From Survey to Service: Building Community Pride

One thing I’ve learned through community foundation work is that some of the best ideas begin by listening.

In July of 2025, South Brown County Community Foundation created and launched a community survey designed to better understand local priorities, concerns, and hopes for the future. The survey was first introduced during a community collaboration meeting open to anyone interested in attending, including business leaders, nonprofit representatives, city officials, individuals, etc. During the meeting, attendees learned about the purpose of the survey and were encouraged to help spread the word throughout the community. From there, the survey was promoted online, through the local newspaper, and by word-of-mouth across South Brown County.

When responses were collected and reviewed, one theme rose clearly to the surface: residents expressed a strong desire for increased neighborhood pride and visible efforts to improve the overall appearance and atmosphere of the community.

Rather than viewing this simply as a cleanup concern, our foundation recognized it as an opportunity to strengthen relationships, encourage local leadership, and build community ownership. That conversation eventually led to the creation of “Brighten Your Corner,” a neighborhood cleanup initiative organized through partnerships between the South Brown County Community Foundation, the City of Horton, USD 430 schools and local volunteers.

The initiative was intentionally designed to be neighborhood-led. Residents who wanted to take ownership of improving their areas became what we called Neighborhood Leaders. These individuals helped organize cleanup efforts within their own blocks or sections of town. The foundation provided structure, communication materials, coordination support, and encouragement, while Neighborhood Leaders mobilized volunteers, identified neighbors who needed assistance, and connected residents with available resources. In addition, the foundation provided lunches for volunteers.

The timing of the effort was scheduled to align with the City of Horton’s community dumpster weekends, during which the city provided dumpsters for residents to dispose of unwanted items free of charge. This partnership created a practical framework that made participation easier and gave momentum to the effort.

An important goal of the initiative was strengthening relationships between neighbors, and that outcome became one of the project’s greatest successes. Residents who had never really spoken before worked side-by-side hauling brush, raking yards, mowing, and helping elderly neighbors. Volunteers with trucks offered hauling assistance to those unable to transport items themselves. Students and school groups also participated in portions of the effort, reinforcing the idea that stewardship and community pride are values worth modeling early.

All of this began with the community being invited to a meeting and a survey being presented. This brought out highly actionable community desires that were achievable through simple partnerships, local leadership, and coordination. Foundations are uniquely positioned to gather people, empower local voices, and help residents move from concern to action.

This initiative served as a reminder that community transformation can often begin with listening, creating opportunities for people to work together, and empowering residents to take ownership in brightening their corners.