Building the Cuyahoga River Valley Organization - Essay Sample

Introduction

The CUYAHOGA VALLEY is situated in a geographical setting full of plateaus and plains and also a river full of life flowing within the valley towards one of the world’s largest freshwater lake, Lake Erie. The name of the valley is derived from Iroquois, a language used in the valley to mean a crooked river. It is situated in an area that has undergone significant development in terms of industrialization, development of cities, and also the preservation of its culture. The city has undergone an industrial revolution with many industries being developed, the transport sector also changing its standards, and also trade taking its lead. The increased industrial revolution geared momentum in the pollution of the river with three fire outbreaks attracting the world’s attention leading to the initiation of the Clean Water Bill of 1972.

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Apart from the environmental issues, health and natural calamities also affected the development of the valley, but still, through the struggles, the valley was able to navigate through. The development of community initiatives has enabled the valley to be able to address economic challenges with other regional neighbors hence fully exploring the resources within the valley. The development of the Cuyahoga Valley Initiative (CVI) has seen the valley utilizing most of its historical assets, thereby benefitting the natives. The initiative was started in 2001 as one of the county projects with its main objectives focusing on creating guidance on directing redevelopment. At that point, it had a vision of expanding the valley to be a center of cultural sustainability and to be used as a laboratory (Christopher & Parker, 2011). It was done through the conjoined efforts of different stakeholders in and outside the valley. They came up with four principles and six goals that helped to filter the general outlook of the valley, giving it a new phase.

The four principles looked at community capacity, ecological restoration, especially the river that had been polluted, merging the profitable and non-profitable businesses, and making the valley to be a venue of regionalism. They employed the services of a consultant who was able to take them through and also make them understand their roles in the reorganization of the valley. Sally, the leader of the consultancy team, made it clear to the natives that they have to work together with both the government and the non-governmental entities and all the stakeholders without looking at what they are bringing to the table for all to coexist in the valley (Christopher & Parker, 2011). The process was done in phases, and in the end, everybody was ready to adopt the new routine that the consultants came up with. The natives were happy with the results since everyone was given a chance to bring out their views at different forums, which made the process to be transparent.

The major problem facing the development of the CVI is the inclusion of many members from diverse backgrounds who have different ideologies, and yet they want to make them have the same ideas. It may end up being chaotic as the little resources from the valley will need to be shared equally among different stakeholders leaving the valley owners with nothing that will substantially benefit them. Another problem associated with the expansion of the valley is the lack of enough financial resources that can fully support the establishment of different sectors that have to be made to ensure the people’s needs are fully attended to.

It, in turn, leads to many members who may end up bringing little resources in the end, expecting to get high returns from the few resources that have been tapped. It is important that the development committees relook on the membership of the valley in the initiative to ensure they reduce the membership so that they can have a manageable number that can give appropriate ideas without facing a lot of resistance. The committee also has to look for different donors who can greatly fund their projects, putting more emphasis on grants rather than loans that will safeguard the resources to be used by the natives of the valley (Gerasimov & Kirill, 2015).

How would you describe the Evolution of the Cuyahoga River Valley Organization?

Through the leadership of the consultancy firm, the community formed a network that brought them together, putting all their ideas into consideration, being able to mobilize the resources, and planning for the activities that were to be done. Through the meetings, they were able to come up with appropriate designs that fitted their expectations, bringing the complexity of their diversity in tackling both social, ecological, and economic issues (Christopher & Parker, 2011). The networks were essential as they gave out the components that made the organization stand fully. With the CRVO being at the center of the valley, they were able to come up with three other organizations that ensured that all the individuals are well accommodated and their activities were being monitored by the CRVO.

How CRVO be Organized to support and orchestrate the Projects and Initiatives that Advance the Transformation and Regeneration of the Valley

The members of the organization have to be involved in making the decisions that are being implemented by the organization. It will mean that the organization is implementing what its members want. The organization also has to use its members in implementing its activities so that the members can fully benefit from the organization. Capacity building of the members is key so as to ensure they have the required skills that will make the organization get to their goals.

From the case study, building the Cuyahoga river valley organization, it is important to involve consultants when coming up with organizations; taking the ideas of the members is also key. Involving both profitable and non-profitable stakeholders is crucial in order to achieve the desired goal of the organization. Several strategies must be put in place to curb all the problems that might arise in the organization.

References

Gerasimov, B. N., & Kirill, B. G. (2015). Modelling the Development of Organization management system." Asian Social Science 11.2.

Christopher G. W, & Parker, B. S. (2011). Building Multi-stakeholder Sustainability Networks: the Cuyahoga Valley Initiative." Organizing for sustainability. Emerald Group Publishing Limited.