United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley recently began a series of “Community Conversations,” focus group meetings to talk about the future of Lynn. The focus groups are part of a pilot effort United Way began last May to work with residents, organizations, and city agencies to discuss an overall vision. United Way is using the resulting response as a basis for its grant awards in Lynn and to identify ways local groups can better work together. The initiative also has featured a youth survey and a community meeting. Organizers are setting up focus groups to hear from parents, religious groups, residents for whom English is a second language, and specific neighborhoods. - John Laidler