Collaborative Leadership

CRT is nationally recognized for its innovative approach to creating regional thinking and action through a collaborative leadership model. Formed in 2000 by regional leaders and Vanderbilt University, CRT’s mission is to help the ten-county region grow in a sustainable manner and prosper by keeping and enhancing livability and economic vitality. Since that time CRT has formed many successful partnerships in the private, public, non-profit and government sectors at the local, regional and state level.

POWER OF TEN Regional Summit

CRT has a history of convening regional summits as far back as 1999. Today CRT hosts the annual POWER OF TEN Regional Summit which brings together local, regional, and national leaders from the business, government, design, planning, and non-profit communities to discuss our Six Issues of Regional Importance.

Tennessee Regions’ Sustainable Communities Roundtable

CRT is currently in the organizational phase of creating the Tennessee Regions’ Sustainable Communities Roundtable. The purpose is to bring together public, private, and philanthropic leaders and organizations across the unique and diverse regions of Tennessee. This new state-wide network will advance joint regional Sustainable Communities efforts through knowledge and resource sharing, education, communication, and collaborative efforts.

Perceptions on Regional Collaboration and Key Regional Issues: Prince Market Research May 2009

CRT conducted research among government, business and community leaders to learn about perceptions, opportunities and challenges in the region. The survey revealed regional leaders thoughts and perceptions on regional collaboration and issues of importance.

A Clinic on Regional Collaboration- A Report in Progress, Lincoln Institute for Land Policy, 2006

Cumberland Region Tomorrow and Partners Leadership Middle Tennessee and the MTSU Chair for Regional Planning applied for and were selected for one of two 2006 Clinics for Regional Collaboration. The Clinic gathered government, business and non-profit leaders to discuss the opportunities and obstacles for successful regional collaboration in our ten Middle Tennessee counties. View the Report to learn where regional leaders were in our thinking of our potential for successful regionalism and possible first step project efforts to create collaborative thinking and action in 2006.

Regional Planning Summit Report Oct. 2003

The first of what would become many CRT regional summits, this report highlights the day’s findings. It includes big idea discussions for regional growth issues and the results from polling citizens on what they considered to be the most pressing challenges and opportunities for region.

Regional Planning Summit Proceedings Dec. 1999

The first regional summit in the state of Tennessee was sponsored by the Tennessean and Vanderbilt University. The summit brought together over 300 citizens concerned about quality growth issues raised by the Peirce Reports published earlier in the year. Several topics were addressed, one of the more important was discussion of regional quality growth non-profit to guide and drive future development in the region—what would be later know as Cumberland Region Tomorrow.

The Peirce Reports, Neal Peirce 1999

Recognizing the burgeoning trends in our region, a 1999 study sponsored by the Vanderbilt Institute for Public Policy Studies and published in the Tennessean was the impetus for the formation of Cumberland Region Tomorrow. The Peirce Report gathered a broad perspective on the region’s assets and challenges, highlighting possible strategies available to deal with those challenges. A one-day Regional Planning Summit sponsored by Vanderbilt University and the Greater Nashville Regional Council was organized around issues raised by The Peirce Report. Local and national speakers spoke about the current state of the region and shared best practices from other regions faced with similar growth issues.