About Us

Intentional Community Spark

Our Focus

Initial focus will be on the Dubuque Downtown Core.

Our key priorities over the next several years.

1

Vibrancy within downtown neighborhoods, starting with Millwork and Lower Main.

2

Connectivity and cohesion between downtown neighborhoods.

Neighborhoods of Focus:

  • Upper Main
  • Millwork District
  • Cable Car
  • North Millwork
  • Lower Main

Our Mission

Make Dubuque a community of choice where all people can thrive.

Wall mural

Our Vision

Dubuque will be the most inspiring city of its size.

Our Values

Values guide our work together as a community.

  • 1

    Encourage bold, forward thought leadership.

  • 2

    Embody community engagement.

  • 3

    Foster collaboration.

  • 4

    Focus on action.

Dubuque Forward

Leadership

Dubuque Forward relies on a core group of dedicated local volunteers that lead its passion teams and are passionate about our community.

Leadership

Project Lenses

These lenses guide our passion teams.

Key considerations our passion teams use to frame ideas for action.

Guiding Principles for Health

  • Promotes individual movement
  • Promotes human relationships and experiences
  • Reduces common stressors
  • Promotes exposure to nature
  • Promotes exposure to healthy foods and healthy food production systems

Guiding Principles for JEDAI

  • Promotes accessible transportation
  • Promotes affordable safe housing
  • Promotes livable wage job growth
  • Culturally meaningful and inclusive design

Guiding Principles for Sustainability

  • Promotes healthy air
  • Promotes clean air
  • Promotes native plants & animals
  • Promotes green buildings
  • Promotes smart energy use
  • Promotes resource management

Guiding Principles for Outreach & Learning

  • Promotes community learning
  • Supports and engages the community's educational institutions
  • Meaningfully includes many community stakeholders in collaboration

Guiding Principles for Quality & Lasting Design

  • Embraces existing infrastructure
  • Promotes adaptable and resilient spaces
  • Includes a variety of local, state, and federal financing
  • Supports and utilizes local materials, manufacturers, and labor

Mississippi
Driftless
Regional Alliance

A group of predominantly private sector leaders, but also including the non-profit sector, who can serve as catalysts to move projects forward.

High Level Guiding Principles

  • Work closely with Passion Team leaders to review and discuss project recommendations from each team as well as generate ideas to present back to the Passion Teams for discussion
  • Mobilize investment in projects, both big and small, that will further the mission
  • Connect relevant individuals to accelerate action
  • Work with the public sector on needed regulatory conditions
  • Hire external planning firms
  • Expand focus to Driftless region in 2-4 years