Community Heart & Soul: Strengthening the Spirit of Colonial Beach, Virginia

DCB
5 minutes ago
3 min read

Colonial Beach has always been a place defined by its people — the neighbors who wave as they walk by, the families who have been here for generations, and the new residents who quickly fall in love with the charm, history, and unfiltered coastal beauty of our riverside town. Today, that sense of connection is growing even stronger thanks to Community Heart & Soul, a resident-driven movement designed to help towns discover what truly matters to the people who call them home.

And Colonial Beach is proudly one of the newest towns to embrace this inspiring initiative.

What Is Community Heart & Soul?

Community Heart & Soul® is a nationwide program created by the Orton Family Foundation. Its mission is simple but powerful: listen to the stories, dreams, values, and concerns of everyday residents — and use those voices to guide a community’s future.

Instead of decisions being made from the top down, Heart & Soul flips the script. It invites everyone to the table — longtime locals, business owners, youth, seniors, nonprofits, newcomers, seasonal residents, and those who often feel unheard — so the whole community can shape what comes next.

Through guided phases of storytelling, relationship-building, and shared assessment, towns uncover the values that matter most. These become the foundation for future planning, growth, and decision-making.

Why Colonial Beach Joined the Movement

Colonial Beach is a town with a rich history and a vibrant personality — but like many growing small towns, it faces important questions about identity, development, and long-term thriving. The Community Heart & Soul approach gives residents a powerful way to:

Preserve the heart of the town while planning for the future
Build trust through conversation and community-wide participation
Highlight what residents love most about Colonial Beach
Bring forward new voices and diverse perspectives
Strengthen partnerships across neighborhoods, organizations, and businesses

Whether your connection is through the beautiful Potomac River shoreline, our arts and culture scene, our walkable streets, our entrepreneurial spirit, or the shared feeling of “everyone knows your name,” your voice has a place here.

How It Works in Colonial Beach

The initiative is rolling out in phases, beginning with story-gathering and community outreach. Volunteers and local leaders are meeting residents where they already are — at events, small gatherings, businesses, and online — to ask one essential question:“What do you love about Colonial Beach, and what do you want its future to look like?”

From these conversations come themes: the values that define our identity as a community. These will later shape Heart & Soul Statements — guiding principles that can be used by the town, local organizations, and civic groups for years to come.

Community Heart & Soul is not a government project. It is community-powered, volunteer-supported, and completely rooted in the lived experience of the people who call Colonial Beach home.

Why It Matters

Heart & Soul offers an opportunity for Colonial Beach to grow with intention — protecting what makes the town special while encouraging collaboration, inclusion, and transparency. It builds pride, strengthens relationships, and ensures no voice goes unheard.

When we share our stories, we create a roadmap for a town that reflects we the people — our values, our hopes, and our collective vision for the future.

And that future becomes brighter when everyone participates.

How You Can Get Involved

If you live, work, volunteer, visit, or simply care about Colonial Beach, your perspective is important.Residents can:

Share their stories and ideas
Attend Heart & Soul community meetups
Invite volunteers to speak at local gatherings
Follow the project on social media
Volunteer to help with interviews, outreach, or events
Encourage others to add their voice

Every story matters. Every viewpoint adds depth. And every contribution helps keep Colonial Beach a thriving, welcoming place for generations to come.