This paper examines a process within the Children, Youth and Families Initiative that identified common goals and "markers" among community residents and service providers from seven participating communities, representatives of the Chicago Community Trust, and researchers from the Chapin Hall Center for Children. This process culminated in a do written document identifying "Markers of Progress." The Markers of Progress was comprised of an overall vision of the Initiative, five key elements for implementing the initiative, and markers for each element, including site-specific evidence of progress. The authors of the paper argue for the benefits of such a shared process and its product, while also identifying some of the general and specific factors that appeared to limit its use.