June 10 FrankTalks to continue development of 2019 On The Table

Franklin Tomorrow successfully staged the first On The Table initiative in Fall 2018 and planning is underway for a second community-wide day of discussion later this year. As part of its June 10 FrankTalks, Franklin Tomorrow is inviting the community to come together to discuss their wishes for the staging of On The Table.

Participants are invited for coffee and conversation on Monday, June 10, at Eastern Flank Battle Field Event Facility with a 9 a.m. start time to discuss next steps and allow for greater input from those who participated in 2018 and those who would like to be part of the 2019 planning process.

To RSVP for the meeting, go to https://onthetabletalkjune10.eventbrite.com.

“We have significant data from our post-event survey regarding the 2018 event, but we always want to be listening and broadening our circle to ensure everyone has a seat at the table,” said Mindy Tate, Franklin Tomorrow executive director. During the event on June 10, Franklin Tomorrow will also be looking for individuals interested in being part of the planning committee and to offer ideas on organization and contact development.

“Three age groups identified the same top next steps for action, which are to learn more about the issue or solution, get more involved in the community, and build relationships and collaborate,” Tate said. “We are an organization with a mission to engage the community, foster collaboration, and then advocate for a shared vision for the future of Franklin. It is encouraging to see a strong desire by citizens to be engaged in identifying and discussing issues which may exist and then working together toward partnerships and new ideas.”

From the survey, Franklin Tomorrow learned:

  • 66% of respondents believe they can have a moderate to big impact on making Franklin a better place to live;
  • 45% are already involved in issues they care about, while 39% said they are too busy
  • Additionally, 24% said they are unsure of how to get involved
  • 48% met people they did not know while participating in the On the Table events

“Franklin Tomorrow was founded in 2001 and has conducted several visioning and citizen engagement activities since that time,” Tate explained. “In the 2018 On the Table initiative, the top three opportunities for improvement in Franklin, identified by those completing the post-event survey, were similar to those identified in previous efforts, but with a new perspective.”

“This issue of housing rose to the top when asked to identify the top three opportunities for improvement in Franklin today, but the focus was less on affordable housing for low-income individuals, but more fully reflecting on the need for attainable housing options for people in various stages of life and at various income levels,” Tate added.

Second, was the broad topic of transportation, with a desire to see greater connectivity and more pedestrian access between residential neighborhoods, downtown and Cool Springs, and “to morph land planning away from such a strong focus on the car.”

Third was the theme of growth and development, with a strong desire to see the city’s small-town charm maintained while recognizing that growth will, and should, continue.

Additional information gleaned from the survey includes:

  • 84% of respondents said they always vote in local elections;
  • 71% left with a better understanding of how they can personally address the challenges/opportunities facing the community;
  • 42% of respondents had lived in their current home for less than five years, with more than half (53%) living in their current residence for 10 years or less.

FrankTalks is held monthly on the second Monday of the month and is presented in partnership with Williamson Medical Center and Renasant Bank.