CV: Community Visioning

A group of twelve people smile while standing outdoors, each holding up a flyer in front of a tan building.

unite local voices, shape shared futures

Communities across the U.S. are being asked to host major projects, lose anchoring industries, and provide their own recovery from increasingly severe storms. Whether it’s hurricanes or wildfires, energy developments or water diversions, life-changing policies are being made without local voices at the table. CV flips that script.


‍We support rural and small communities in defining and advancing their own visions for their shared future.

about CV

  • Why now?

    Because people across the country want their voices back!  Across the country, people feel decisions are being made around them, not with them. From land use to energy to disaster recovery, communities are too often brought in after the fact, asked to react instead of shape outcomes. People want their voices back because they understand what’s at stake, and they want a real role in defining the future of the places they live.

  • What is CV?

    Community Visioning is a values-driven civic planning model that brings community members together to identify wants and needs, explore development opportunities and risks, and strategize pathways to sustainable futures grounded in local priorities. 

  • How does it work?

    Using dialogue processes, hands-on training, and accessible planning tools, CDI supports communities in protecting culture, strengthening local infrastructure, building negotiation power, and ensuring their voices stay central in development decisions. 

proactive ➾

inclusive ➾

adaptable ➾

Two people smiling at a table, both wearing

what CV offers

The CV model places power in the hands of the people. Communities become empowered to approach development proposals with unity, clarity, and confidence, ensuring decisions meet needs and reflect sustainability.


  • INCLUDE: Build a representative working group that reflects the community’s full diversity.
    ALIGN: Surface shared values through workshops, listening sessions, and
surveys.
  • REFINE: Bring in data and case studies to help communities set realistic expectations.
  • COACH: Train residents to negotiate Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs)
and influence siting decisions.
  • LEAD: Support new local leaders to sustain the work long after CV concludes.

is CV right for your community?

contact us now to get started

is CV right for your community?

contact us now to get started

invest in climate democracy

Your Capital. Our Community. A Resilient Future.


Solving the climate crisis requires more than new technology; it requires a leap in participatory democracy. Your investment in the Climate Democracy Initiative (CDI) builds the civic infrastructure—from youth policy curricula to community negotiating tools—that ensures local voices aren't just at the table, but leading the conversation. CDI is an IRS-designated 501(c)(3) public charity. Your partnership is fully tax-deductible. (EIN: 92-0943342)


Deploy capital to the frontlines of civic action. Make a secure one-time investment, become a monthly sustainer, or dedicate a gift to a civic champion. Your support allows us to equip communities with the training they need to respond to rapid development pressures in real-time.