Who feels truly heard by their local representatives?

Local Grand County residents are forming a new organization to empower local voices. Community Heart & Soul — a nationally-recognized, resident-led process — is launching in Kremmling.

This Vermont-born initiative, now implemented in 90 small towns across the country, is designed to put community voices at the center of local decision-making, according to a press release from the organization.

While town meetings present an opportunity for folks to provide input on local issues, it can be difficult for the average, working individual to carve out time to advocate at meetings when they are “busy doing life,” said DiAnn Butler, Grand County’s economic development coordinator.

The Heart & Soul initiative offers a different approach to informing towns about what changes its residents truly want to see, she said.

“This is a different way to involve your community and your residents, and it’s usually driven by a very resident-focused initiative, which means the town’s usually given its blessing,” she said. “And the main people doing the work are the resident volunteers.”

Volunteers are tasked with gathering stories and community feedback, which they then compile and organize into a list of priorities to present to town officials, she said. With a clear sense of the town’s issues, officials can craft solutions and action items that are reflective of resident needs.

Developed by Lyman Orton in Vermont, the Heart & Soul process prioritizes listening. Its workflow happens in four stages: laying the groundwork, exploring the community, making decisions and taking action. Volunteers use the shared values and stories they gather to guide local decision-making, resulting in increased civic engagement, improved leadership trust and stronger investment in the community.

To guide the work in their Kremmling chapter, a part-time project coordinator will be hired. The position will oversee meetings, events and volunteer coordination. Organizers say they are seeking candidates with experience in public engagement or community development and a passion for inclusivity.

An open community meeting will be scheduled in the coming months as the local organization begins takes shape and plan its upcoming work.

For questions about the coordinator position or to be added to the community meeting list, please contact DiAnn Butler at dbutler@co.grand.co.us. To learn more about the Community Heart & Soul model, visit CommunityHeartAndSoul.org.