My dream is that young people unite their community to create a shared, powerful vision of what they can create together.

Holyoke, MA, is a diverse, post-industrial city with great potential and also many challenges such as crime, teen pregnancy, school dropout, and other issues. The Community Vision Project will develop a team of youth leaders to inspire others and gather input from a cross-section of residents to develop ideas to make their community a better place. Together they will create a Community Vision Map that will graphically express these ideas and help to inform and mobilize the community. A support network will help turn these ideas into action.

“The youth driven approach energizes and mobilizes the community around important community issues,” said Imre. “Youth act as catalysts to bring people together to overcome differences and recognize the common goal of creating a better world.”