Regional nonprofit pitches visioning process; asks Leavenworth to help promote survey and listening sessions

Rachel Evey, executive director of Our Valley Our Future, presented the organization's action‑planning work for Chelan and Douglas counties and asked the council to participate in and promote community outreach efforts.

Evey described a multi‑method engagement approach — paper and online surveys, stakeholder interviews, and listening sessions designed to reach high school students, immigrant farmworkers and Spanish speakers. "We're holding stakeholder interviews and listening sessions...Leavenworth is not scheduled yet, but it's going to be a Saturday sometime in May," Evey said. She asked the council to publicize the survey (open through April 30) and to encourage residents and businesses to participate.

Evey reviewed working groups already active in the region, including wildfire resilience, housing solutions, early learning and a post‑carbon economy project that explores industrial symbiosis and resource recovery. She highlighted recent measurable outcomes in the region — preapproved ADU plans and coordinated projects that brought food donations to local agencies — as examples of how the regional network supports local implementation.

Council thanked the presenters and agreed to help promote the survey and local listening sessions. Evey said the action plan will be shaped by resident input and will be used to support project funding requests at state and federal levels through letters of support and coordinated advocacy.