Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Below are frequently asked questions about the Dillsburg Heart & Soul project. For more detailed answers of the questions, click here. If you have further questions or want to get involved, don’t hesitate to reach out to dillsburgheartandsoul@gmail.com.

 

    • A process for small towns, built upon three main ideas: involve everyone, focus on what matters most, and play the long game

    • Utilizes a four-phase process; residents and community members can share stories of what they love and what they want to see in the future.

    • Creates unity and increases local investment in the town

    • Strives to put local voices and community opinions at the forefront of shaping the town

  • Lyman Orton, proprietor of The Vermont Country Store, became frustrated with his town’s planning commission when decisions were made without input from the majority of residents.

    He began a non-profit organization to establish a community development process in which all voices are heard and valued.

  • The program is built around a four-phase process (Imagine, Connect, Plan, Act) which provides municipal officials with a clear understanding of what matters most to community residents. Read more about the phases under the “Our Process” page.

  • 90 and counting!

  • We are your neighbors - dedicated local folks, with no political or ideological agenda, who have been working together to shine a light on our beautiful small town. Together, we hope to inspire Dillsburg and the entire Northern York community to continue to be a place where we are all proud to live, work, play, and learn.

  • March of 2020!

    • Carroll, Franklin, Monaghan, Washington, and Warrington Townships

    • Dillsburg, Franklintown, and Wellsville Boroughs

  • As of August 2022, we are headed into Phase 3 - Plan.

    • Because of Covid, the team was limited in its collection locations: Farmers’ Fair, Food Truck Fridays, schools, civic clubs, senior centers, senior living facilities, restaurants, and coffee shops.

    • Community member also shared feedback via social media and our website.

  • Covid restrictions limited our collection sites to mostly outdoor events, but we would love to hear your stories, feedback, and hopes for Dillsburg.

    Email dillsburgheartandsoul@gmail.com to set up a time to talk 1:1 or as a group.

  • 2,000 pieces of data!

    • A value statement is a statement that verbalizes an aspect of our community that we love and explains why we love it. These statements capture what makes up the heart & soul of Dillsburg.

    • They will help shape our community action plan in phase 3.

  • The Dillsburg volunteer team spent several months analyzing collected data and categorized it by common themes. They then wrote value statements based on those themes.

  • No. The Community Heart & Soul process is designed to be apolitical, focusing on what matters most instead of focusing on complaints. Neither our local group nor the national organization is associated with any political group.

    We are not financially supported by Community Heart & Soul.

  • Community Heart & Soul helps small communities celebrate their unique and beloved features while also creating ways to take action in order to achieve community goals.

  • We will continue editing the value statements based on feedback from the community. Once the statements are finalized, we will move to phase 3 which revolves around creating a community action plan.

  • You can email dillsburgheartandsoul@gmail.com to connect with Liz Fairchok, Project Coordinator.

  • PA Humanities is an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to champion the humanities as a means to spark civic engagement, build community, educate, inspire, and make long-lasting change. Community Heart & Soul aligned well with PA Humanities’ civic engagement goals. For more information click here.

  • The NEH is an independent federal agency which provides educational resources and grants to cultural institutions and individual scholars. The NEH is not a political organization and must remain non-partisan due to its stance as a federal agency.

  • 14 towns across PA have participated so far!

  • PA Humanities supports most PA Heart & Soul groups, through funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities and in collaboration with special funding partners (like the Department of Community & Economic Development, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, South Mountain Partnerships, the Route 6 Alliance and Warren County). Dillsburg receives independent funding, but is provided coaching and training from PA Humanities.

  • More information can be found on the PA Humanities website here and here.

  • The South Mountain Partnership is a regional, landscape-scale conservation project in south-central Pennsylvania.They helped launch Community Heart & Soul in the Dillsburg area, providing support and funding for the process. Their interest in the Heart & Soul process stems from their stewardship of the Dillsburg area and their mission to support its growth and development. You can learn more about them here.