Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Survey #193… and counting
It’s late on Wednesday and we just read survey #193. It’s exciting to hear so many people speaking candidly about their hopes, dreams, wants, needs, and even fears for Chattanooga. There are those that are hopeful, helpful, part of, proud of and some that are dissenting.
Every last word is being read. CreateHere is paying attention, and keeping your responses absolutely confidential unless you advise otherwise.
Posted by Administrator on 08/22 at 10:17 PM Collective Rethink • Permalink
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Bumper Stickers
I’m just back in from Asheville, NC where I learned more about how local organizations there are helping individuals with diverse and often economically challenged backgrounds flesh out business ideas and make independence a reality. One standout program is called Mountain Biz Works and their curriculum, success rate, and model are all impressive. In fact, many of the small businesses that I visited in Asheville were Mountain Biz Works graduates and clients.
Asheville is a city of similar size to Chattanooga that has also struggled from time to time due to the lack of robust anchor industries beyond tourism. One thing in particular struck me while driving around the city. Everyone there seems to have at least one and often more bumper stickers. They serve as unique froms of identification and camaraderie that work to advance community conversations ranging from friendship to food and public policy. Here’s just a sampling… Local Produce- 1,000’s of Miles Fresher, Buy Appalachian, Save Our Slopes, Keep Asheville Weird, Think Globally- Act Neighborly, Do Something- History is made by those who show up…
- Josh McManus
Posted by Administrator on 08/19 at 10:04 AM Collective Rethink • Permalink
Monday, August 13, 2007
What does Chattanooga mean to you?
by Josh McManus
A friend put me on to a public radio podcast about “big ideas” that came from the Aspen Institute in Colorado - 5 minute idea speeches from around the world.
The final speech was from the Founder of the Project for Public Spaces, who sent 30,000+ people the question “What does ‘place-making’ mean to you?” One of the many replies said “Place-making is the act of liberation, of staking claim, of beautification; it is true human empowerment”, and quoted Thoreau:
There is no value in life except what you choose to place upon it, and no happiness in any place except what you bring to it yourself.
Posted by Administrator on 08/13 at 06:30 PM Collective Rethink • Permalink