ALL REGIONAL VOICE OUTCOMES

Retreat Session Outcomes

Hosted at The Barn Abbey, New Harmony, IN

Date: June 12, 2026

Total Participants

Participant Demographics

We actively and intentionally engage people with diverse perspectives and experiences to ensure that ALL voices are heard in addressing the pressing needs of today and building a collective preferred vision for tomorrow. Demographic data are collected from participants and compared to publicly available data for the region to ensure the sample population accurately represents our community.

Hover over the graph icon in the top left corner of each section to compare VOICE data to public data.

 

Passions

In this exercise we asked participants what they are positive or passionate about. Diverse participants have many different passions, but there are common themes.

Click a word/phrase in the word cloud below to see the direct quotes of participants’ passions connected to that theme.

Carry Forward

In this exercise we asked participants, considering our region’s history, what aspects they would want to carry forward into a preferred future.

Click a word/phrase in the word cloud below to see the direct quotes from participants connected to that theme.

Leave Behind

In this exercise we asked participants, considering our region’s history, what aspects they would want to leave behind (NOT carry forward) into a preferred future.

Click a word/phrase in the word cloud below to see the direct quotes from participants connected to that theme.

Visions

In this exercise we had participants draw in a group and then individually write and speak their vision of a preferred future for our region. These themes are summaries of what was said. 

Use the filter button to view data by different demographic groups. Select a major theme in the visual below to see the minor themes included in it and the direct quotes from participants connected to that theme. 

Group 1 Visions

    • Provide training for those needing help with anything they lack: tech, food, work, advancing positions.
      Our region needs more accessible transportation for all our region has the ability to be a place of acceptance and growth. Education switching to handson
    • In my opinion our region is failing to attract businesses. Biggest reason I think is energy prices are to high for industry to come here. There is a lack of skilled works. Need to bring recreational or fun activities to attract more in for race/religion/community upkeep, together.
    • Youth-carefree, fun, safe, education. Young adults-education, real world application, starting families, traveling, enjoying hobbies. Elderly-teaching from experience, learning new things, helping family, enjoying retirement. I imagine everyone in the community working together to share resources and meet needs of others. I want to see leaders create opportunity for affordable living, education, career paths, fun and ability to start families.
    • Sense of community-taking care of each other. Free healthcare. Food accessibility. Educational/growth focus. Accessible transportation. Affordable housing and energy. Everyone has a good life!
      Affordable housing, maintaining sense of community while losing insularity. Trade schools and re-invest in Education.
    • I envision a diverse and lively landscape full of activity and opportunity. Amphitheaters, basketball courts, busy shopping centers, etc. All of these should be clean and litter free! Homelessness would be eradicated, attracting a lot more people to the area to live and contribute lots of renewable energy sources.

    Group 2 Visions

    • Greater railroad connecting to Chicago and Nashville. Pedestrian and riverfront – remove gravel business. Trail connects to Newburgh and Mount Vernon. Development around USI. Toxic soil removal of southside. USI-Business partnerships of knowledge and students.
    • Free/affordable activities (concerts, community programs, etc.) that are accessible to all (youth, elderly, people with disabilities, all income levels). Wrap around services for someone in need and collaboration between services. Youth programs unrelated to academics or sports (fun, no-pressure) inviting everyone in the area to participate. more use of parks/green space for community activities.Walkable/bikeable communities
    • I want the region to build on positive work already being done. Increased walkability, public transit widely used/invested in, different parts of the community coming together in parks and other shared spaces. I’d like to see higher investment in public schools and a celebration of diversity in them. Reduced healthcare and utility costs should also be a goal.
    • Continuing to expand healthcare close to home, with affordable rates and access for everyone that needs it. Expansion of community and repairs to what is broken. Additional industrial growth for local residents to have job security and opportunity for others to move to the region.
    • Twenty years from now, I would love to see multigenerational families living in community with one, another, because our region gave them a reason to stay. Affordable cost of living, robust education,support and networking opportunities to stay and work. So many young families leave Evansville for a more trending bigger city, because they can see a brighter future there.
    • State of art water filtration systems, outdoor festivals, paved pathways for pedestrians and cyclists solar panels (renewable energy) new affordable healthcare facilities, strong faith-based activities, fun/safe parks, revitalize Mesker park amphitheater, more sidewalks/eliminate urban sprawl, peoples voices being heard, youth activities to connect rural and urban kids.
    • I see a community of people who are very diverse, but still love and accept each other. There should be equal education, more sidewalks, people full of energy, solar panels to save energy, no littering, no more AI use, plant more trees, grow more fresh food to eat less processed foods, affordable healthcare for EVERYONE…a sense of togetherness.
    • Farms to grow food and reduce food insecurity. Affordable access to healthcare- healthy living. Community events and activities- togetherness. Energy efficiency- decreased utility bills and affordable housing. Economic development – Productive society. Faith communities-sense of belonging.

    Group 3 Visions

      • Posey-New Harmony needs trails to the attractions. Mt. Vernon will develop their riverfront. Gibson-Diversity from manufacturing. Expand hospital. Vanderburgh- New riverfront with amphitheater, sports facilities, trails, and restaurants. Entertainment Hub! Huge phased road investment.
      • The Evansville theater scene has grown. Area high school theater is honored and recognized through a Vanderburgh/Posey/Warrick county Theater Awards Night. This would bring attention/ownership of the performing arts in a variety of communities and result in propagation of civic/professional theaters in southern Indiana. Technical, visual, performance, auditions, design and management are recognized and nurtured by all generations. Keep it competitive enough to keep it relevant.
      • People are happy! Communities are connected both through relationships and through equality, transportation. We will see growth in schools, hospitals and that growth will trickle down to programs and initiatives. The river walk is developed and becomes a safe place. Waterways are less polluted. Farmland is thriving and clean local food is spread to families in need.
      • After school education programs to get kids off the street and get them connected to a mentor. Community programs for all showing the positive in each group.
      • Free/affordable healthcare (not govt. mandated/subsidized). Real education- not a test. Less government involvement. Convert vacant buildings to housing and vacant parking lots to green space. Less use of vacant space for solar but use on buildings and existing roof structure. Have Henderson develop Evansville Riverfront.
      • Schools are centers for learning about and providing for the health of our communities-Food pantries and free libraries, free health care services and products are available for students and their families. Students learn not only in the classroom, but through community partnerships. Retired people drive morning and afternoon buses to get kids to school. SAHMS check in on absent students. Afterschool programming is widely used to teach skills and build connections that children can lean on in the future. Play-based kindergarten replaces testing. Vandalism and defiance are met with contractors who train kids/adults how to fix what’s broken. Solar panels are on buildings tops and parking structures.
      • Free- like St.Louis -zoo, museum. Assisted living/daycare facility with cheap rates and mandatory volunteer hours for payments utilizing like Habitat. Greenway connecting everything- pedestrian walkway under bridges to Henderson – connect Mt.Vernon, Evansville, Warrick, Gibson county. Public transportation- nice and affordable! So people want to use it. Consolidate schools more- so it’s move “Evansville schools” not the current silos; So if North has the best labs-all schools use North for Science: Green space, Mesker Amphitheater up and running.

      Group 4 Visions

      • Community center-access for all (school hospital, schools, houses, food) ADA positive spaces; Free MH care access; free medicines. Affordable Housing (less shelters) Empty jails, gun control, SU. Greater CSR from corps relocating to region. Increased jobs, thriving wages instead of living wages. Leading justice reform initiatives.
      • People of all different backgrounds coming together and using their resources/talents to create and support. If you can’t offer help funding, offer talents and service.
        Solar community with free healthcare. Regenerative farming. Wheelchair accessible. Vacant jails and people in rehab. Inclusive. Entertainment. Nile the dog. 
      • Safe playgrounds that are clean for our kids to grow up with. Downtown being rebuilt to provide jobs and income for the community. Rebuilding the zoo. Developing clean energy. Affordable healthcare. Safe schools. Community center.
      • Funded public schools, greenspaces all around, local art and theater performances, confident children, abundant workforce.
      • Industry, schools, sports courts, River, Houses, Walking/bike/ADA lanes, Treated water, Hospitals, fishing, walking paths, parks, Memorials, Farms, Community center, CenterPoint free solar housing, empty jail.