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"The Book on Region 2020" contains the vision for the region -- the 34 goals representing what thousands of citizens said they wanted to see happen to improve quality of life in the region, and more than 200 strategies and action steps needed to get there.
A press conference was held to unveil the "Book" on May 24, 1999 at the McWane Center in downtown Birmingham. More than 1,000 copies were distributed to libraries, governments, funders, planning commissions and organizations throughout the 12 counties to help educate citizens about the vision. A year later, the book -- described as the "whos, whats, whys, wheres, and hows of Region 2020" -- was posted on the Region 2020 website. It also was made available to any citizen who wanted one.
The "Book" is organized by topic: On Government; On Environment; On Places and Activities; On Economy and Jobs; On Learning; On Moving Around; On Quality of Life; and On Neighborhoods." Each goal is listed, followed by the strategy or strategies, and action steps. The role of Region 2020 and the estimated cost also was included, along with several pages of participants.
Region 2020 is committed to implementing the vision. The original leaders and volunteers that helped lead the process had ambitious hopes that by the year 2020, many of the goals that make up the vision ("2020" also is a reference to the clearness of the vision) will have been accomplished.
Region 2020 has worked with numerous organizations over the years on the goals, serving primarily as catalyst, convener and facilitator. Region 2020 also has served as an incubator in recent years, helping its spin-off agencies such as the Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham and the Housing Enterprise of Central Alabama get their start.
We need to hear from you ... tell us about your goals and aspirations for the region ... e-mail us at info@region2020.org.
It'll take the good work and ideas of all of us to "build a better place to live" in Central Alabama.
As the original bumper sticker states in red letters: "So, let's do it!"
