July 27: Community Conversations launch

The Community Conversation is an engaging, fun, and exciting public meeting format that allows all voices to be heard.

Unlike standard council meetings or other gatherings where public input is gathered, Community Conversations bring people together in a positive environment where they can collaborate on ideas and come up with solutions – together.

The Community Conversation format is a tested, lively, and interactive method designed by Washington DC-based AmericaSpeaks, and led by trained facilitators to engage dialogue among diverse populations.

At each Community Conversation, about 30 people will gather and split up into tables of five to six people. At each table, participants work together to collaborate and answer the following questions:

• What does a thriving region look like?
• What key challenges must be address for our region to thrive, and what key strengths can we build on?
• What one or two possibilities must be pursued to ensure the region thrives? Why?
• It is 2025. What makes us most proud of our region, and what was key to getting us here?

Community Conversations are scheduled across parts of four states (32 counties) in a region-wide Power of 32 launch on Tuesday, July 27th, creating a forum for all residents to voice their vision for the region’s future. Residents across the region will unify in beginning the Listening Phase of this unprecedented project during the launch.

“Beginning at 8 am that day, Community Conversations will be held almost every hour in every county across the Power of 32 region,” said Selena Schmidt, Power of 32 executive director. “These public input sessions will continue in each county in August and September, but this is a great way for us to unify as a region and kick off this important initiative.” Find a conversation in your area right here! Voice your vision this Tuesday – register at www.powerof32.org!

• Tuesday, July 27 Community Conversations are scheduled for:
  
  Allegany, MD
  · Cumberland: 5:30 pm at the Allegany Arts Council – 9 N. Centre Street
  
  Allegheny, PA
  · Homestead: 6:00 pm at The Pump House – 880 E. Waterfront Drive
  · Carnegie: 6:00 pm at Carnegie Borough Municipal Center – One Veterans Way
  · Mt. Lebanon: 6:30 pm at Mt. Lebanon Library – 16 Castle Shannon Blvd.
  · Monroeville: 6:30 at Monroeville Municipal Building, Council Chambers – 2700 Monroeville Blvd.
  
  Armstrong, PA
  · Freeport: 11:30 am at IUP Northpoint – 167 Northpointe Blvd.
  
  Beaver, PA
  · Beaver Falls: 2:00 pm at Geneva College – Northwood Hall, Room 013
  
  Bedford, PA
  · Everett: 12:00 pm at Union Hotel – 128 East Main Street
  
  Blair, PA
  · Altoona: 5:30 pm at Altoona Area Public Library – 1600 Fifth Avenue
  
  Butler, PA
  · Butler: 6:00 pm at CDC Office – Pullman Center Business Park
  
  Fayette, PA
  · Uniontown: 5:00 pm at Penn State Fayette Campus – Maggie Hardy Magerko Auditorium
  
  Greene, PA
  · Waynesburg: 4:00 pm at Southwest Regional Medical Center
  
  Hancock/Brooke, WV
  · Weirton: 10:00 am at West Virginia Northern Community College – Room 115
  
  Harrison, WV
  · Mannington: 9:00 am at Mannington Public Library – 109 Clarksburg St.
  
  Indiana, PA
  · Blairsville: 6:00 pm at Blairsville Recreation Center – 101 North Lane
  
  Jefferson, OH
  · Steubenville: 5:30 pm at Eastern Gateway Community College – 4000 Sunset Blvd.
  
  Lawrence, PA
  · New Castle: 1:00 pm at New Castle Public Library – 207 East North Street
  
  Mahoning, OH
  · Youngstown: 7:00 pm at Newport Library – 3730 Market Street
  
  Marion, WV
  · Fairmont: 5:00 pm at Fairmont State University – Jaynes Hall, Room 104
  
  Mercer, PA
  · Mercer: 1:00 pm at Mercer County Court House – 120 South Diamond Street
  
  Monroe, OH
  · Woodsfield: 3:00 pm at Monroe County District Library – 96 Home Avenue
  
  Ohio, WV
  · Wheeling: 6:00 pm at West Virginia Northern Community College – 1704 Market Street
  
  Preston, WV
  · Terra Alta: 5:00 pm at City Hall of Terra Alta – 701 East State Avenue
  
  Somerset, PA
  · Somerset: 9:00 am at Somerset Church of the Brethern – 606 Plank Road
  
  Tyler, WV
  · Sisterville: 5:00 pm at Sisterville Public Library – 518 Wells Street
  
  Washington, PA
  · Washington: 6:30 pm at Courthouse Square – 100 West Beau Street
  
  Westmoreland, PA
  · Latrobe: 6:30 pm at St. Vincent College Fred Rogers Center – 300 Fraser Purchase Road