We assemble those involved in the event planning (it could be 1 person or 20) in a room with a white board. We put each of the following 10 steps up as columns on the white board. We start on left (first step) and work our way to the right. The steps are in an order because generally knowing the item(s) in previous steps makes answering the following steps easier.

1. Purpose: This is where you brain storm the “why”. What is the goal of this event. Why do you want to do it? What does success look like?
2. Audience: Based on our purpose who do we invite to the event? This can a list of specific people or as board as general groups. (ex: Phoenix Area CEOs)
3. Format: What is the format of this event? Is it a traditional one track conference? Multiple track? Open Space? Bar Camp? Is it multiple day? Half-Day? Weekday? Weekend?
4. Content: What are the primary topics? If you were to do a call for speakers what would you want them to speak about?
5. Schedule: Since you know the format, you should be able to set a loose schedule. This helps give you an idea of how long to make sessions and how many there will be. Whether to include breakfast, lunch, dinner, etc.
6. Venue: Since you know the format, audience and schedule you should now be able to brainstorm a number of potential venues. Be liberal here, because you will need options.
7. Speakers: This is a brainstorm of potential speakers you would like to invite to the event to speak, assuming your format requires it. This could also be persona’s of type of speakers you would like to accept on an open call for papers.
8. Time Frame: This can be a very specific date or it can be a general time frame (ex: early March 2012). This will allow you start finding a venue. Generally the closer the event the more specific this will be.
9. Sponsors: Who will help make this event happen. We usually split this into three categories. Media sponsors, those that help us get the word out. Partners, those that let us use resources (including their mailing list). Financial sponsors, those that are financially contributing.
10. Determine Next Steps: Now that you have all this brainstorming done. You create a punch list of action items to do based on what has been discovered.

We find that this exercise takes anywhere from 15 minutes to 1 hour. Tasks can usually be distributed and fairly quickly the event is ready for promotion.

As the new year approaches, consider getting back in touch with your inner creator. Make something in the new year. Try out a new medium. Get uncomfortable.

There are plenty of places in Arizona to get support in your creative endeavors. Stop by The Lab 137, Heatsync Labs, Maker Bench, Gangplank (Chandler, Tucson, Avondale) to be inspired and meet people fighting to let their inner creator out.

CCA should be applauded for not resting on it’s laurels and understanding that it must adapt for the future. Taking the time to get community feedback is something so many organizations/facilities fail to do.

The recognition that the audience is changing and that educational components have to be address in order succeed is a great first step. Understanding that the facility, current partners and programming all need to be challenged to fight the status quo is key.

The report covers in detail the dynamics of Chandler’s community, demographics, business/lifestyle trents, the role of arts/culture, building on a strong foundation, preparing for the future and managing dynamic tensions.

If you care about Arts/Culture in your city, run a an arts organization or want to understand the dyanmics at play, this report is a must read.

No. We need more regional connectivity. We need to be connecting cities in ways that have fewer stops and run with higher frequency. Bus Rapid Transit is a good start. The Tempe proposal is fixated on area that already has reasonable connectivity let’s move to areas in the Southeast Valley that need to be connected.

http://www.azcentral.com/community/tempe/articles/2011/09/14/20110914tempe-streetcar-plan-on-track.html

Razing makes sense if the home has become serious blight. In cases, where the structure is still in tact, but vacant it probably makes sense to repurpose them. Let them be used commercially as boutiques, art galleries, etc. This is a time in which we should be looking at space creatively and trying things that normally would be off limits.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-18/rust-belt-cities-demolish-homes-as-foreclosures-blight-cleveland-detroit.html

When we see the work of other creators it inspires us to want more and drives us to enrich our environment for the betterment of everyone. Supporting arts and culture is conducive to creating deeper tolerance of our differences. Understanding the beauty in difference opens us up for new ways of thinking. The wildest ideas often produce the best innovation. Being surrounded by diversity allows us to embrace the uncomfortable and see new opportunity in our weakness.

Places that restore arts and culture into their schools will see a much needed new found creativity and increased diversity. When we stop looking at art and culture as optional we will start building the exceptional.

1. Hard Work

Multiple people toiling day after day, year after year, decade after decade fighting for the little details that make a sense of place and activate engagement. I am not talking a little bit of work on the side, but rather pouring their entire life’s work into making change.

2. Consistency

See above. Far too often people make waves, but they don’t keep them coming and so change never occurs. When fashioning things of greatness you have to be in making change for the long haul. It is likely the work you do will never see fruit in your lifetime.

3. Passion

It’s not enough to work hard over a long period of time to build a great city. It is necessary that the inhabitants of the city are inspired and motivated to an emotional connection with the city. This requires passionate people spreading their fire for the place they are working to build. This is not cheerleading its palpable excitement for the potential of a future ready to be unlocked.

4. Vision (added on Oct 4th)

Vision is the the thing that brings it all together.  It is next to impossible to consistently spread passion without vision.  People will give up and stop putting in effort if they don’t have a vision they are working for.  This is probably the most difficult part of building great cities.  People think there has to be unanimous consensus to move forward, but in reality visionaries realize that sometimes you have to build things people don’t even know they want yet.  Also, cities tend to evolve and so the path to getting to the destination may change which can be confusing, but if the vision is consistent it’s okay.

If you want your city to be great. Work at it. Stick with it. And most importantly spread your vision to those living there to inspire them to accelerate the process.

Libraries Supporting the Initiative

Apache Junction Public Library
Website | Support

Arizona State Library
Website | Support

Casa Grande Public Library
Website | Support

Chandler Public Library
Website | Support

Glendale Public Library
Website | Support

Maricopa County Library District
Website | Support

Mesa Library
Website | Support

Peoria Public Library
Website | Support

Phoenix Public Library
Website | Support

Scottsdale Public Library System
Website | Support

Tempe Public Library
Website | Support

In political circles you might find complaints about constituents being “angry and absent”. It is a great way to describe the current state of affairs in most government settings. Politicians and civic staff are frustrated that people do nothing but complain about decisions that are made, but refuse to show up to actually give an opinion when they attempt to garner feedback. Citizens are outraged with how the government operates and feel that their voice is never heard so they stop participating.

This vicious circle has to come to an end. The way to do it is local engagement. I believe that the federal government in the short term is a lost cause. State and county governments probably stand little near term chance, but city government has the ability to reverse the cycle almost immediately. City council members and staff need to meet people where they are at. They need to engage them in mediums they are comfortable with and in ways that show they are real. This means they have to stop behaving in old ways and adopt new ways of thinking. If you are a politician or a member of staff consider the following.

Transparency versus Covering Up
Experimentation versus The Perfect Solution
Conversation versus Oration
Authenticity versus Public Image
Policy versus Politics

Council and committee meetings are not the way to engage your communities. No one believes that they have a voice in those archaic structures. Find ways to create conversation, build relationships and most importantly allow yourself to be vulnerable.

If you want help. Contact me. I would love to help you engage with your citizens. The truth is that we are all human and most of us love the places we live. When we can start working together towards making that place better we all win.