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Article published Nov 28, 2005
Nov 28, 2005
Common Pathways seeks to break down the ‘silos’
AS I SEE IT
| By Clara Savage |
| ||||
The mission of Common Pathways is to promote shared learning, reflection and broad engagement that improve community decision-making and quality of life for all residents of Worcester. This is truly easier said than done.
Common Pathways builds on two other initiatives in Worcester in recent years: The Community Wellness Coalition and Pathways to Progress. Common Pathways seeks to get myriad community, business and political leaders as well as the general public to come together — and work together — to achieve common goals.
One of the biggest challenges is connecting the numerous coalitions and subgroups that exist in an urban center like Worcester.
These islands of health, education, safety, environment, economics, culture and recreation have a tendency to act unto themselves. Coming together to set a common course can lead to broad-based, sustainable community change that benefits all residents of the city.
This common and challenging issue is known as the “silo effect” — a term evoking the barriers to communication and collaborative goal-setting among departments, agencies or organizations.
Common Pathways hopes to address the silo effect on a community level.
Currently, Common Pathways is gathering community input on what Worcester residents believe will make our city a better place to live in for all. Over the summer and fall, Common Pathways members have been conducting one-on-one interviews at community events, holding small discussion groups and planning a Community Forum, to be held this week.
Common Pathways will then develop a common set of community priorities in order to engage the community on a variety of levels to achieve positive change.
We will announce the results in another Community Forum in early 2006, during which we hope to define what are Worcester’s concerns and priorities as well as how we can improve the quality of life in our city for all of us.
Clara Savage is the staff coordinator of Common Pathways.
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