Heritage Fund — The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County is seeking responses for its Welcoming Community Survey.
Community input is sought through Oct. 5. The purpose of the survey is to assess the welcoming factor of Columbus as a place people want to live and work.
The survey is available in English and Spanish and may be accessed at heritagefundbc.org or by following the Heritage Fund on Facebook.
Paper copies are also available at Heritage Fund, 538 Franklin St.; the Bartholomew County Public Library, 536 Fifth St.; and Mill Race Center, 900 Lindsey St. This is the third time the Heritage Fund as offered the survey since 2004.
The Welcoming Community initiative was adopted by the Heritage Fund in 2004 as a result of community conversations highlighting the need to nurture a diverse environment where all people feel welcome.
The original study found the Columbus community was perceived as welcoming by most people, but some demographic groups — including people outside the traditional mainstream, young people and newcomers — found this was not the case.
A second Welcoming Community survey was done in 2011 to see if perceptions improved.
As a result of the feedback from the first two surveys, the community now has groups such as the Columbus Young Professionals and CAMEO, diversity councils within the education systems and development of downtown community spaces such as The Commons, Mill Race Center and the Fourth Street entertainment plaza. Collective giving opportunities are also available through the Women’s Giving Circle and the African American Fund of Bartholomew County, with more than $100,000 invested through intentional grant-making to support Welcoming Community initiatives.
For more information about the survey, call 812-376-7772 or visit heritagefundbc.org.
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For more information about the survey, call 812-376-7772 or visit heritagefundbc.org. The survey is available on the website.
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