The Spirit of Pella recently brought together leaders from several Pella civic organizations earlier this month to explore strategies for enriching the welcoming nature of the community.

Lisa Zylstra and Teri Vos with the Spirit of Pella board say they host three Elevate Pella sessions every year. Attendees include staff members and volunteer leaders from Pella’s City Council, City Administration, the Community Development Committee and the Historic Preservation Commission, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Central College’s Imagine More project, PACE Alliance, Pella Historical Downtown Retail Group, Pella Historical Museums, Pella Preservation Trust, Visit Pella, and Young Professionals of Pella.

“We have so many amazing initiatives and generous resources in our community,” Vos said. “Bringing local organizational leaders together for consistent dialogue has already proven successful in identifying opportunities to work together for Pella’s common good.”

Elevate Pella programming focuses on five key goals (details from a press release):

1. To develop a shared and accurate awareness about each participating organization,
2. To maximize organizational efficiencies in terms of planning and resources,
3. To minimize unintentional overlaps and duplications in programs and projects,
4. To identify opportunities for mutual support and collaboration, and
5. To continue working together for the greater good of our community.

The September session titled “Welkom to Pella!” featured a discussion led by Pella Corporation’s Oather Taylor and Jessica Klyn de Novelo. Attendees worked to identify meaningful opportunities to welcome new residents and visitors and gathered ideas to share through their personal networks and professional areas of influence.

Hear more about the latest with the Spirit of Pella organization on today’s Let’s Talk Pella.