Note: over the next few weeks, we will be posting some of the feedback gathered during the discussion following Richard Florida's March 18th, 2003 talk in Fort Wayne. The following is the third of these questions posed. View responses and leave yours by clicking on the 'Comments' link below. Please check back regularly to view more.
What should happen next to keep things moving?
Collected Responses from the 'Now What?' Cards left at the event:
- This evening will only have been worthwhile if long-term change is started by this session.
- A Clay Art Festival: It’s our most important natural asset; (all American clay). Dump a couple of trucks full and sculpt.
- Richard Florida is a wonderful speaker. Thanks. Market/sell Fort Wayne as the best place to live. It takes people to prosper
- Thank you so much for brining Richard Florida to speak with us in Fort Wayne. This forum to begin the dialog is so important. I would like to note that the only reason I heard about the event is because I knew of Florida’s work from other sources and I LUCKILY caught Jean Shaheen’s interview on NPR so early in the morning. AND my husband who works on the campus that helped sponsor the event, NEVER saw or heard an ad for this. Im concerned that your word isn’t getting out as effectively as it could. But I’m SO glad I heard about it.
- It’s great to hear this kind of information going out ot City of Fort Wayne. The word is out! Factories/industry are not what is helping Fort Wayne to grow. Its time to promote and create jobs for the movers and shakers.
- Richard Florida was awesome! Please bring him back to assist Fort Wayne in moving toward a creative community with more implementation techniques. I’m interested involved in Fort Wayne’s creative movement. Please contact me.
- Use the list of attendees to call a follow up meeting. Give people a way to stay involved.
- Let’s have more of these meetings.
- Do a focus group with 20 and 30 year olds to find out what they want out of a community that we’re not currently offering and what they do like here.
These questions are a good way to continue the process! Keep those of us that attended the session active with both this email information and by having additional gatherings, if possible. Make as much news as you can...PR, editorial in paper...find FW's creative folks, whether they be in advertising, a fine arts-type, or a truck driver...examine how the creative process works in all of us.
Posted by: Bruce Lehman at March 31, 2003 02:17 PMSomething visible. Promoting walks along the rivers. Opening the old rail bed that runs along SR 3 for a bike path.
Posted by: Tom Hufford at March 31, 2003 02:18 PMIt would be difficult to get everybody back together for events with little to no cost. What about something as simple as once a month, those interested in talking, brainstorming, etc. meet at the Dash-In after work on a Friday...or at an alternative location on a weekday evening. Even if two people show up, we're still communicating and we can post notes from these informal meetings on this site.
Posted by: Courtney Heiser at March 31, 2003 04:22 PMWe have a chance to really get things moving by sending two highly talented and motivated people to the Memphis Manifesto that Richard Florida is hosting next month. They can bring back lots of concrete ideas to Fort Wayne if we can just get them there.
Posted by: Jeanne at April 1, 2003 11:35 AMGood afternoon.
I think it would be appropriate to continue brainstorming for strategies to implement the main responses.
We did this at the University; why not do so in the Gallery of the Performing Arts Center?
I attended Richard Florida's lecture and it was awesome. I remained after the lecture to talk within a group. I think the group session was a great start.I think we need to open it up to the public especially young adults. Why not make it fun- like a summer festival at Headwaters. Brianstorming under the stars with open-minded people who want to get everyone involved with this process.I think it is essential that we involve the community at every age level and every culture.
Posted by: Suzette Brown at April 1, 2003 03:40 PMThe small group format worked very well after Richard's presentation. A group size of 6-10 is about right for breaking down barriers and having a more diverse discussion.
Let's try a pot luck event with small group tables and maybe a couple of informal speakers after the meal. This can be BYO for very little cost. Having small group tables is important for the discussion. Maybe in headwaters park - outdoors or in a pavillion. An evening event would work best - lunch is not enough time. During the week probably has better attendance than weekend.
The other thing that would help spur creative discussion is a "show and tell". A few short presentations to show what people do in Fort Wayne - either for work or play. Many people have no idea what some of the creative and high tech things that are done in our city
I was extremely motivated by Florida's presentation. I, like most other people my age, was planning on leaving this town when I graduated from college. Now I want to stay and make a difference.
I've been talking to some of my peers about what would make them stay in Fort Wayne, or what would make it better. I think this is very important because they're the ones that are going to take this place over, and if we don't think the people in business suits listen or care, we won't.
One more point-A problem I noticed at the presentation was that it seemed to be reaching out to the 'creative class' which, to me, seems like it would be young people, artists, musicians, etc. But it seemed to be made by (and I quote, from one of my peers) "rich white people" and directed toward "rich white people." The young people that I went with left disappointed, saying "it wasn't what I expected."
Here is a list of what I've gathered so far:
-musicians in the park-great idea!
-the big organizations around town do lots of small activities. they need to come together and do bigger things that mean more and affect more (not that what they're doing now doesn't mean anything or affect anyone)
-we need to promote what's already here, we have lots of cool stuff, but no one can find it.
-there is no night life for those under 21. everything dies after nine o'clock. Even for those who are over 21, bars and clubs aren't the most creative places to go.
-finish the bikeway!
-one person brought up Broadripple street in Indy and said they wish we had something more like that.
-more accessible art galleries (more art galleries)
-art culture is too "stuffy"
Great editorial by Larry Zepp into this evening's News-Sentinel about the relationship between creative class and Smith Field - check it out at http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/news/editorial/5594609.htm
Posted by: Karen Goldner at April 9, 2003 01:18 PMIf you want to see Florida's speech again (or for the first time) you can see it on IPFW cable channel 56:
Sun, May 4 7:30 p.m.
Mon, May 5 4:30 & 8:30 p.m.
Wed, May 7 2:30 p.m.
Thurs, May 8 2:30 & 8:30 p.m.
Fri, May 9 10:30 a.m.
Sat, May 10 3:30 & 7 p.m.
I'm an exprienced computer technician.
I'm LEAVING Fort Wanye...