LEWISTON – A group of 40 residents who care about the fate of downtown Lewiston gathered at the ACME Social Club on Park Street to discuss the Visible Community’s People’s Downtown Master Plan.

The walls were covered with maps and pictures of the downtown neighborhood. “Today is the people’s chance to come out and have the opportunity to voice their opinions about their community’s future,” said Tina Bailey, a long-term local resident who lives on Birch Street.

“These maps tell us how things are now – today we’re planning how our neighborhoods could be if we work together to make the changes we need to make,”she said.

With help from a grant from the Self-Development of People Fund, the Visible Community has planned a series of neighborhood events and planning sessions that will create a vision for downtown neighborhoods created by and for residents.

The session was opened by Steve Taylor, a guest moderator with 18 years of experience in facilitation, strategic planning, leadership development and community organizing.

He has planned, coordinated and facilitated workshops and retreats for trade unions, local nonprofit organizations and national networks in several states, including Maine. He has been a member in several local organizations, including the Many and One Coalition and the Maine People’s Alliance.

“I’m very excited to facilitate the first visioning session for the People’s Plan,” said Taylor. “There is no better way to assure a vibrant neighborhood, an accountable government and just, community-based development than through strong neighborhood organization and an open, inclusive process.”

The group plans to bring the ideas expressed during the conversation to the wider community, City Council and the city administration.

“We need to have the vision to see that a partnership is necessary between the city and its residents. This is a chance to recognize community leaders and get people invested in the idea that Lewiston has the potential to be one of the most exciting places in Maine to live,” said Visible Community member, Jessy Kendall.

Dot Treadwell, a resident of Bartlett Street, commented on the importance of developing leadership of residents to take action together. “Downtown residents have been pushed down so much that people feel hopeless – like they can’t make a difference. But the Visible Community stopped the road and we just helped to bring a new park to Knox Street. We want to mobilize residents and show people that when you get involved you can make a difference,” she said.

The Visible Community will have two more sessions this fall, reaching out to the new immigrant and refugee community, seniors and people with disabilities in accessible locations.