During a time when division and distress plagued the United States, JFK dared the country to something greater. This shared purpose and common vision united the nation, and when the US achieved the goal of landing on the moon, the country celebrated together.
“When JFK challenged the nation to be the first to the moon, it transformed America from an anxious Cold War underdog into a dominant technological and cultural superpower… a monumental mobilization of a fractured country,” explained Jennifer Fox, President and Executive Director of the Henry County Community Foundation (HCCF).
“It was literally a moonshot that brought the country together.”
That idea resonated with HCCF when they heard John Bridgeland of In Pursuit discuss how bold, aspirational goals, like the moon landing, can unite communities around a common purpose.
And so, the foundation’s staff and board are inviting Henry County to dream boldly about its own future, gathering information and ideas to identify the “moonshot” for the community. During recent open conversations led by Lauralee Hites of Stratavize Consulting, participants explored Henry County’s strengths and opportunities.
Attendees explored questions like “What would you miss if you moved away from this community?” and “If you could make one change first that would have the greatest impact on Henry County’s future, what would it be and why?”
As community members captured their personal reflections through an interactive exercise, individual voices merged into a collective experience: Henry County treasures connections and seeks meaningful ways to grow them.
Looking back on the session, Hites drew from an OECD publication titled Local Identity, Pride and Branding in Place Transformation. One passage in particular can help anchor Henry County’s moonshot vision:
“A place’s future is shaped not only by its industries, infrastructure and institutions, but also by its identity: how people perceive it, talk about it and imagine what it can become.”
Citizen’s State Bank President Kirby Purciful attended the evening conversation and noted that the group agreed on the community’s strength but needed cohesiveness to envision future opportunities.
“We need to consider change for the collective good, considering the “we” and not just the “me” as we think about what serves the collective community,” he noted.
County Councilperson Shannon Thom ended the meeting with a recognition of the challenges in front of Henry County but expressed: “The future is bright.”
Jennifer Fox, along with her team and the Henry County Community Foundation Board, will continue to work alongside the community and Stratavize to explore “moonshot” opportunities.
“A moonshot isn’t handed down by a committee or a consultant; it’s built by a community brave enough to imagine it. JFK knew the U.S. was going to the moon; we don’t know… or at least not yet… Henry County’s destination,” Fox concluded. “We do know the way forward is shifting from ‘me’ to ‘we,’ embracing curiosity, and staying open to what the future may be calling on us to do.”
