Public Policy Institute of Marion County Hosts Community Conversation on Quality of Life Indicators
October 21, 2004 – OCALA - FLORIDA - To provide leadership in identifying recommendations for an improved community, the Public Policy Institute (PPI) of Marion County will host a fall seminar entitled Marion Measures: Quality of Life Milestones on Tuesday, November 9, 2004 from 3:00-5:00p.m. in the Klein Conference Center at Central Florida Community College. The keynote speaker is David Swain, an internationally recognized expert on community indicators of quality. Community indicators have become a widely used tool to measure the quality of community life and to identify progress being made toward improving it. Indicators provide a vehicle to understand and address community issues from a holistic and outcomes-oriented perspective.
In addition to Swain’s presentation on community indicator models, a panel of Marion County community leaders will address six indicator categories: Economy, Education, Safety, Health, Social Wellbeing, and Community Enhancement. Panelists will discuss priorities within each indicator category and invite reaction and discussion from seminar participants.
This community conversation will provide the framework for an indicator study that will be coordinated by the Public Policy Institute as an objective of the Community Resources Initiative, an organization established within the Public Policy Institute to address issues that shape community quality of life. The Community Resources Initiative is comprised of the United Way of Marion County, Ocala/Marion County Economic Development Corporation, Marion County Children’s Alliance, Marion County Health Department, Marion County School Readiness Coalition, and the Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce.
Please join in this important dialogue to inspire a plan of action for identifying and tracking key indicators of community quality of life. The seminar is open to the public and there is no registration fee. Reservations for the seminar are recommended. Register via e-mail to flynnc@cf.edu.
About PPI: PPI (Public Policy Institute of Marion County) is dedicated to advancing the public interest, building democracy and community, and improving the quality of life by involving citizens in addressing community issues.