WEST CHESTER, PA — In an ambitious move to address the pressing social issues facing Chester County, Commissioners Josh Maxwell, Marian Moskowitz, and Eric Roe are inviting residents to contribute their ideas through the newly launched Innovate Chester County initiative. This initiative is aimed at fostering collaborative solutions to challenges in affordable housing, public transportation, children’s mental health, veteran services, and agriculture.
Innovate Chester County is designed to harness the innovative potential of the community by encouraging public participation in shaping the county’s future. “We want residents in Chester County to have a voice in how to improve the place where they live, work, and spend their free time,” stated Commissioners’ Chair Josh Maxwell. The initiative’s goal is to leverage community insights to enhance local services and position Chester County as a hub of innovation.
The program will be guided by a steering committee of distinguished leaders, including Lauren Cristella, President & CEO of the Committee of Seventy; Dr. Zebulun Davenport from West Chester University; and the Honorable Lou Mincarelli, a former judge and current partner at MacElree Harvey Ltd. This committee will offer strategic guidance to both the Commissioners and the five dedicated workgroups formed under the initiative.
These workgroups, each focusing on one of the five key issues, will comprise around 20 participants with diverse backgrounds and expertise. The groups are tasked with dedicating 10 to 20 hours to develop actionable ideas that can be implemented by the county government, private sector, or through public-private partnerships. Commissioner Eric Roe emphasized the importance of these groups, noting, “The workgroups for Innovate Chester County will be the brainpower behind the entire project.”
Residents over the age of 18 are encouraged to apply to join a workgroup, contributing their unique perspectives and ideas. The application process is straightforward, and interested individuals can submit their applications online. The deadline for application submission is October 18, 2024.
Nick Torres from Social Innovations Partners has been instrumental in developing the Innovate Chester County framework and will play a pivotal role in selecting workgroup members and coordinating efforts with the steering committee and county commissioners.
This initiative represents a significant opportunity for the citizens of Chester County to actively participate in shaping their community’s future, addressing complex social challenges with innovative solutions. For more information on how to get involved with Innovate Chester County, residents are encouraged to visit the official website at www.chesco.org/innovatechesco.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.