About Us

ZB is ME was an idea that grew from the Coalition for Healthy Communities’ need to develop a strategic plan.  The coalition partnered with Zion Township and The Charmm’d Foundation to bring in Kent Roberts, a consultant from the National Civility Center to advise them in the process.  He visited the tri-community in December 2007, the following February and again in April 2008 and met with several community groups where he encouraged people to think about how they could work together differently and more intentionally in order to get things done in a collective and efficient manner.  Mr. Roberts met with a group of local business leaders during his visit in April and this inspired several newcomers to become involved in the Coalition.  The idea to hold a tri-community meeting, open to all residents and employees in the area, was encouraged by Mr. Roberts and wholeheartedly embraced.  A group called the ‘design team’ formed to plan for this event.  This group included several coalition members and many of the business leaders that are now CHC members, due to their involvement in this planning effort.
           
ZB is ME became the name used to market the tri-community meeting and the logo was created by Chris Szymanski, owner of GoFLO.  The event took place on June 18, 2008 in ZBTHS South Cafeteria and included a pizza dinner, babysitting services (thanks to the YWCA of Lake County), spanish translation services and transportation if needed.  Approximately 100 people attended the event and filled the cafeteria.  Kent Roberts had introduced the concept of the world café exercise to the Coalition and this process was implemented (facilitation provided by The Charmm’d Foundation) to get input from the participants on how the tri-community could come together and work in a more collaborative manner. 

The concept of the world café is simple.  Participants sit at round tables and are asked a group of questions by a facilitator and all are encouraged to share their opinions and ideas.  Someone at the table volunteers to be the table reporter and shares the highlights of the discussion with the larger group.  Each question is discussed for 15-20 minutes and at the end of each round, after all table reporters have shared their highlights, participants switch tables so they can meet and talk with a new group of people and discuss another question.   Paper and markers are provided so that the ideas and concepts discussed at each table are recorded.  At the tri-community meeting, people answered the following 3 questions:

• Why is it imperative that our three communities come together and learn how to work differently NOW?
• What would a healthy, well-connected community look like?
• Based on your answers from round 2, what are the top 3 priorities/areas to address?

Based on the discussions that took place on June 18, 2008, the answers were grouped into 3 areas:

• Community-based services
• Community pride and connectedness
• Economic Development

Members of the design team, The Charmm’d Foundation, and the Coalition continue to be committed to leading an effort to increase collaboration and communication among the municipalities of Beach Park, Winthrop Harbor and Zion.

What is our one goal?

• To work together more effectively in order to create positive outcomes for all who live and work in the tri-community.    

Where to begin?

• Involve as many people as possible and listen to everyone’s ideas, maintain open communication.

How to do this?

• Increase the channels of communication so that Coalition members have the opportunity to hear directly from the residents and employees in the tri-community about ideas, issues, concerns, and opportunities in order to be more responsive and connected to the pulse of the community.  We need each other now more than ever and we hope that you will use this website and the forums as a way to let your voice be heard!