Seeking Residents’ Input: Community Survey Opens; Free Learning Sessions Offered Across the Region
Full- and part-time residents of Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon Counties, or members of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, are invited to complete the Building Our Futures Survey.
Survey responses will help identify the assets that make this region unique, the challenges that need attention, and the opportunities where future investments and collective action can make the greatest impact.
Our region is home to many communities that depend on forests for recreation, tourism, logging, and other industries that shape daily life. Economic, environmental, and social shifts are reshaping how these industries function and how surrounding communities thrive.
This project is working to ensure communities will have the information and voices needed to define clear priorities and chart their own paths forward.
Why Participate?
Survey responses will inform funding priorities, partnerships, and community initiatives for years to come. By sharing your experiences, you help ensure that decisions reflect the real needs and goals of the people who live here.
When more community members participate, the results become stronger, more representative, and more impactful. In just 15–20 minutes, you can help build a clearer roadmap for our region's future.
“Community development works best when it’s informed directly by the people who live here,” says Robin Meneguzzo, CEO at Keweenaw Community Foundation. “Our research aims to better understand what’s working, where we can grow, and how we can build on the strengths that already make this a special place.”
How to Participate
The voluntary survey will be available from March 4 to April 6, 2026. The survey is anonymous and takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. The first 120 respondents will be eligible to receive a $25 gas gift card.
Complete the survey by April 6th.
If participants prefer to complete the survey over the phone or receive a hard copy, please call the Keweenaw Community Foundation at (906) 482-9673 or Dr. Angie Carter at (906) 487-1431.
The research team is committed to engaging residents across backgrounds, sectors, and perspectives so that future strategies reflect the values, needs, and aspirations of the people who live in this region. We appreciate your time and willingness to share!
Join an Upcoming Community Learning Session
The public is invited to join three upcoming learning sessions on grant writing, community storytelling, and community feedback collection. These topics were identified as desired areas of professional development by local organizational and government partners through a series of discussions in Fall 2025.
The public is welcome to attend one session or all three. Each session will be 90 minutes. There is no cost or specific experience needed to participate.
Each event will include:
Educational topics and facilitation by the Building Our Futures research team
Open discussion and peer support
Light refreshments
Learning Session 1: Grant Writing 101
Date: Wednesday, March 11, from 3:30 - 5 pm
Location: Village of Ontonogan Office, 315 Quartz Street, Ontonagon
Details: We’ll cover how to find grant opportunities and the basic elements of grant writing—such as organizing goals, budgets, and logic models.
Learning Session 2: Storytelling for Your Community Organization
Date: Wednesday, March 18, from 3:30 - 5 pm
Location: Ojibwa Casino, 16449 Michigan Avenue, Baraga
Details: Learn how storytelling can serve as a tool for education, advocacy, and connection—with examples of how stories are used as tools for community-oriented work.
Learning Session 3: Best Practices for Gathering Community Feedback
Date: Wednesday, April 1, from 3:30 - 5 pm
Location: Keweenaw Community Foundation, Hancock Community Hub, 417 Quincy St., Hancock
Details: Feedback is important at any stage of a community project. We’ll discuss best practices for gathering, managing, and using different types of community feedback.
About the Building Our Futures Research Team
The Building Our Futures Research Team was formed to help rural communities in the Keweenaw region better prepare for change and to actively shape what comes next.
The following individuals contribute to this collaborative effort:
Angie Carter
Rural Sociologist, Michigan Tech UniversityRobin Meneguzzo
Chief Executive Officer, Keweenaw Community FoundationRachael Pressley
Planning Director, Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development RegionEmily Shaw
Great Lakes Resource Specialist, Natural Resources Dept., Keweenaw Bay Indian Community