Since the spring of 1994, the Regional Action Project/2000+ (RAP/2000+) has involved hundreds of residents in a variety of conversations about the issues and future of the south metropolitan region. As a result of these conversations, two things became very clear. First, there was an overwhelming consensus that we should keep on talking, and should look for ways to continue working together and cooperating as a region. Second, there was agreement that it would take very deliberate and organized steps if this was to happen.

    In response to this consensus, Governors State University sought and received funding in early 1996 from the Chicago Community Trust and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to establish the South Metropolitan Regional Leadership Center. The current activities of the Regional Leadership Center are focused in three major areas:

    • The continuation of the RAP/2000+ process for building "regional conversations."

    • The organizing of new and strengthened regional coalitions and organizations, such as the newly established South Metropolitan Regional Open Space Alliance.

    • The evolution of the LINCOLN project as a public access network for regional communication, cooperation, and information through the building of the computer-based LincolnNet, and the telephone-based Lincoln InfoLine. This initiative is supported, in part, through a grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

    For regional cooperation and development activities, the staff of the Center will work with leaders in local, state, and national government, advocacy groups, school districts, libraries, not-for-profits, economic development organizations, and other interested parties, with progress reported on the LincolnNet.

    We hope you will join us by adding your name to the South Metropolitan Regional Leadership Center mailing list. (You may do so by sending an email to the address below.) 









Your comments are welcome at  webmaster@lincolnnet.net
	 







Last revision: Monday, 28-Jan-2008 00:47:01 CST