Topic 4 - A Vision of Tomorrow

• Topic 4 - A Vision of Tomorrow

  Session four is designed to build on the work of the first three sessions and apply that work to the process of creating a strategic vision for your CCE  program. The process and supporting tools will allow you to create a vision statement that describes the ideal future for CCE in your County (5-7 years from now) and identify priority focus areas for moving the process ahead.  

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     What We'll Do

    In this session, participants will: 

    • IMAGINE + CONNECT: Create a personal vision for your program work in your association 

    • REVIEW + CONSIDER: Consider what Extension is and how it is implemented

    • DO + CREATE: Worksheet 4: A Vison of Tomorrow

    • DREAM + PLAN: Review your vision statement and engage in a group dialogue to begin identifying a compelling future-oriented vision for your program. 

    
    

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    IMAGINE + CONNECT:

    Creating a Personal Vision in your Association

    Imagine it is the year 2028 and you are well on your way to success with a growing and thriving local program.  Consider one or more of the following strategies for exploring what the program looks like in this idealized future.  This activity can be shared in advance of an in-person meeting, or time can be allocated during the meeting for each person to undertake the activity. 

    As a warm-up exercise, think about the following:

    • Imagine you are a local reporter, and you are visiting an active and thriving program in your county in the year 2030 and writing a feature article.  What are program participants saying about the program?  How do the stakeholders describe what is happening and what they are experiencing?  Who is involved in the program and where is it taking place?  Are there any new and key partnerships allowing this to happen? What are participants saying about the program?  Volunteers?  Community leaders and County elected officials?  How about staff?  Who are they and how do they describe the work they are doing? 

    Based on the outline and questions above, write:

    • a paragraph or two that describes the program the reporter was attending and addresses the questions outlined above.
    • your personal vision for your county program.  This could be in the form of writing, drawing, or vision-boarding – whatever works for you.  The idea is to capture the vision and the path from where you are now to this desired future.  What are the key steps along the way?  How will you know you are making progress? 

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    REVIEW + CONSIDER:

    The visioning exercise helps you and your team imagine what success looks like for the organization, considering perspectives from program participants, volunteers, staff, and community partners. Reflect on how your vision aligns with the views of others:

    • Are there common themes across these perspectives?
    • What shared values emerge?
    • Are there any differences between current programs and the goals in your vision?

    This process of identifying shared values and assessing alignment can guide the next steps in shaping the vision for your program and then, the vision for your advisory committee.

    Example of Shared Vision
    To inspire discussion, consider this vision from National 4-H leadership: “4-H will embrace and reflect the rich diversity of youth, families and communities that comprise our nation. We will grow our organization in ways that leverage diversity to improve the economic, environmental, and social conditions in which people live. Cooperative Extension and 4-H will help to close the gap in wellbeing and economic mobility as we undertake our bold goal to engage 10 million youth reflecting the diversity of the nation’s communities by 2027.”

    For additional insights, listen to  the podcast from CCE Director Andy Turner, where he shares his vision and hopes for Cornell Cooperative Extension, or  review the national Extension vision expressed by USDA NIFA.

    Our Why: Understanding Purpose
    Simon Sinek’s “Golden Circle” model helps leaders inspire by focusing on Why, How, and What. Beginning with the “why” creates a purpose-driven foundation. You can explore this concept further by watching Sinek’s "How Great Leaders Inspire Action" video.

    Key Elements: Vision, Mission, Goals, and Values

    • Vision: Your Association's vision statement should be concise, specific, and set a clear, inspiring path for the future, looking ahead 7-10 years. Think of the vision as where you want to go.
    • Mission: The mission statement defines the organization’s purpose, or why it exists.
    • Goals: Goals outline strategies to fulfill the mission and achieve the vision. In CCE, goals are typically defined within a specific timeframe, such as the Plan of Work, and provide direction at multiple levels.
    • Values: Values reflect how you work and the principles guiding your organization’s culture and goals.

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    DO + CREATE:

    Worksheet 4: A Vision of Tomorrow The next activity is to craft a vision statement for your advisory committee.

    A vision statement is a clear and inspiring declaration of where you see your organization, project, or team in the future. It provides direction and motivates stakeholders by outlining a long-term goal.  Vision and Mission are often confused.  The main difference between a vision and a mission is that a vision statement describes an organization's future goals, while a mission statement describes its current purpose and day-to-day operations.

    Vision statements are typically:

    • Clear: Easily understood by everyone.
    • Inspiring: Motivates others to work towards it.
    • Future-Oriented: Focused on what you aim to achieve.
    • Concise: Ideally, one or two sentences.

    In the case of a vision statement for your advisory committee, the idea is to cleanly and concisely create a statement that outlines the vision of your committee.  Ideally stakeholders – (Board, Executive Director, Staff, Advisory Committee) have all participated in the process and regular review of the vision statement. 

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    DREAM + PLAN:

    Review your responses to worksheet 4 and talk through your ideas with colleagues and Advisory Committee members.  Listen for their clarifying questions and suggestions. Adapt a vision statement for your Advisory Committee as needed.