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• Meeting in a Box – sessions held at vari- PlanET. The team assisted by prioritizing Lessons Learned 2016 CONFERENCE TECHNICAL SESSION
ous meetings and settings outreach efforts for those in the region
identified as the most negatively affected The lessons learned throughout the
• Community Surveys – surveys con- by inequity, leading and organizing the 30-month process included the realiza-
ducted through small meetings in each PlanET Equity Profile and participating tion that voices, opinions and concerns of
county/community in Working Group meetings. An Equity all community residents provide a better
profile document was developed outlining plan for the future, the development of
• Online Engagement – surveys or input those areas of the region where stressors additional engagement tools is necessary
sessions located on PlanET’s website such as poverty or low educational attain- to gather input from many rather than just
focused on questions or trends ment hindered residents from reaching a few, equity must not only be at the core
their highest potential or communities of the engagement process but also must
• Leadership Dialogues – facilitated con- where opportunities such as various inform policy decisions, and plans should
versations with regional leaders such as affordable housing options or access to not be created to be placed on a shelf but
business and corporate leaders, elected health care are easily attainable for the be utilized throughout the community to
officials and private organizations majority of the residents. assist with decision making.
• Working Groups – groups focused Additionally, the Equity Team helped Key Outcomes
around issues to address transportation, build capacity with the creation of
education, housing, economy, environ- demonstration projects that provided Below are several key outcomes of the
ment and health. assistance to different populations in PlanET process that continue today:
the region. One demonstration project • The equity analysis is used to inform
• Roundtable Conversations – meetings (Blount County Smiles program) pro-
to discuss trending issues with experts vided transportation options to senior transportation funding decisions across
in the region citizens in a county that had limited or the region
high cost transportation options. The • ETIndex.org was developed to share
• Speaker Series – guest speakers from team also provided an opportunity for information about key trends and track
around the country to help the commu- youth to voice their thoughts, ideas and our progress over time
nity tackle tough issues locally needs for the future by conducting digital • Partners from across the region continue
stories with several high school students. to convene to discuss issues of access and
• Regional Summits – educational ses- Information about the demonstration opportunity facing our communities.
sions where input is gathered around a projects and digital stories can be found The ultimate outcome would be to pro-
specific topic on the PlanET website. vide guidance through the PlanET process
to continue the conversation across the
Addressing Equity state.
Addressing equity required the develop-
ment of a team (Equity Team) focused on
ensuring equity and access to opportu-
nity to ensure it remained a core part of
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