An Overview of Results to Date

(June 21, 2001) -- What challenges and concerns stand in the way of our becoming a leading region? And what strengths and assets should we be protecting, developing, and building on for our future -- and our children's future?

Answering these questions is the first step in a 10-year effort envisioned by the leadership of Project Top 10 by 2010, a broad-based citizen's initiative housed at the offices of MetroVision. Bringing together leading engaged citizens from throughout the 10-parish region, the group has set the ambitious goal of turning Southeast Louisiana into one of the top ten places to live and work in the United States by the year 2010.

As a first step in the process, the group is sponsoring a regional indicators project. "Indicators" are measurements, and the project is developing a comprehensive system of measuring and analyzing key trends and conditions shaping the region's future. Understanding these trends will provide a new framework for strategic planning and action throughout the region.

Developing indicators that reflect the full complexity of the region is no small task. To accomplish it, Top 10 by 2010 began with an intensive survey of citizens. Throughout the region, over 2,600 people from all walks of life (whose phone numbers were selected at random) were asked, "What do you like about living in your community? What are you concerned about? And what do you think you'll like -- or be concerned about -- ten years from now?"

Their answers were recorded in their own words, and then analyzed by the project's consultants at the internationally known firm of AtKisson, Inc. The result was a list of "Assets and Concerns": factors considered to be strengths of the region, and issues needing attention.

The Assets and Concerns were also clustered using AtKisson's "Compass of Sustainability," a framework that brings together economic, environmental, social, health and well-being measures. The four points of the familiar compass (N, E, S, W) are renamed Nature, Economy, Society and Well-Being. The Compass also reminds participants that the effort is setting a new direction for the region.

The list of Assets and Concerns developed by citizen survey was then added to by two groups: a 40-person panel of technical experts in the region, and a gathering of over 100 regional civic leaders.

This consolidated list of Regional Assets and Concerns will now form the foundation for the development of indicators: measurable trends relating to the Assets and Concerns, and specifically tailored to the uniqueness of Southeast Louisiana.

From the Steering Committee through to the Random Digit Phone Survey of citizens, this process is distinguished by the diversity of people and perspectives being brought together to consider the region's future. Top 10 by 2010 is nonpartisan, independent, and reflective of a very wide range of interests and concerns, all united around a common goal: dynamic and sustainable development for Southeast Louisiana.

The preliminary report from the project consultants was released June 13, 2001, and tracks the development of Assets and Concerns framework to date. An Interim Report will be released in fall 2001 and the complete report with indicators and data in spring 2002.

The following summarizes some of the highlights from the study so far.

A Strong Sense of Culture and Place. Southeast Louisiana is distinguished by the extent to which its citizens and its leadership recognize the value of a rich and vibrant cultural tradition, set against the backdrop of incomparable natural and architectural beauty.

Gaps in Environmental Understanding. Citizens throughout the region need to develop a keener knowledge of local environmental conditions. Leaders in the region -- whether they work on environmental, economic, or social issues Ð both need better environmental data and more opportunities to build trust as a prerequisite for making environmental progress.

Preservation of Heritage. Historic architecture, open space, and natural resources such as wetlands are valuable Assets for the region, but threats to their preservation are often flagged as Concerns as well.

Devotion to Community. Many citizens reported that they loved living in their communities, had good relationships with their neighbors, and strongly valued family ties. This is a region with a solid foundation of social capital on which to build.

A Premium on Livability. Access to amenities, the convenience of local transportation, peace and quiet, and the quality of many area schools were often mentioned by citizens as things they valued strongly about living in Southeast Louisiana.

Economic Clusters. Southeast Louisiana has groups of industries and economic resources on which to build, including technology & telecommunications, arts & entertainment, medical research, and the Port.

Unrecognized Economic Strengths. Recent studies suggest that regions that succeed in the New Economy are characterized by qualities such as cultural diversity and richness, historical authenticity, strong universities, excellent natural amenities, and a tradition of tolerance for difference. These are all factors that this region has in abundance, but has not yet capitalized on.

Concerns about Public Integrity. Participants in every stage of the process have flagged the need for enhancing the region's profile with regard to public integrity and leadership. Widely-publicized problems in that sphere affect nearly every area of social and economic life.

Issues of Social Health and Equity. Crime, drugs, and poverty are significant worries for residents and leaders throughout the region, despite recent declines in the incidence of violent crime. While cultural diversity is seen as an Asset, issues of discrimination and disparity continue to be significant Concerns.

Complex Educational Profile. The strength of area universities and quite a number of high-performance schools, seen as solid Assets, is offset by Concerns about funding for public education and the poor quality of education that many students receive.

Unique Artistic and Culinary Identity. "Great Food" was mentioned by quite a number of regional residents as one of the region's significant Assets, together with the music, art, and entertainment opportunities that are special to the region. Residents of Southeast Louisiana understand that these factors, which help make the region unique, have enormous economic as well as social value.

The Need for New Visions and New Optimism. Studies and civic dialogue to date suggest that regional development is hindered by unwarranted pessimism. "A habit of negativism" was cited by a number of civic leaders as a hindrance to progress. And many regional residents had difficulty, in the survey process, imagining a future that was significantly different from the past -- despite having reported a wide range of strong regional Assets on which to build.

Results to date in the Top 10 by 2010 process suggest that while many residents seem to view the region's glass as half-empty, it is also, by their own assessment, half-full. Developing the capacity to imagine a better future is the first step in achieving a better future. Achieving a switch in perspective may, in fact, prove to be the crucial first step in efforts to turn regional trends in the right direction.

Top 10 by 2010 is nonpartisan citizen's initiative covering the following 10 parishes: Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington. The initiative is housed at the offices of MetroVision. It is governed by an independent Steering Committee, co-chaired by Quentin Dastugue and Pres Kabacoff. Contact the project director, Barbara Johnson, at 504-527-6937 or bjohnson@norcc.org, for more details.