Our Principles
ARS uses the Principles for Regional Stewardship as a basis for our programs and activities. Our vision is for regional stewards to work together across sectors and jurisdictions to achieve tangible results and sustained outcomes in their region. We believe that the four PrinciplesInnovative Economy, Livable Community, Social Inclusion, and Collaborative Governanceare necessary for successful regional stewardship.
Innovative Economy: Providing meaningful jobs
- Does the region’s economy provide jobs that enable all citizens to enjoy a good quality of life?
- Does it produce meaningful jobs that sustain families all along the economic spectrum and provide opportunities for advancement?
- Is the region’s workforce prepared to deal effectively with rapid and constant change? Can it adapt to an economy at least as different from what came before as the industrial age was from the agricultural age?
- Is the region’s economy competitive? Is it based on speed, quality, flexibility, knowledge, and networks?
View links to more resources about innovative economies.
Livable Community: Great places to live and work
- Are citizens’ public safety and well-being ensured throughout the region?
- Are housing and public education opportunities ensured for all members of the community?
- Are new visions of design that reduce sprawl and traffic congestionincluding compact development, transit-oriented housing, walkable neighborhoods, safe and secure communities, and protected open spaceemployed in the region?
- Are arts and cultural amenities promoted as key attributes of the region?
View links to more resources about livable communities.
Social Inclusion: Building trust and relationships
- Is equity an integral part of the regional strategy?
- Is everyone included in the development of regional strategies through decision-making structures and systems that support broad inclusion?
- Are diverse populations and perspectives engaged and encouraged to participate as contributing members of a “regional society?”
- Are there safe civic spaces where public dialogue and conversations can occur?
- Are the appropriate tools in place to support collaborative public decision-making and civic engagement?
- Are diverse thoughts and opinions respected in the decision-making process?
View links to more resources about social inclusion.
Collaborative Governance: Working together for results
- Are the region’s citizens, businesses, labor unions, nonprofits, educators, and governments working together to set directions, solve problems and take action?
- Has the region created new processes and structures that emphasize coalitions and collaborative actions across jurisdictions and across sectors?
- Are the participants in collaborative governance coordinating resources and sharing information, ideas, and power?
- Is the region creating social capitalthe networks and norms of trust and reciprocity required to advance civic cooperation?
View links to more resources about collaborative governance.
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