VISIONEERING WICHITA Background

Phase I of Visioneering Wichita began in June 2004 with the selection of a demographically diverse 50-person Steering Committee from our Wichita MSA (comprised of Sedgwick, Harvey, Butler and Sumner counties). Then a series of 30 focus groups were conducted followed by 8 community meetings in August. These meetings were held to gain insight and provide citizen inputs into the Wichita MSA’s perceived strengths and weaknesses. Fifty-two breakout sessions identified 2,844 unique issues (go to Documents for all public input). These issues were summarized and ranked by the groups resulting in 10 top priority strategies for consideration by the Vision Task Forces.

Due to the geographic expanse of the Wichita Metropolitan Statistical Area, four Vision Task Forces were created to represent the diverse demographic region. The task forces, represented by 442 community citizens, met in September 2004 in the four quadrants of the Wichita MSA. These citizens distilled Focus Group and Community Meeting issues into the draft Visioneering Wichita document. The result of their collaboration is a shared Vision of what Wichita MSA citizens desire their community be in the next 5 to 20 years. The Vision details strategic priorities and strategies in six foundation areas (Economic Development, Education, Quality of Life, Infrastructure, Government and Private Sector Leadership).

During the fall of 2004, the draft Vision was presented to over 7,300 citizens for their review and feedback. Citizen input resulted in 1,125 issues and comments. Additional community meetings were conducted in November for a final opportunity to review and provide comments on the draft document. The Steering Community then reviewed the comments and revised the draft Vision to reflect citizen input. The final Vision was adopted on December 6, 2004.

Will Visioneering Wichita Really Work?

Yes, it’s up to you. Visioneering Wichita has united citizens, public and private entities in a unified course of action and focus for our Wichita Metropolitan Statistical Area growth and improvement. It is a plan that encompasses every citizen and works to ensure a higher quality of life for all.

We will measure our success annually but it’s your involvement and commitment that will be the true success of Visioneering Wichita. All of us must work together to make our dreams a reality.

What are the goals of Visioneering Wichita?

• To provide citizens, public and private organizations with the opportunity to adopt shared values, benchmarks, vision and strategies to use in developing our future.
• To facilitate communications within the community so that reality and perceptions are in alignment.
• To create a strategic plan to ensure a quality of life that encourages our young people to live, learn, work and play in our regional community.

Who is part of Visioneering Wichita?

• Citizens of the Wichita regional area.
• Citizen involvement through many avenues, including the Steering Committee, Focus Group Interviews, Vision Task Forces, Public Presentations, Web Input, Community Meetings, Media Participation, and Vision Partner Endorsements and Involvement.
• This is a regional community citizen based strategic plan – no one organization or governmental entity will own it. Our area citizens own it.

How does Visioneering Wichita accomplish its goals?

Vision/Strategic Plan Development

Collaborative Implementation

Collaborative Implementation will occur by Vision Partners….organizations throughout the area will endorse the Vision and become Vision Partners committed to long term implementation.
• 100 to 500 Vision Partners endorse the Vision.
• Vision Partners or Strategic Alliances of Vision Partners adopt specific strategies for implementation.
• Vision Partners annually update plans and report progress.