Oakwood Community Vision Meeting

Thanks to the eighteen visionaries who participated in Oakwood Center’s community meeting last weekend! Saturday afternoon began with conversations during a gallery walk as participants viewed Ball State landscape architecture student design proposals. A delicious lunch, created by Jessica Burns of Barn Brasserie, was enjoyed while folks continued to mingle and discuss Oakwood’s strengths, opportunities, aspirations, and desired future achievements. Focused visions took shape as the group divided into three teams and were prompted to design the cover of a magazine, featuring, you guessed it…Oakwood!

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 A team of Oakwood visionaries in attendance on Nov. 2, 2014.

It would be impossible to recapture the inspiration that soared that afternoon or the fun the groups had creating, but here are a few of the great ideas generated during the rebranding project.

Cover Story Ideas

Living Fully in the Season: Embracing its inconveniences

Oakwood Arts & Ecology Center: Best of all possible worlds

Intergenerational Nature Immersion: Local center opens its heart to the larger community

Featured Articles

Maker Village: It takes a village of doers

Farm to Table: A case study

Workshop: Solar and wind for everyone

Open House: 1914 barn art studio restoration complete!

Retreat Diaries: Confessions of true transformation

Gardens: Sacred space

Other fantastic ideas for the mock-up publication included a tree of the season centerfold, commentary on Oakwood’s community education academies, and great quotes that could be found inside the issue…”Best conference center in the Midwest!” “Where boundaries slip away…” “I built a fire and used a knife at survival skills camp!” and “We love Maker Village! We came home with freshly churned butter and a ukulele.”

It was a wonderful day building community as we celebrated what Oakwood has been and what it is becoming. The unfolding will continue as our ideas become reality and the community expands by collaborative leadership. Spread the word and get involved! The next gathering will be November 16th. We will be reviewing themes from the visioning workshop and discuss ideas for crowdfunding. New participants welcome. Stay on the lookout for details about our next gathering!

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You can join the Oakwood Center group page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/214465588725515/