Strategic planning is a preferred method for steering an organization’s future rather than addressing issues one by one. The City of Harvey enlisted the Center for Governmental Studies at Northern Illinois University to facilitate a strategic planning workshop with Board and executive staff members in January of 2020. Prior to the workshop, several focus groups were conducted with community stakeholders to gather input on their vision for the city’s future. Using the focus groups as a foundation for discussions, the strategic planning workshop fostered a positive environment for the Board and executive staff members to collaborate in reviewing and developing the city’s future visions and strategic goals, determining where the city aims to progress as both an organization and a community. As discussed and reviewed during the workshop, executive-level workshops and strategic planning sessions are fundamental to effective governance and leadership for forward-thinking organizations.

Strategic Plan and Goal Development 2020