Thriving rural communities are built when schools and local stakeholders work hand-in-hand to create and sustain a shared vision of hope and opportunity, grounded in action and driven by results. In this session, we’ll share how the School District of Gilman partnered with the University of Wisconsin-Extension’s Design Wisconsin program to catalyze long-term, community-led planning efforts.

This dynamic initiative brought together expertise from across disciplines, community and economic development, natural resources, youth development, leadership, and sustainability through a high-energy, multi-day public engagement event. Using tools like community surveys, one-on-one conversations, focus groups, and large-scale forums, the process uncovered a common vision and mobilized local energy toward implementation.

As a follow-up to our 2024 session, we’ll highlight how the Gilman community has sustained this momentum, turning ideas into action and plans into measurable results. Learn how you can apply these strategies in your own community to move from planning to progress.

Describe the resources or takeaways that participants will get by attending your session.

1. Witness the results of sustaining a district community partnership.

2. Resources related to the development of a district community strategic planning team.

3. Process for district community strategic planning.

4. District scorecard and Portrait of a Graduate that supports a community vision of hope and opportunity.