Even though many of Project Future communities have fewer than 2,000 citizens, many experienced first-ever public meetings where school board members sat with local government officials and business leaders to discuss how to improve their communities. These were forums for existing leaders to meet and for new leaders to emerge. Youth were integral to the process. Indeed, in many cases, the youth can be leaders in the community-wide planning process. We've also learned lessons about citizen-led futuring.
Citizens are capable, with guidance, of developing community visions.
They can move beyond the nitty-gritty way of thinking only about immediate, concrete problems. When a vision is produced, it can only provide direction, as well as energize the group toward its accomplishment. In addition to doing community development, Project Future has been involved with staff and organizational development within the university. Extension professionals must listen to the community and respond to its requests within the Project Future framework, rather than tell a community what it should do. The project has been an intense capacity-building experience for most staff involved.