Honesdale Begins PA Heart & Soul Community Planning Process

PA Humanities is proud to announce the official launch of PA Heart & Soul in Honesdale, beginning January 21 with Phase 1 community training. This milestone marks the start of a two-year, resident-driven community planning process that will engage people who live, work, and play in Honesdale in shaping the town’s future.

In partnership with the PA Route 6 Alliance and Community Heart & Soul, Honesdale becomes the seventh community on the PA Route 6 Heritage Corridor, and the 18th community statewide, to launch a PA Heart & Soul initiative.

Phase 1 focuses on laying a strong foundation for the project. During this initial training, local leaders will set shared goals and intentions, build a diverse and representative core team, and examine community demographics to develop inclusive outreach and engagement strategies. The core team now forming brings local residents together with community leaders, including the Mayor, as well as partners from the Wayne County Community Foundation and the Cooperage Project.  Representatives from across the borough were in attendance, reflecting broad interest and commitment from throughout the community. PA Humanities consultant Alice Trowbridge, a landscape architect and certified Heart & Soul coach, will guide the local team throughout the process. Alice served as project coordinator in Williamsport, a PA Heart & Soul pilot community, and has since coached six communities through the process. 

“We are thrilled to officially launch PA Heart & Soul in Honesdale,” said PA Humanities senior manager of programs Jen Danifo. “Phase 1 is about building a strong foundation—bringing together a committed team to discover the diversity of people who live, work and play in Honesdale and develop a plan to involve everyone in the process. The energy, pride, and passion in Honesdale is inspiring, and we’re excited to see the community launch this work.”

Since 2015, PA Humanities has brought the Community Heart & Soul® model to communities across Pennsylvania. Originally pioneered by the Orton Family Foundation and now known as Community Heart & Soul, this resident-led planning approach builds common ground by gathering stories, fostering meaningful conversations, and strengthening civic engagement.

PA Heart & Soul in Honesdale is a multi-partner funding effort. The community has $52,500 in direct funding to complete the process, including $30,000 from the Honesdale-area William E. Chatlos Foundation and $22,500 from PA Humanities through partnership with the PA Route 6 Alliance and Community Heart & Soul. An additional $20,000 of in-kind support will be provided through coaching and technical assistance.

Over the next few months, Honesdale residents will begin providing feedback on what matters most to them and articulating what they value about living in the community. This input will shape a unique, resident-written community action plan that reflects local priorities and elevates the ideas and needs of the people who call Honesdale home.

You can learn more about PA Heart & Soul and stay up-to-date on Honesdale’s progress by visiting our website. You can also read the press release from PA Route 6 Alliance.

The project is made possible through the generous support of the PA Route 6 Alliance via a grant from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program and the Heritage Areas Program, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. Additional support is provided by PA Humanities, Community Heart & Soul, the William E. Chatlos Foundation and the Wayne County Community Foundation. 

All photos by Rustbelt Mayberry Photography.