Community Heart & Soul

PA Humanities has partnered with the Route 6 Alliance and Community Heart & Soul to select Honesdale on its journey to become a stronger, more vibrant community through PA Heart & Soul, a humanities-based approach to community and economic development. Honesdale joins five communities along the Route 6 line - Youngsville, Mansfield, Port Allegany, Carbondale, and Wyoming County (Tunkhannock) - that have become PA Heart & Soul communities. 

“The partnership between PA Humanities and Community Heart & Soul has been transformative for communities along the historic Route 6 corridor,” Route 6 executive director, Candace Hillyard, said. “Together, we are bringing vital resources, inclusive storytelling, and community-driven planning to some of Pennsylvania’s most unique and character-rich towns. This collaboration not only strengthens our communities today, but also helps ensure that the spirit and heritage of Route 6 continue to thrive for generations to come.” 

The Wayne County Community Foundation has received $22,500 from PA Humanities for Heart & Soul, in partnership with the national Community Heart & Soul organization and PA Route 6 Alliance, through a grant from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. Another grant award of $30,000 has been received from the William E. Chatlos Foundation. Additionally, approximately $20,000 worth of in-kind coaching is being provided by PA Heart & Soul. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Honesdale into the PA Heart & Soul family,” PA Humanities senior program manager Jen Danifo said. “We’ll partner with this special town over the next two years as residents come together to define what matters most and build a shared vision for the future. The energy, pride, and passion in Honesdale are inspiring, and we can’t wait to support the community as its stories, values, and hopes shape the path ahead.” 

Through a two-year planning process, people who live, work, and play in Honesdale will share what they hold dear about the place they call home, why those things are important, and their hopes for the future of their community. Shared values brought to light through this process will form the foundation of a plan that can inform community and economic development for years to come. Along the way, citizen and civic engagement are boosted as folks learn about what they have in common with other folks in their neighborhoods and how they can be more involved. The community will work with certified coach Alice Trowbridge, who has mentored six communities through the process and is a seasoned planner with 40 years of experience as a landscape architect working in the private and public sectors. 

“The Greater Honesdale Partnership is excited to be a part of the Community Heart & Soul initiative because it gives us the opportunity to ensure every voice is heard as we continue revitalizing our downtown. By listening to the stories, values, and hopes of the people who live and work here, we can shape projects that reflect who we are and who we want to become. Heart & Soul will strengthen our foundation for growth, deepen community connections, and help create a vibrant, inclusive Honesdale for generations to come.” said Sandi Levens, Executive Director of the Greater Honesdale Partnership. 

Honesdale Mayor Derek Williams noted that “listening makes a big difference in community planning. I’m excited for our neighbors to feel an extra sense of belonging during this citizen-centered process. What we learn through Heart & Soul will help enrich and inform the next generation of planning initiatives in the Maple City. I encourage anyone interested in Honesdale Heart & Soul to contact me or the Wayne County Community Foundation about how they can be more involved.” 

Since 2015, PA Humanities has worked to bring the Community Heart & Soul® model to communities across Pennsylvania. Originally pioneered by the Orton Family Foundation and now renamed Community Heart & Soul, this resident-led planning initiative finds common ground through gathering stories, having conversations, and getting people more involved in co-creating the future of their community. 

If you'd like more information or to get involved, please reach out to our Project Coordinator, Page Olver at page@waynefoundation.org. There are plenty of ways and times throughout this journey to get involved. Stay tuned for updates as our story unfolds!

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