BHS • Engage the community, including new voices, in identifying and describing Biddeford’s heart and soul • Create bridges between the diverse segments of the community, including the “Pool,” downtown neighborhoods, University community, newcomers and old timers, building common ground and a sense of shared civic pride • Ensure that community heart and soul is central to all future downtown planning and development initiatives and that heart and soul values are reflected in planning documents • Create a Downtown Vision Statement and Master Plan that protects and enhances the City’s unique character and special features • Track implementation of the Master Plan

BHS Digital stories gathering and student media production Photography Archive research Video Interviews Students bring to the planning table… Enthusiasm Inclusion – cross section of the city Dreamy visions of the future – possibilities!

BHS

• Bike lanes • Wide sidewalks for many people to be able to walk together • Visible crosswalks • Access for people with wheelchairs • Safe for everyone and beautiful to look at

In 2009, BHS

students learned how to conduct their own community conversations to develop a vision for youth of Biddeford’s downtown. They were able to do this by attending classroom workshops on facilitating productive dialog – provided as part of the outreach strategies developed for HeartWorks. High school teachers offered up 8 class periods where students were able to produce their own inputs for the downtown master plan. This is a word cloud of the results from these classroom conversations.

BHS

Roots &

Routes

2010

The following photos were taken by BHS students on a filed trip to

downtown. Maps at the end were created by GPS points plotted by the

students during the tour.

The pictures and points provide the routes and roots that these students

will build upon as they begin the sojourn of a new generation back to

Biddeford’s historic downtown.

BHS • How can young people become involved in making downtown better?

• What can be the role of youth in making the plan?

• How can students help others envision a vibrant, exciting downtown that builds on Biddeford’s unique qualities? What are Biddeford’s unique qualities?

• What types of incentives would encourage Biddeford’s young people to get involved to bring about real change?

BHS

Community Forum

1. Portraiture and media • Digital Storytelling • Classroom work

2. Open House 3. Inputs for the Downtown Master Plan

Downtown Biddeford will be a place where young people are visible – engaged in daily life and local business, and embraced by the community for their cultural contributions. Creative educational opportunities will abound, and partnerships with local schools, traditional or alternative will be the norm.

• Identify and meet with organizations already involved with youth activities • Work with Biddeford HS and UNE to develop dialogue among students • Explore how other communities interact with and involve youth • Consider short term activities to involve youth such as for downtown cleanups and other volunteer activities and

ensure media coverage • Explore the concept of a “youth center” similar to former downtown YMCA branch • Begin to identify possible approaches • Hold a working session with interested parties to explore possible approaches • Develop a set of preliminary ideas to be discussed at the November forum

This is why we plan.

When a community takes the time to get to know itself, it gains a sense of

identity and purpose that informs decisions and

planning. Through Heart & Soul Community

Planning, the Orton Family Foundation helps

towns plan for their most vibrant future.

—Lyman Orton (founder

of the Orton Family Foundation)

Huge props go out to…

Biddeford High School

Graduating Class of 2010 Students and Graduating Class of 2011

Carolyn Gosselin

Nick Kaufmann Everyday Democracy

Salt Institute Fellows

Ally Spaltro