WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & SportsChattanooga Stand Exceeds World-Record Milestone

Chattanooga Stand Exceeds World-Record Milestone

Updated: Monday, August 31

With more than 19,250 completed surveys, Chattanooga Stand is now the world's largest survey-based visioning effort.

"Stand is a community visioning effort for the Chattanooga region with the initial goal of asking 25,000 individuals what they want for our future," said Sarah Lester, Stand campaign coordinator.

Stand is a community visioning effort with the initial goal of asking 25,000 people what they want for the Chattanooga region through a four-question survey. Stand will publicly distribute the survey results, processed by the Ochs Center for Metropolitan Studies. Shared priorities will be identified through public dialogue, build stronger connections between residents, leaders and organizations, and collaborate to turn vision into action.

Stand launched in May of this year. The survey has been taken to churches, schools and events. Through July and August, volunteers averaged nearly 1,500 surveys a week, with weekend events drawing the highest concentration of responses.

You can also take the survey online.

It's a process many Chattanoogans are familiar with. Just 40 years ago, Walter Cronkite called Chattanooga the dirtiest city in America on the evening news. 

In 1984, still facing dire economic, environmental and social challenges, a handful of citizens rallied a few thousand of their neighbors to identify problems and possibilities. Chattanooga Venture's Vision 2000 process established a legacy of visioning in our community and played a significant role in the city's remarkable turnaround. 

Today, Chattanooga is known as the Scenic City for a reason, with growing industries in clean energy, new manufacturing and eco-tourism; all a direct result of Vision 2000.

The compiling of results will take several months.

"The 19,000 survey milestone is important because it shows the world that our community is dedicated to establishing a model for how cities can be better through citizen action," said Lester.

In the meantime, Stand volunteers continue to cross the region collecting survey responses. Stand's goal is to reach 25,000 Chattanoogans,

"Imagine what we can do by engaging 25,000 individuals," said Lester.

Join the Stand team for community dialogues as we prepare for this final milestone in the survey process, and make your voice heard in this, and the future phases, of Chattanooga Stand.

Stand asks:

1. What do you like about the Chattanooga region?
2. Imagine the best possible Chattanooga region. Describe it.
3. What challenges must be addressed?
4. What actions, big or small, can you take to help?

Monday, August 24

Rachel Withers
Eyewitness News Reporter

CHATTANOOGA (WRCB) -- If you've been asked to fill out a yellow survey recently, you're not alone.  It's part of the STAND initiative, launched by a Chattanooga non-profit.  The organization wants 25,000 people to answer four questions about the Chattanooga area, so the group can come up with a new and long-term vision for the region.

That said, you may be surprised to learn who the organization want to hear from most.

When you ask about Chattanooga, D.J. Turner doesn't hold back.

"I love a lot of the music and the arts here," explained Turner.  "I've also become more of an outdoorsy type person, and I love all the nature here."

Turner moved to the area five years ago, and now, the Red Bank Senior can't imagine living anywhere else.  He plans to build his life in Chattanooga after college.  Even now, Turner has some big ideas for the school system his kids will attend.

Turner told Eyewitness News, "I always like to see more things focused on the arts.  I know we have some schools that are specifically for the arts, but I'd like to see all schools have an emphasis on them."

It's that insight the STAND initiative is after.  Those in charge are asking teens to put pen to paper, because they offer a new perspective on old issues.

"25 years from now these are going to be the people leading our community," explained Sarah Lester, with STAND.  "Now's the time to plant those seeds of civic engagement and help cultivate that attitude of being involved in the community, and they're a vital part of this conversation."

Red Bank Senior Jessica Lockhart agreed. 

She told Eyewitness News, "A lot of times high school students are overlooked because they don't think they're ready to be involved, but a lot of high school students have a lot to say.  They really wish they could be involved more in the process of shaping Chattanooga."

It's a Chattanooga Turner believes young people will want to live in.  Mostly because it'll be shaped by their own ideas.

"A lot of people don't realize how big (of) a difference they can make," admitted Turner.  "But as people come together regardless of the age group, they can really make a difference and get their voice heard."

STAND's goal is to collect 25,000 surveys. The organization expects to reach that number by the end of September.  We're told it will take some time to process the data.  The results of the survey are due out early next year.  After that, the group will work on implementing the universal suggestions.