From October 2 through 9, Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center (PSMEMC) is inviting all area residents and businesses to participate in a unique collaborative process of Healthy Community Visioning. The intent of this initiative is to develop a health and wellness master plan that will benefit the diverse neighborhoods making up West Town (westtownvision.org). The highly collaborative WTHCV process is counter to traditional community planning where designers create a plan concept behind closed doors then present it to the community. In traditional planning the community has no voice in plan creation, leaving the outcomes open to negative public reaction. With the WTHCV process, which includes comprehensive pre-session research, area residents are more likely to support a final plan because they are aware their input is essential to the process.

Throughout the week of the workshop, the planning team will work in the Nazareth Family Center 1127 N Oakley Blvd on the Saints Mary and Elizabeth campus and will host open discussion sessions for various community members and stakeholder groups. This approach to planning for the future through community collaboration aligns closely with the mission of Presence Health and its focus on expanding concepts of care beyond the walls of medical facilities to enhance the health and well-being of both individuals and communities.