Metrovisions

MetroVisions is a citizen-participation forum affiliated with the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce which seeks to improve the quality of life in Fayetteville by positive change resulting from the informed participation of citizens in community life, through open dialogue, impartial research, and consensus building.

Metrovisions is embarking on its seventh year of annual reporting. Last year's Benchmark Report represented 11 years of statistical trend tracking in the areas of Economy, Education, Government, Health, Mobility, Natural Resources, Public Safety, Recreation and Social Well Being as they relate to the "quality of life" for residents of Cumberland County.

What are the outcomes of MetroVisions?
Throughout its history, MetroVisions has proven that a group of informed, concerned citizens can make a vital difference. Some recommendations and/or programs that have come out of the MetroVisions process are:

• Targeted Industry Study - recommended in 1996. FAEDC budgeted $35,000 for a "targeted industry study - military skills identification." RFP distributed to 5-10 consulting firms on 12/15/97.
• Heart Wellness Plan - recommended in 1996. Healthcare 1999 approved to fund the $6,000 to support the focus group activity.
  
• Child Abuse Summit - recommended in 1996, held in Feb 1998, lead coordinators- Southern Regional Area Health Education Center, Cumberland County Schools, and Partnership for Children. Raised over $40,000 for planning and implementation.
  
• Healthy Families Cumberland County- recommended in 1996, opened 1998, lead implementers Cumberland County and Partnership for Children. Raised over $1 million for planning and implementation.
  
• Juvenile Assessment Center - recommended in 1996, opened 1999, lead implementers Chamber of Commerce, City of Fayetteville, and Cumberland County. Raised $300,000 for planning and implementation.
  
• Neighborhood Guardian Program - recommended in 2000, began 2001, lead implementers Chamber of Commerce, Department of Social Services and CommuniCare. Raised $108,860 for planning and implementation.

How does the MetroVisions process works?
The MetroVision process and its centerpiece, the community benchmark, are designed, developed and researched by community members themselves which provides clear and honest information about past trends and current realities and assist citizens in steering their community on the desired course. Each year, through a citizen participation process, MetroVisions identifies a number of significant community problems and selects some for concentrated study. Diverse study committees meet weekly for six to nine months, gaining a thorough understanding of the problem and reaching consensus on the key findings as well as on recommended solutions.

How did MetroVisions ensure an input from a diverse mix of people?

• In 1990 a series of 32 community forums held in partnership with Cumberland County Joint Planning Board involving approximately 1,000 citizens and 700 junior and senior high school students.
  
• In 1992 a Leadership Summit was held with 90 community leaders in attendance.
  
• In 1994 a "community ballot" was circulated to the community with 10,000 citizens returning the ballots.
  
• In 1994, a "Citizens Leadership Conference" was held with 400 community leaders attending.
  
• In 1996, Metrovisions CQI formed with 108 citizens and over 2,100 man hours.

Click here to download a copy of the full 2006 Metrovisions Report - You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the document. Click on the button below to download this free software.

For more information, please contact Todd Lyden at 910-484-4242 ext. 235.