COMMUNITY VALUES & VISION STATEMENTS
OVERVIEW
This document is based on a qualitative analysis of community input received by the Newberry Regional Partnership (NRP) from residents of South Deschutes County, Oregon and nearby communities — also known as Newberry Country. It is part of a larger effort to develop a Strategic Action Plan for the region.
Between June 2023 and June 2024, community input was gathered through a variety of methods including focus groups, community civic engagement sessions, a major public survey, and conversations with community leaders and selected stakeholders.
Based on this input, the project consultant has developed draft community values and vision statements for inclusion in the Strategic Action Plan. They are a direct reflection of ideas expressed or implied by area residents.
A community’s core values are deeply held beliefs about a place that are widely shared by the people of that place. Typically, they reflect qualities the community does not want to lose going forward. A community’s vision reflects its aspirations for the future — its preferred scenario of what it would like to be 5, 10 or 20 years down the road.
A community’s values and vision provide a context and foundation for the detailed discussions and decisions that go into creating a strategic plan. For such a plan to connect with the community it should be consistent with the community’s values and vision for the future.
As the Newberry Regional Partnership develops its Strategic Action Plan, it will revisit these statements to ensure that its planning is aligned with the community beliefs and aspirations. These statements may also be fine-tuned or revised as part of that process. Ultimately, they will be included as touchstones in NRP’s Strategic Action Plan.
COMMUNITY VALUES STATEMENT
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Our rural history and independent spirit
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Our broad diversity of communities and lifestyles
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Our small-town atmosphere and family-friendly amenities and activities
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Our easy access to Central Oregon’s forests, rivers and volcanic wonders
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Our regional economy that provides family-wage jobs and builds prosperity
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Our expanding health care facilities and new educational opportunities
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Our diverse options for more affordable living
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Our police, emergency responders and firefighters who keep us safe and secure
COMMUNITY VISION STATEMENT
Newberry Country – ‘Full of Heart in the Heart of Oregon’
OUR VISION for Newberry Country is to be Central Oregon’s most livable place, known for its dramatic natural landscapes, awesome recreational opportunities, and diverse mix of rural, small-town and resort lifestyles. We are a network of communities, each offering a distinct way of life that helps make us complete:
- La Pine has a lively downtown, affordable housing, and is a center for employment and retail services, excellent healthcare, and quality education.
- Sunriver is a vacation and retirement mecca, arts and culture magnet, and an economic engine in its own right.
- Our rural areas offer both high-amenity and backcountry living that are safe, tranquil and fire-wise.
In our vision, Newberry Country connects its distinct communities in a mutually beneficial way, fostering a unique regional identity, a culture of engagement and belonging, and a future that is healthy, prosperous, sustainable and resilient.
