Tory Irgang and Elizabeth Jones stand as part of a Community Heart and Soul Training Cohort.

The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and Community Heart & Soul are partnering to expand access to a new approach to community engagement.

Community Heart & Soul engages the entire population of a town in identifying what they love most about their community, what future they want for it and how to achieve it. Designed for small cities and towns with populations up to 30,000, the process helps communities listen at scale, build trust, and translate residents’ stories into shared priorities that help guide decisions over time.

“We are honored to partner with Community Heart & Soul to engage with our community in new and meaningful ways,” said Tory Irgang, executive director of the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation. “Moving beyond grantmaking into community partnership and capacity building is a goal for the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and Community Heart & Soul is making that goal a reality.”

Combining Community Heart & Soul’s resident-driven approach with Chautauqua Region Community Foundation’s local relationships, expertise, and resources, the partnership aims to leave a lasting impact on communities across the Chautauqua Region by helping residents and local leaders come together around what matters most. Through this partnership, the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation will utilize the Community Heart & Soul model to help communities engage more people, listen to a broad range of local voices, and turn what residents share into clear priorities that can guide future action.

“We’re excited to partner with Chautauqua Region Community Foundation to support community engagement in southwestern New York. When residents take the time to listen deeply and act on what matters most, they build a strong foundation for the future,” said Mark Sherman, president of Community Heart & Soul.