Ivy Tech and our sister institutions recently helped launch the "Dare to Dream: One Region/One Vision" initiative because, quite frankly, we don't have all the answers. Funded by the Knight Foundation through our Gerald I. Lamkin Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center, this initiative will help Northwest Indiana prepare for the future.

Our goal is to invite a conversation among the present and future leadership of Jasper, Lake, LaPorte, Newton, Porter, Pulaski and Starke counties.

Why these counties? Many state entities group these seven counties into one unit. Today, the college or university within a given community no longer serves just the local population. Indeed, we are able to serve the world through the Internet. But mostly, we are all citizens of this shared area, and we stand to gain by working together. This initiative is a start.

Across these seven counties, we will conduct "convenings" that are town meetings, but broader in scope. This initiative was kicked off at Fair Oaks Farms in Newton County on April 30. Almost 100 people throughout Northwest Indiana drove to Newton County to share and explore the possibilities that can come from communication, cooperation and collaboration.

We will ask three basic questions at each convening aimed at helping us dream of what could be possible, "if only." First, what are the strengths of each county? Here in Lake County, our strength is in our diversity. I view ethnic and racial diversity, as well as economic diversity from steelmaking to entrepreneurial activities, as an asset.

Second, what is great about each county? I believe we have experiences and ideas that we can communicate and share with neighboring counties. We also have the lessons learned -- both good and bad -- that can help others emulate our successes, or avoid our mistakes.

Third, how can our greatness be enhanced through cooperation and collaboration? We must find ways to improve educational attainment at all levels. The changing waves of technological advances are coming so fast, we must work together to strengthen our work force, or face being lost in the wake.

What could be the outcome of these convenings? Hopefully, a better informed and educated populace will converse. We may also better appreciate the actual and potential contributions of each county, understand the challenges, and pursue areas of mutual interest for an improved quality of life.

In some respects, these convenings can help us renew our historic values: The value of being a better neighbor. The value of listening and learning from others. The value of increased civic engagement, where society becomes "Better Together" as promoted in an initiative by Harvard University.

These convenings could also reveal unexpected and surprising opportunities for our seven counties. Will you take the dare to communicate, cooperate and collaborate with us?

This is the first in a series of seven monthly columns about the "Dare to Dream" initiative. For information, contact LaShung Willis, Project Director, at (219) 980-7704.

J. Guadalupe Valtierra is Chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana Northwest. The opinion expressed in this column is the writer's and not necessarily that of The Times.