Local volunteers and the Initiative Foundation are inviting Todd County area residents to a complimentary meal and public information meeting on Feb. 17, to learn how they can help envision, plan and build a brighter future for Todd County.

To ensure enough meals, reservations are required. The Todd County area information meeting is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Feb. 17, at the Browerville Community Center. To make a reservation call 888-307-1466 by Feb 12.

Todd County is one of four communities selected to receive a $10,000 grant and one year of leadership team training as part of the foundation’s Healthy Communities Partnership (HCP) program. Since 1999, HCP has helped more than 80 central Minnesota communities combine local assets, talents and ideas to create a shared community vision and plan for the future.

In addition, Todd County is the focus of an Initiative Foundation partnership with Minnesota Public Radio, a pilot project devoted to telling the stories of the community.

According to Dan Frank, Initiative Foundation program manager for community development, everyone is encouraged to get involved. Grant funds will be used to bring Todd County citizens together to create a common vision for a future that will include an aging population. County residents will focus both on assets and challenges, create a plan and work together for the common good.

“HCP allows people to actively participate in decision-making and help set community priorities,” Frank says. “This is a very rare opportunity to talk about everything that’s great about Todd County.”

The Initiative Foundation will begin training the Todd County area volunteer leadership team in March. The team will include 20 residents who represent the area’s social, economic and professional diversity. Frank said that forming a team with diverse ages, occupations and backgrounds is critical to ensuring that all views are represented.

Leaders are trained to

help assist with community

discussions and a public “visioning session,” where

everyone answers the same question: “If you could imagine the best possible future for this community, what would it look like?”

HCP leaders turn that vision into a simple plan of action, which can earn additional foundation support.

“There is a place in this for everyone,” Frank added. “You can give a little time or a whole bunch of time. We’ll take everyone’s involvement we can get, because we need all of it to make good things happen.”

Information will also be shared about the Minnesota Public Radio Civic Engagement Pilot program that will be taking place in the community at the same time as the HCP process.