry.