Highgate residents selected three priorities for future action. To join one or more task groups, contact Highgate Reaching New Heights Community Visit Chair, Rebecca Manning at rebecca.howrigan@gmail.com. Anyone is welcome to Join a Task Force and help the future of the town! Read the Highgate Reaching New Heights Report and Action Plan.
Advance Career Training, Workforce Development, and Agricultural Career Pathways*
A task force could form to develop a comprehensive strategy to better connect youth and local businesses and improve access to practical training in the trades, agriculture, education, and more. In particular, the group could focus on celebrating and cultivating the long tradition of agriculture in Highgate, and encourage and foster the next generation of dairy, beef, and diversified veggie farms and value-added producers in the community. The group could partner with area schools, businesses, and regional organizations to developing training, mentoring, and job placement opportunities with area businesses and manufacturers and creative work-based learning opportunities. The task force could also host school and community events to better celebrate the trades and agriculture and highlight a diversity of alternative career pathways and training opportunities. In particular, training and educational opportunities offered could focus on jobs that may emerge as a result of airport expansion.
Expand Community Events and Boost Volunteerism and Engagement
A task force could form to plan an annual series of events to unify and connect the community and offer entertainment and fun for all ages. Events could include an annual tree lighting, concerts, a Village celebration, and ice cream socials. Events could help to bring vibrancy to the community, provide more opportunities for community gathering, and engage youth. In addition to event planning, the group could work to build and implement a campaign to enlist more community volunteers and help to foster a culture of volunteerism and civic engagement in Highgate. The group could actively share, promote, and recruit for community volunteer needs – from event organizing to municipal leadership and emergency services. Additionally, the group could work with schools to better share volunteer roles and the benefits of civic engagement with youth in the community, and provide opportunities and incentives for youth volunteerism.
Expand the Highgate Library and Community Center
Many residents shared a need for expanded space and services at the Highgate Library and Community Center. Work is currently underway to build a plan for a new, expanded building that could include a plan for some kind of community gathering space. A group could form to work in support of the Library staff and trustees to engage community support, identify and access funding sources, and help to move forward a major library and community center expansion initiative.
*Note that "Recruit and Support Local Businesses" was also selected as a priority for future action. When the task force met at its first meeting, it decided that what is most needed to support local business is action on workforce development, so they decided to merge with the "Advance Career Training, Workforce Development, and Agricultural Career Pathways" task force.