Mission Statement, Founding Principles, and Purpose
Some communities allow the future to happen to them; others create it. To assist local residents, businesses and organizations in creating their own future, the group Clear Vision Eau Claire was formed in 2007. Its mission: To engage our community for the common good.
Clear Vision Eau Claire was founded on three basic principles: Preserving the quality of life, transforming the local economy and empowering the individual. This is based on the belief that active and meaningful citizen involvement in planning the future of our community will result in a commitment to make the desired, envisioned future a reality. Its purpose: To convene, nurture and support diverse groups of community members for civic work that addresses the immediate and future needs of Eau Claire.
A Brief History of Clear Vision
- March 2007: Initial meeting to discuss a county-wide community visioning proposal
- Eau Claire City Manager and County Administrator convene a meeting of education, nonprofit, and chamber leaders to discuss a proposal for the National Civic League to lead a visioning process.
- June 2007: Approval of visioning agreement with National Civic League
- Final approval of project funding for $45,000 visioning project, funded 1/3 City of Eau Claire, 1/3 Eau Claire County, and 1/3 School District, University, Chamber and other organizations.
- October 2007: Kickoff of initial stakeholder meeting with 200+ participants
- First of ten community stakeholder meetings to develop community and action plan.
- July 2008: Completion of Clear Vision Community Planning Report
- Final Visioning Report identified 125 action steps to address six priority areas, including civic engagement.
- September 2008: Initial meeting of Interim Clear Vision Implementation Committee
- An interim citizen-led committee was formed to coordinate the work of six community action teams.
- November 2008: Initial civic engagement training workshop
- The Center for Democracy and Citizenship (University of Minnesota) conducted an Initial 6-hour workshop to train community members in core relational civic problem solving skills.
- March 2009: Launch of multiple community civic action teams
- Launch of pilot civic action teams trained in core problem solving and engagement skills to address issues in funding future community parks, poverty/underemployment, regional transit, events center, collaborative education, community services for the food insecure, capital improvements for public swimming pools, and County fairgrounds planning.
- March 2010: Completion of organizational strategic plan
- UW-Eau Claire strategic planner facilitates process to guide Clear Vision transition from the interim implementation committee to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.
- January 2011: Incorporation of Clear Vision Eau Claire as a non-profit corporation
- Approval of Clear Vision as a Wisconsin nonprofit corporation.
- January 2012: Clear Vision participation in Los Angeles Leadership Institute
- Six member Clear Vision team invited to participate in Los Angeles Community Engagement Leadership Institute and Annual Empowerment Congress.
- July 2012: Incorporation of Clear Vision Eau Claire as a 501c(3) corporation
- Clear Vision approved as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation by IRS
- October 2012: Kickoff of a four session community empowerment summit
- Pilot project to combine face-to-face and online technologies (MindMixer software) to convene community members and form civic action teams on community gardens, diversity, and bicycle safety
- October 2013: Kickoff of a six session community empowerment summit
- Second year of empowerment summit pilot project with civic action teams formed on AIDS resource center, youth environmental education, civics/civic agency training for youth, and mental health.
- September 2014: Kickoff of county-wide series of 10 community values conversations
- Clear Vision board members conduct 10 county-wide values house conversations to discuss core community values, threats to those values, and potential strategies to overcome the threats.