Midtown Wednesdays

LIVE BLOG: Midtown Wednesdays: Criteria for Innovation Zones

Overview of the First and Second Curve economy and the changes in behavior needed to take place supporting a transition to a "Second Curve" innovation economy.

We need to do things in new and different ways. This requires simple changes in behavior such as appreciative leadership and behaving in ways that build trust and respect toward one another; this requires discipline and focus. This is easier for some than others.

Rich Brhel, Director of Library, Myers University, reports on his participation in the I-Open curriculum hosted by Baldwin Wallace College 3-27 & 3-28. Rich found the curriculum to be aligned with how he thinks about information and the new ways of approaching business support for entrepreneurs.

Review of the Innovation Framework map. What does this kind of simple map mean to how we think about our activities and our relationship to others?

No. 1 Break Out Where do you see yourself on the Innovation Framework? If you were to do what you do well, what would that look like in the Midtown Innovation Zone?

Group No.1
Brainpower Joe Polemento, provides solutions to mid-sized manufacturing companies to improve efficiencies. Joe believes efficencies start with managers and workers talking with each other to build trust and respect. Midtown has 650 businesses and 250 nonprofits. How could innovation and entrepreneurship in Midtown be accelerated if [only] 30% of Midtown businesses adopted new or alternate practices of efficiency?
Quality, Connected Places David Maske, builds infrastructure to create a quality, connected place by leading economic development projects in Midtown.
Dialogue & Inclusion Soren Hansen, strengthens new approaches to designing GIS standards, one of NEO largest economic development investments. A next step toward realizing a vision for implementing new standards is focused on connecting stakeholders in the region through the building of trust and sharing of information.

Group No.2
Quality, Connected Place Kiosk mapping locations in a 2 mile radius; Build an Innovation Cafe where people can work, eat in a free, open cafe including presentation room to model innovation as a living thing; Better physical demarkation such as signage and horticultural gardens.

No. 2 Break Out
Group No.1 Strengthen an understanding of the Midtown area by create neighborhood tours, begin "Midtown Saturdays" to discuss issues of neighborhood importance; Determine resources in Midtown by building an inventory of resources that is available to everyone and updateable; Neighborhood exploration: what is the morst important symbol of Midtown? Marquee type advertising, ie., Playhouse Square or Pre-loaded I-Pods with music and advertising.

No. 2 Identify a Midtown icon such as a Water presence. This could be accomplished by hosting an artists contest to design water fountains to be built all over Midtown. Our model is Italy. Become known as an area that teaches top level African American women for careers in engineering and technology. Is this something the Engineering Society could support and promote? Change the public perception of the value of innovation for young students and support initiatives like E-City.

Group No. 3 Build a virtual Midtown Town Hall - a Midtown Web Portal that cross promotes Midtown acitivites and provides an inventory of open properties, schools, cultural/summer events. (A model was developed by a Shaker Hts High School student at the former Center for Regional Economic Issues (REI) identified all of the events going on in University Circle and is posted on the UCI website.)

Next Meeting Thursday, April 6th at NEAD BRAND PARTNERS. Work on next steps for building Midtown! Join us for brew and coffee (and cookies) - Connect to new opportunities!
Date: Thursday, April 6
Time: 5:30-6:30 P.M.
Place: Nead Brand Partners
3635 Perkins Avenue, Suite 6a
Map Link

posted by Unknown @ 3/29/2006