Visioning Meeting Pt.3

Process narrows visioning priorities

After 3 meetings, developing the local economy tops the public’s list

By Tim Hrenchir

The Capital-Journal
Published Friday, June 20, 2008

Economic development should be Topeka and Shawnee County’s top priority while better governance should come in second.

Improving the community’s quality of life, education and self-image are third, fourth and fifth, respectively, on the priority list.

Mike Burley / The Capital-Journal

Jerry Farley

That was the consensus of more than 650 people who took part in three community "visioning" meetings this week to share ideas for making Topeka and Shawnee County a better place.

Read more here http://cjonline.com/stories/062008/bus_292968006.shtml

  • Travis Gooden
  • June 20th, 2008
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  • Getting Involved, Topeka News, Vision
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Heartland Visioning, Round 2

Heartland Visioning, Round 2
By Mike Hall
The Capital-Journal
Published Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Sometimes, little things can make life better.

For 9-year-old Jhailyn Johnson, teachers who make learning fun would do it.

Jhailyn was among 145 Shawnee Countians who offered ideas Tuesday night on how to make Topeka a better place to live. The gathering at Seaman High School was the second of three community meetings leading to a plan to be completed in November.

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Where do you see the city?

Visioning: Where do you see the city?

The Capital-Journal

Published Wednesday, June 04, 2008

In preparation for Heartland Visioning community meetings scheduled for June 16, 17 and 19, Daily Dose is presenting a series of findings aimed at spurring conversation among local residents about key issues.


Shawnee County is located in what could be called the Kansas Knowledge Corridor, an area featuring the following resources for innovation and knowledge-based economic development:

• In 2005, Kansas State University had research grants of $123.4 million and an enrollment of more than 23,000 students.

• In 2005, The University of Kansas had research grants of $116.3 million and an enrollment of more than 29,000 students.

• Also that year, KU Medical Center had $73.2 million in grants.

• Those research grants totaled $312.9 million.

• Washburn University enrolls more than 7,200 students in Topeka on a 160-acre campus. More than 1,200 students participate in internship opportunities at more than 125 sites in Shawnee County, and more than 1,200 degrees and certificates are awarded annually…

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  • Travis Gooden
  • June 4th, 2008
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  • Articles, Vision
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Letter: Visioning can work

Letter: Visioning can work

The Capital-Journal
Published Monday, June 02, 2008

I was a public school principal for 33 of the 38 years I worked in the education profession. One of the basic concepts in education is that we must know in advance where we want to go before we can decide how to best get there.

Schools wasted time and effort writing general mission statements, such as, "To prepare the student to be a successful citizen and a lifelong learner in a democratic society in the 21st century."

Some high-sounding general concept that will fit on a bumper sticker doesn’t change anything. We need to concentrate on causes and means rather than desired effects and ends.

We must be make sure that our current community visioning project doesn’t fall into this same trap. Every community wants the same general outcomes — decreased violence and crime; population increase; more business, industry and jobs; enhanced relationships between different neighborhoods and parts of town; and improved infrastructure, racial relations, educational opportunities, image and governmental leadership.

We must focus on creative, specific and detailed ideas on how to cause these positive objectives to happen. We need action plans, not "somebody should" statements and complaints about the past.

In historic North Topeka, we have assigned our efforts to three action groups: housing and infrastructure, business and industry, and pride and image. The North Topeka Business Alliance was formed. Civic groups, schools and churches have been actively involved. We added a bandstand in Garfield park, a community band, summer concerts, a parade and the Great Overland Station. Senior housing has been completed and more construction is taking place, downtown infrastructure has been improved and we have phenomenal growth of business on North Topeka Boulevard and US-24 highway.

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