Midtown Wednesdays

One of a Thousand Inconvenient Truth Leaders...

2007-01-06T13:05:00.000-05:00

Don't miss this week's 2007 Midtown Brews Series kick off conversation -

Thursday, January 11, 2007

''Our Global Imperative,'' conversation is lead by Jeff Friedman, partner in Webtego, an Ohio based technology company. Jeff is one of a thousand Inconvenient Truth National Leaders telling the story about planet sustainability challenges and solutions. You can learn more about The Climate Project here.

Cleveland Casinos impact on Midtown

2006-10-28T15:23:00.000-04:00

Ed Morrison has recently published an articulate and simple look at the disastrous consequences of Casinos in Cleveland to Midtown.

View the presentation "Impact of Cleveland Casinos on Midtown," by Ed Morrison, Director, I-Open here.

You can read the Crains Cleveland opinion piece, "Time for a New Cleveland Business Leadership?" by Ed Morrison here.

The Cleveland Empowerment Zone Business Development Partners Group

2006-10-28T14:48:00.000-04:00

Here is the list sent by our partner, A.C. Alrey:

The Cleveland Empowerment Zone Business Development Partners Group

City of Cleveland Departments/Divisions/Offices
1. Cleveland Empowerment Zone Office Staff (those with direct contact to businesses)
2. Workforce Development Division of Econ. Development Department
3. Mayor’s Office of Equal Opportunity
4. Department of Community Development
5. Planning Department

CDCs involved in the initial creation of the EZ
6. Consortium for Economic & Community Development (Hough)
7. Fairfax Renaissance Development Corporation
8. Glenville Development Corporation – Darren Harris
9. MidTown Cleveland, Inc.

CDCs located within the EZ and Buffer Areas
10. St. Clair – Superior Development Corporation
11. Burton, Bell, Carr Development Corporation
12. Northeastern Neighborhood Development Corporation
13. Maingate Business Development Corporation
14. The Quadrangle, Inc. -- Bill Beckenbach, Ex. Dir.
15. Garrett Square Economic Development Corporation (currently a defunct group, but may be revived in the future)

Financial, Technical Assistance & Business Services Organizations located within or focused on the EZ
17. Cuyahoga County Development Department
18. The Urban League/SBDC Multicultural Business Development Center -- Debra Meager
19. The Entrepreneurial Academy
20. The WECO Fund, Inc. -
21. Shorebank / Shorebank Enterprises – Courtney McClain
22. Great Lakes Chamber of Commerce – Melvin Hendrix
23. Christian Business League
24. The Northeast Ohio Immigrant & Minority Business Alliance (IMBA)
25. Alex CDC
26. The Institute for Open Economic Networks (I-Open)
27. Various labor force vendors that have contracts with the EZ Office

Area Financial Institutions located within or focused on the EZ
28. KeyBank
29. First Merit
30. SkyBank
31. National City
32. US Bank
33. Charter One
34. Huntington
35. Fifth Third
36. Chase (Bank One)
37. Merrill Lynch – Theron Cyrus

Various Ward Offices located within the EZ Boundaries
36. Wards 4
37. Wards 5
38. Wards 6
39. Wards 7
40. Wards 8
41. Wards 9
42. Wards 10
43. Wards 13

If you would like to contact A.C. please do at:

A. C. Alrey
Manager, Business & Community Affairs
Cleveland Empowerment Zone Office
Department of Economic Development
3634 Euclid Avenue, Suite 200
Cleveland, OH 44115

Phone: 216/664-4170 x230
Fax: 216/420-8522
Email: acalrey@city.cleveland.oh.us
City Webpage: www.cleveland-oh.gov

Disruption

2006-07-09T09:23:00.000-04:00

Ed Morrison recently received a note from a long time EDPro reader suggesting the online newsletter, Byvation, whose editor writes about creativity, innovation and disruption. If you are interested, you can sign up for the free letter here.

The June issue features the article, "Shh...Don't Wake Up the Big Dog". Here are excerpts offering advice to entrepreneurs:

"...Make new friends In the early days, it's best to operate in stealth mode. Create prototypes, acquire funding quietly (i.e. friends, family, and angels), and most importantly - get customers...Making friends with bigger dogs offers you protection. And, when you're growing up - that's what you need. Joint Ventures, Alliances, and Strategic Partnerships opens doors to customers and lets you deal with others from a position of strength - instead of weakness. When the big dogs throw up legal and marketing roadblocks, you'll be able to persist in the fight...

...As an upstart - either a classic entrepreneur or a newly created corporate spinoff, you need to think disruptively. Like a growing puppy, you need to tip-toe around the big dogs. If they growl, back away. Find a new angle of attack. Think about who you need as strategic partners, know when you'll need them, and how you'll persuade them to join your cause.

In the end, your choices are 1) To compete with the big dogs, or 2) Strike disruptively. If you chose to mix it up with the big dogs, the odds are against you. And, even if you win, you'll probably end up in a no-profit zone, just like the auto industry or the airlines. At least disruption gives you a fighting chance."

...I especially like the author's focus on disruptive products and strategies. But there is another important application of disruption: as it applies to behavior.

Our first impulse is to think of non-status quo behavior as negative. But what if the established behavior no longer provides value? Disruptive appreciative behavior means the resulting activities will be different. This is how change occurs.

Disruptive behavior is critical to enable shifts to occur in environments if mature patterns of behavior stifle innovation and entrepreneurship. This is the case in Northeast Ohio. Entrepreneurs struggle for value in an environment still modeling post industrial hierarchical thinking, behavior and activity, stifling innovation.

Byvation offers good advice. I can think of no better way than to work "under the radar"; this allows new work to move forward creatively and uninterrupted in a continuous test environment, at least in the early stages.

One point that needs to be appreciated: leaders who are inventing and building new methods for innovation need to "lean into" each other.

A kind of banding together. Not necessarily work together, but like in chamber music performance, play forward relentlessly and powerfully, appreciate and be aware of fellow colleagues efforts, but constantly look for new avenues of opportunity - disruptive as they may be.

New Fun with Drupal: GoinOn.com

2006-07-08T13:36:00.000-04:00

Check out this Drupal site called GoingOn.com

Awesome functionality!

Here is the Midtown My Town home page here.

Sign on and get your account networked!

Thinking about NEO in New and Different Ways: MegaRegions & Networks of Capability

2006-07-08T10:06:00.000-04:00

Ed Morrison sends this link to America 2050 - addressing mega regions, their capabilities and potential for regional development alignment.

You can download a very interesting presentation by Kip Bergstrom to the recent Fifth Annual State of the Region Conference: “Responding to A Changing World” in Toledo, Ohio this past May 22, 2006. "Thinking About Regions as Networks of Capability" here.

Bergstrom refers to work done by Bob Yaro of the NY/NJ/CT Regional Plan Association and Armando Carbonell of the Lincoln Institute.

Ed Morrison continues...

"The Fund for Our Economic Future could accelerate its efforts by learning how other regions are promoting innovation through open networks.

We have distilled this model as Open Source Economic Development. We are now teaching this model to other economic development professionals:

We are deploying this model in Indiana under Leadership Indiana, the governor's Accelerating Growth initiative and the workforce innovation initiative (WIRED) guided by Purdue. It is also the model we are following with CuyahogaNext.

Among the interesting insights, is one on the last page. I quote it below.

...'Why is it better for Toledo to position itself as part of the greater Detroit metro as opposed to just focusing on the Toledo metro?

It has to do with the role of networks in innovation. The network is the common denominator between the traditional notion of a cluster and the new focus on capability. The clusters which Michael Porter describes in his work are the relatively static arrangement of galaxies and stars and planets after the big bang of disruptive innovation.

There is still movement in the system (sustaining innovation), but nothing like the explosive energy that created the system in the first place. As Mike Carroll notes, the cluster is not the economic geography of the regional market…that is simply the stage set for social networks among individuals in organizations. Likewise, disruptive innovation is enabled by dense, deep and broad social networks, which create new clusters by combining elements of existing clusters in new ways… specifically through new business models that combine people, products and processes to create value that someone is willing to pay for.

These networks cannot just exist in virtual space, because too much of the knowledge required for innovation is tacit and therefore difficult to communicate electronically. Innovation emerges from intense face-to-face interaction among diverse teams of people with complimentary capabilities. This need for face-to-face interaction to drive innovation is the primary source of regional competitive advantage.

The physical extent of easy, regular, face-to-face interaction defines the possible geographic scope of the region. The interstate highway system enables easy face-to-face interaction at the metro scale. High speed rail may someday enable it at the super city or mega regional scale.' "

This is excellent guidance for all of us working in Northeast Ohio to strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship by leveraging new practices and tools for Open Source Economic Development. Take a look at the report, it's pretty cool and contains good information.

Updates on the Charleston Digital Corridor: Model for Midtown

2006-07-08T08:37:00.000-04:00

The Charleston Digital Corridor is our model for Midtown.

Ernest Andrade, the city economic development official who launched the Charleston Digital Corridor, is stepping down after 18 years in municipal government. He will go into private consultancy to teach other regions how to apply best thinking. Read the article here.

The CDCorridor website offers a thorough and brilliant definition of organization, alignment and creative approaches to initiating and strengthening a technology industry destination. Visit the site here.

Ed Morrison is a Founding Director of the CDCorridor. We will ask Ernest to come to Cleveland to share his knowledge with entrepreneurs in Midtown.

Digital Corridor chief resigns: Architect of Charleston program to become private consultant

BY KYLE STOCK
The Post and Courier

Ernest Andrade, the city economic development official who launched the Charleston Digital Corridor, is stepping down after 18 years in municipal government to take his strategies on the road.

He has incorporated a consultancy dubbed Andrade Economics to teach other communities the techniques he used to cultivate a budding technology industry in Charleston. His last day as a city employee will be Aug. 30.

"I am professionally at my creative best and I want to be able to share with the rest of the world what I've learned," Andrade said. "This isn't something that necessarily needs to be kept in a bottle."

It was unclear Friday if the city has a succession plan. Mayor Joe Riley could not be reached for comment, and only a few members of City Council had heard of the resignation.

During his time with the city, Andrade, 42, didn't dangle incentives, wine and dine CEOs or cold-call prospects. He was also not much for meetings, studies and bureaucracy. Instead, Andrade took small, quick steps to fertilize Charleston's tech landscape, such as lining up parking, tracking open office space and plugging newcomers into the network of area financiers and like-minded techies.

"The position we've taken is to hit small singles every day, so even if that big economic development home run doesn't come, you're going to have successes," he said. "It's the epitome of an initiative crafted by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs."

Savannah's Creative Coast, a nonprofit economic development organization, studied the Digital Corridor's model before it launched in 2003, according to executive director Chris Miller.

"(Andrade) is clearly ahead of his time," Miller said. "We're talking about small, fast, flexible entrepreneurs. They don't have time for bull and bureaucracy."

Andrade's approach helped win Digital Lifestyle Outfitters, a Raleigh-based company that sells iPod gadgets, which moved here in mid-2004. Jeff Grady, the company's chief executive officer, said Andrade was an ambassador when his team came to check out Charleston.

"It was a very personal experience," he said. "(Andrade) picked us up and drove us around town and had some potential office space already identified for us to look at. ... I don't even think the people in Raleigh knew what we were doing."

Since relocating here, Digital Lifestyle has grown from four local workers to 20 and from $22 million in annual revenue to more than $100 million.

City Councilman Henry Fishburne said results like that will be missed when Andrade goes.

"I was always impressed with his intelligence level and his effort, his dedication," Fishburne said. "If he leaves the community and if he leaves the peninsula, it will leave a gap there. I hope we can fill it sometime in some way."

Andrade was born in Kuwait, grew up in India and immigrated to the U.S. in 1981. He earned a bachelor's degree from the College of Charleston and a master's in public administration from the University of South Carolina before joining the city's Planning Department 18 years ago, and later moving to economic development.

Having seen both sides of outsourcing, Andrade shifted his focus away from industrial businesses and launched the Digital Corridor initiative in 2001.

"There was no ah-ha moment," he said. "But there were moments when you pulled people aside privately and asked them to be very candid. And out of that candor came the strategy."

Since its inception the Corridor has grown from 18 to 78 member companies. The initiative's major accomplishments include setting up an online "talent portal" connecting local companies to job seekers and building a "touchdown space" where a small startup or relocating business can work until it secures office space. The Digital Corridor was also the driving force behind the city's free wireless Internet, which has been spreading slowly across the peninsula since March.

Andrade said the initiative was "painfully underfunded" since its inception, but he pointed out that tight finances helped his organization run efficiently. The corridor budget was $142,000 last year, a sum that included the salaries of Andrade and development coordinator Kimberly Demetriades.

Fishburne said he thought Andrade felt unappreciated and was frustrated with the city's financial commitment. "I think in general he was hoping for more support and hoping to do bigger and better things," he said.

Andrade will continue to serve as director of the Digital Corridor Foundation, a nonprofit made up of local tech executives that loans money to area startups. He will also do some work with Keane & Co., a consultancy launched in late 2004 by Tim Keane, former city planning director. Andrade is a silent investor in the firm.

Reach Kyle Stock at 937-5763 or kstock@postandcourier.com.

A Good Overview of Network Theory Applied to Neighborhood Rebuilding

2006-07-08T06:32:00.000-04:00

Here is an excellent story about network theory applied to community engagement from Lawrence, Massachusetts.

"Network Organizing: A Strategy for Building Community Engagement" by William J. Traynor and Jessica Andors, describes a community not unlike Midtown, an environment that suffers from social deficits and subsequently lack of network infrastructure.

These kinds of landscapes, the result of mature aging hierarchical environments, offers tremendous opportunity to those ready to grasp fresh community rebuilding activity.

Read the article and explore the National Housing Institute website here.

LIVE BLOG: Kudzai Shava: Empowering People with Disabilities: Education is the Key

2006-06-28T17:36:00.000-04:00

Kudzai works for the Midland State university and Dir., for the Disability Students. The job is to integrate students into activities. Kudzai was sighted until 3 years until due to measles became blinded. In Africa, as in most other countries, any children suffering disability is a great handicap to the entire family. Kudzai was sent to school by his family as the demands of taking care of him were too great for the family. Many students train for public service because they are supported by charity. Because of this support Kudzai feels indebted to society and has dedicated his work to helping others.

Just being here in the United States is an honor. Kudzai and a sighted student did research and data collection and then came to the US as a scholar. Kudzai could see an opportunity to provide information for the blind about disease. Africans wondered that this must be because society wanted them to die.

Several people in the room have visited Zimbabwe. There are many networked connections in the room. It is a beautiful place.

Every country needs to have some sort of education. The vehicle to empowerment is education; this allows women and children to excel.

Zimbabwe population is 12,000,000
Disabled population is 1,200,000
Resourcves are lacking even to substantiate exact statistics
Limited opportunities and resources for empowering of the disabled: education, employment, support/sustenance

The main problem - even outside of HIV - is education. There is also the predjudice factor. Just like the US, the traditional methods of financing demand collateral. What kinds of collateral do the disabled have? This is itself, a prejudice.

Baseline research: Pilot Study

Findings: there are significant gaps in youth's knowledge about sexuality, HIV and AIDS/Usual methods of obtaining information: Hearsay, Overheard conversation, Experimentation; Preferred methods: Braille, Audio, Drama, Music, Poetry and Asking Questions/Eager to become peer educators

In the pilot study a lot of disturbing things were identified:
Young women were not familiar with what a condom feels like; they did not know what the difference is between HIV and AIDS (We are looking at some of the pictures of the children)

Peer Education Training
Blind people who can talk with peers who are trained about HIV and AIDS; 27 visually impaired studetns and 4 blind teachers
With a small grant from Hiram College blind students and 4 teachers were trained over 2 weeks with discussions, drama, music, poetry . 118 interviews were conducted of random selections. This is the contribution of culutral heritage to training. Certification was awarded to the interviewees who went on to train others.

Need for Empowerment and Support
Educated adults who are visually impaired: 110 school teachers; 10 social workers; 10 lawyers; 6 rehabilitation technicians
Alternative methods of sustenance: blind school drops outs gop to live in blind communities; begging on the street; emigration to neighboring countries to beg ( similar to the Mexican border dilemia
Now there is a problem with funding of students as funding for universities are cut.

Education in Zimbabwe
Literacy rate is 80 to 90%; over the past 5 years governmental support has been cut for universities;

Proposed Solution
Extend peer education project & HIV and AIDS education to all Zimbabwe schools where disabled live

Micro-Financing Revolving Fund
Income generating projects: to support academic schoalrships, to support practical skills training; develop business plans for income generating projects

Academic Scholarship Fund
High schools tudetns going into terit

Practical Skills Training
Form groups; Train group memebers in basic bookkeeping and financial administration; skils and knowledge in crafts market gardening, farming, other marketing projects. Start internet cafes.

It is not that people with disabilities cannot do it; it is that they need to be taught. By growing simple things, like mushrooms, you are growing healthy foods and making money to feed your family.

Cross-Cultural Networking Efforts
Funding, Educational exchange programs: professional, studetn internships; sharing ideas and capacity building through seminars and workshops. There is little money coming into Zimbabwe. This is the time to bring resources and gather groups to share knowledge and resources.

I-Open is a very appropriate name; we are not talking about seeing with the eye, but we're talking about opening the eye in you and opening the opportunities in Ohio, Kentucky, Oklahoma. In the research panel at the meeting this morning today the research panel began to look 10 years out - to look out and see the possibilities.

We should see opportunities where other people are blinded and they cannot see. Some people can see things that others cannot see. We as I-Open should try to promote and help each other to see new opporutnities. We, as I-Open, should set an example for others and work together to help see opportunities.

Question: I s there an opportunity in Zimbabwe to provide managment and managment training.
Yes! There are efforts going on which are ready for joint entrepreneurial ventures.

Question:
Julia Zellner visitied Zimbabwe in 1991. By American standards, it was bad.
A: Now it is 200,000 of exchange for every 1 American dollar. On the Black Market - a more realistic rate - is closer to 300,000 per $1. There are stampeeds at the supermarkets.

$100,000 dollar bill is the largest denomination. But this does not buy anything of substance. Groceries for a family of 4 are several million.

Marimba band performed by students earns money to feed the students. A new band is needed as the instruments are too old. The students are also dancing and could be choreographed.

Question:
What is done for people who have been diagnosed to have contracted the disease?
A: There are 300 organizations that address HIV and AIDS. But none of these address the blind. People with disabilities are left out of programs. That is why we are still at the awareness stage: how to be tested, what the disease is about and counseling.
Awarenss is still being developed; Kudzai's school addresses some of these needs.

Q: where and what other groups will host you to speak?
A: Cleveland Sight Center. Can you suggest any other places where Kudzai could speak? It is important to visit groups with similar interests to exchange learning and best practices.

Please contact Kudzai if you are interested in working or sharing information listed below:

Mosh Pit as Innovation Model

2006-06-25T15:35:00.000-04:00

Here's a relatively new blog with an entry about Old and New models for innovation. They offer a good comparison below:

Make sense to you? Learn more here.

LIVE BLOG: Building Sustainable Food Networks

2006-06-21T17:20:00.000-04:00

Our partner and Director of Library at Myers University, Rich Brhel, is reviewing the Myers Business Directory; a platform to serve the local business community. Survey Monkey is the Internet platform used for the 18 survey questions developed by Rich and Joyce Banjac, Dean of the Myers Business School. The survey is directed to companies, organizations. This is a trial phase and the University is looking for feedback on the questions for the official roll out in July. Rich is also coordinating a list of library resources that connect to the various listings. If the University develops classes on information literacy, the research could be done by the students, offering another way to integrate students with business. One of the questions addresses whether or not the company would be willing to engage students.

There are several ways to engage others in Midtown. Forums are new open "civic" spaces that offer anyone who has initiative to come together and to work on transformative white papers, proposals and new business development.

Melvin Hendrix leads the forum today. Melvin thinks deeply about the urgency of innovation for all ways sustainable. Melvin's passions are in cultivating soil and good water management. He has in depth experience as a practitioner working across the world and, in Africa. Melvin specializes in writting curriuclum to teach others about these subjects and practical next steps in new applications.

There is a need for new approaches for local agriculture and new thinking around how we will feed the next generation. We need to focus on how each community is going to address local food needs. Refer to the Leopold Institute. The following sections are organized into areas of connectivity that if strengthened, can accelerate useful innovation.

Leveraging Global Networks: Holland, for example, is know for international trade. Holland 20 years ago was a super charged hub of international business. Melvin studied in Holland and was involved in many early initiatives. One example was an effort to bring bikes into Holland; groups found manufacturers from all over the world who could supply various styles of bikes.

Delivery and Logistics of Product: The current system of agriculture is not sustainable. The peach you had this morning came from California; was fertilized by prodcut manufacturered in the Middle East. We are focused on siloed production resources.

We have lost 4M farms in 50 years. If you see barren patches in the midsts of fertile land; not reducing hunger - hunger is rising, we are eating more nutrient poor foods than ever before. This is a case of garbarge in and garbage out.

What do we need?
We need a new way of looking at things and long term. Also difficult for individuals to look at solving food problems. You are operating alone - this is why Farmer's Markets are successful because alot of like-minded people come together to share conversation. The farmers markets do not build a better economy though. A combination of rural and urban begins to rebuild rural, urban and sustainable communities. The need to be there is not as necessary because of the virtual opportunity today.

We need a system to protect our water resources. Especially here in this region. We need a system that encourages environmental stewardship and social diversity; something that promotes biodiversity among all of us, is a strength. We need a system that expands the resources we have but conserves through better distribution of higher quality products.

A good book to read: The Planet of Sloums, Mike Davis. Go here.

Here's what needs to change:

1) Agriculture policy to strengthen small and mid sized farms
2) Diminishing of Agri-businesses and a strengthening of Horticulutre which is local and collaborative. Farming is no longer a career; corporate farms are dominating corporate farms

Achieving Food Security:
What we can do:
1.) Change of behaviors and habits; this the year of Benjamin Franklin and he would start with himself...then we begin to pull in our friends and family
2.) Supports for:
- Electoral politics must be changed. No one individual can be registered. In Ohio, when every individual turns 18 they should be automatically registered to vote. Other states
- Zoning laws need to be changed. So that systems are more flexible; for example Europe has residential and rural ...A block Party network needs to be connected to the Farmers Market in Midtown.
- communication through block clubs
- Education, mentoring, constructing
- Profitability

Experiments are being started in other parts of the world where the optimum population is 80,000 people. How for example, can you lice in a syscraper that is 100 flooers. Factories and more factories are single floors. In China, alternate spaces balconies and rooftops are used to grow. Just how high are we willing to live and walk up?

Q: Will populations be only around areas that can support land based growing?
A: we don't need to have land based agriculture anymore. We don't need to wait 6 years to be qualified as organic soil. Some crops require land based orientation but most do not. We don't need to keep pushing grain down livestock to satisfy our traditional diets.

We are being starved by eating too much. A story: Melvin was in Malrusha; he purchased a kabob of goat. Melvin was never able to chew the field range meat - like we are accustomed to chew in the US. However, the

Baroqu Obama: recently made a speech

Brad has the model of City Fresh: they are looking for distribution. This could revitalize local farmers and provide the income for them to consider reinvigorating their lands.

Rather than waiting for government, there are entrepreneurs who can move forward on the opportunities. There are individuals in the government who do get it and who people can connect with to move ideas and enterprises forward.

The Paw Paw is a good example of local food that create an excitement and help people to connect.

If you are in a municipality you will find people who are moving forward. How about a field trip to Athens to visit and learn from ACENet and the community.

Jim Herget: working with local municipalities the important thing is to let others discover over time what is a good idea. Leverage the newspapers to affect the politians.

Here's how too often politians think: Least hassle and maximum glory.

A good lesson from the I-Open curriculum is to evaluate your networks.

What are some of the other businesses that might apply to

growing , processing, distributing, to buyers. This is a wholistic system. Compost itself is a pest control itself.

Michigan State had a joint program going with McDonalds to move around garbage. Brand this as Homeland Security --- Food Security.
Why not use 4 - 5 floors for growing?

Isn't this a question of networks? Sometimes the wholesale prices don't cover the cost of food. We still need the intermeidary still to give the farmer a good price and get the food sold. The current price matrix's are unreasonable.

1.) There is a need for a network
2.) We lack political support to get it done
3.) Have people think in profitability terms that this is not a hobby

JULY 1 FOOD FESTIVAL IN MIDTOWN 2007
In the MidWest we have July 1 targets for peas and potatoes. Other states don't have this. What can we do July 1st next year in Midtown? Grow from the ground.

We need to wake up and laugh
We are trying to take the weather, fertilizer, energy and labor out of this. This is the HEZ model.

What can the HEX model look like?
This has an urban focus with linkages to the small farms in NEO. We are talking about processing, production a whole system approach.

Build many community gardens with great rewards; beautiful to the eye
Global water harnessing systems.
Sustainable locval jobs based on daily needs. Local nursery's cannot get enough labor...why not exchange labor for food and a little labor. We should be able to make this work.
Use renewable and sustianble energies...how to link geo-thermal in Midtown to Trinity Cathedral for examle.
Green construction businesses
This will stablize families and create secure neighborhoods

(There is a big difference between rich soil and dirt. Melvin grew up in the South where you can smell the rain comign because you can smell the earth. This smell is no longer there.)

Who can help get a HEZ started in Midtown? Get a demonstration project going.

Build linkages. This is a collaborative venture with people who already have an interest in aligned activities. Melvin has written three proposals this week.

Creating an Environment of Transparency: Open Standards Open Innovation

2006-06-17T19:44:00.000-04:00

It's tough to dare to be transparent it you are not accustomed to behaving that way. The change is like holding your nose and jumping off into a pool of what you know will be cold water. But once you're in and begin to see the benefits, it starts to make sense and you will wonder what took you soooo long.

On the ground, the new behavior standards look like blogging, building wikis, working on new projects with groups of people, sharing your calendar link with others, sending and returning group emails, responding appreciatively when someone behaves poorly, listening to others and valuing their ideas. Transparency sounds like positive, open, pro-active conversation about new ideas, invitations, contacts and funding resources. Sharing and building trust. First grade stuff.

The CED has published a new report on what transparency needs to look like for research. The Committee for Economic Development published "Open Standards, Open Source, Open Innovation: Harnessing the Benefits of Openness" April 17, 2006.

Read the news release here.

Open innovation, whether on the ground or within the walls of any institution, takes the discipline of new standards to guarantee the neutral environments entrepreneurs need to pursue opportunities quickly and move out ahead of the curve.

Creative Destruction

2006-06-17T19:20:00.000-04:00

Joseph Schumpeter, Economist
(1883-1950)

Schumpeter achieved prominence for his theories about the vital importance of the entrepreneur in business, emphasizing the entrepreneur's role in stimulating investment and innovation, thereby causing "creative destruction." Creative destruction occurs when innovation makes old ideas and technologies obsolete.

Schumpeter also predicted the sociopolitical disintegration of capitalism, which, he maintained, would be undermined eventually by its own success because it would create a class of intellectuals who would attack it. In addition, government controls would destroy the entrepreneur and innovation and would lead to a form of socialism.

Read more here.

Not all meetings are the same...

2006-06-17T14:07:00.000-04:00

Ever get a little sleepy at Board Meetings?

Well, you won't at Midtown Mornings!

Take a peek at the progress we've made in the last couple of months. This PDF tells it all!

Click here.

A National Symposium: Global Health Care Justice

2006-06-17T12:53:00.000-04:00

June 22 through June 25 at Hiram College Center for Literature and Medicine and In partnership with Tuskegee University National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care and with the co-sponsorship of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Department of Bioethics.

With faculty: Lorraine Bonner, M.D., Oakland, CA.; Gilbert Doho, Ph.D., Insoo Hyun, Ph.D., Maghboeba Mosavel, Ph.D., and Chris Simon, Ph.D, Case Western Reserve University; David Hilfiker, M.D., Washington, D.C.; Richard Selzer, M.D., New Haven, CT; Masalakulangwa Mabula, M.A., Hubert Kairuki Memorial Univ., Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Read more here.

A Business Dean's Letter on Open Source Economic Development

2006-06-17T10:18:00.000-04:00

Joyce A. Banjac, Ph.D. Dean of the McDonald School of Business, Myers University, our Midtown Wednesdays forum host, describes the value of collaborative partnerships between industry, regions and society as it pertains to their own experience partnering with Open Source Economic Development activities in Midtown. Read more here.

Dr. Banjac published research on the value of building collaborative partnerships between industry and academic institutions and their affect on regional innovation. You can read the report, Universities as Knowledge Managers: Are Collaborative Efforts Between Schools of Business and the Business Community Contributing to Knowledge Capital? presented by Dr Veronica Kalich (United States) and Dr Joyce A. Banjac (United States) presented at the Fourth International Conference on Knowledge, Culture and Change, University of Greenwich, London.

The paper examines the proposition that knowledge assets are developed due to collaborative alliances between universities and the private business sector.

Read more here.
Email Dr. Banjac for the full paper at: jbanjac@myers.edu

A good study on clusters

2006-06-17T09:55:00.000-04:00

Karla Krodel [kmkrodel@ysu.edu] Youngstown State University, has alerted us to the release of the report, "Cluster Initiatives in Developing and Transition Economies" by Christian Ketels, Göran Lindqvist and Örjan Sölvell. The report draws on a recent survey (GCIS 2005) to provide a basis for improving cluster initiatives as a tool for economic development.

Karla's group participated in this second global cluster research study. You can download the report off the right side of Stockholm School of Economics website.

You can meet Karla and some of her colleagues at the June 28th Building Innovation Zones meeting. Updates here. For questions and to register, email betseymerkel@gmail.com.

Building Networks: Strengthening Relationships with our Farming Community & Accelerating Local Food Entrepreneurship

2006-06-17T09:28:00.000-04:00

There are many leaders in our region thinking and acting on strengthening local food networks.

Kari Moore, Program Coordinator, for the Local FoodWorks Initiative, Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Conservancy is one regional leader who thinks about food entrepreneurship. She has offered suggestions about exciting projects on the ground for future forums. You can read about the Local FoodWorks Program here. Kari can be contacted at Tel: 330.657.2178/Cell: 216.225.6311/Email: kmoore@cvcountryside.org.

Regional food leaders think in terms of connected food sheds. How can building open networks support buying from local restaurants? What kind of infrastructure needs to be built to strengthen and increase activity around local food entrepreneurship?

Building open economic networks (mutually economically beneficial collaborations) begins with building relationships with local farmers. New research can address what the challenges may be to doing this and how to accelerate building sustainable networks.

Here are Kari's suggestions for who to keep a look out for and support:
ASIA: Asian Services in Action, Inc.
Contact: May Chen, MA, LPCC, Executive Director
email: may.chen@asiainc-ohio.org
These folks started a community garden project in the mid-town area a while back and were interested in revitalizing that project.

CLEVELAND ORIGINALS: They are working to promote locally owned restaurants in Cleveland and may have interesting info to share. Contact: Myra Orenstein, tel: 216.932.3322

Additional ideas include:
THE LEARNING GARDEN/Cleveland Botanical Garden contact Maurice Small 216.849.8224
CITY FRESH: contact Brad Masi 440.774.2906

Midtown: Comeback for the Core of the Poorest City?

2006-06-16T22:44:00.000-04:00

Here's a note from Rich Brhel, Director of Library Resources at Myers University and our host for Midtown Wednesdays.

...This article is almost 2 years old Pittsburgh Post Gazettebut it references the report from the Census citing Cleveland as the poorest city in the nation. Notice Myers University and Midtown are mentioned. If the Midtown Innovation Zone takes off, what a great comeback story it would be (comeback of one of the poorest areas of the poorest city in the nation). You can access the story here.

I think with all of the great innovation going on in Midtown now, we've got a terrific story already! Keep it up Midtown Entrepreneurs!

Midtown Public Computer Center/Digital Media

2006-06-16T12:20:00.000-04:00

You can visit the Midtown My Town site to learn of other exciting initiatives happening in Midtown. To participate on this initiative, contact Kevin Cronin (see information below)

I wanted to post information about the potential value, and
steps required, in creating a public computer center/digital media
center. The center could be an important economic development
resource for the neighborhood, as well as a tool for low-income area
residents, solo artists and entrepreneurs.

Kevin Cronin, Attorney at Law
The Brown Hoist Building
4403 Saint Clair Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44103-1125

Ph: 216.377.0615 or 216.374.7578
Fx: 216.881.3928
______________________________________________________________
A Computer and Digital Media Center for Midtown?

I wanted to post information about the potential value, and steps
required, in creating a public computer center/digital media center.
The center could be an important economic development resource for the
neighborhood, as well as a tool for low-income area residents, solo
artists and entrepreneurs. The computer/digital media center could
operate in conjunction with other nonprofit activities (including the
bike station I have talked about, with activities on separate levels
to segregate the traffic).

Here's a quick take on one of Cleveland's challenges:
* Poor Schools: The years of problems in the public schools, and low
graduation rates, are well known, but I don't want to debate their
origin or school reform strategies here. Let's just work on a
strategy to work on the problem.

* Growth Aversion: Many Cleveland residents demonstrate a historic
reliance on the theory that, despite a low level of formal education,
individuals could get decent work and support a family on machining
and manufacturing. While this theory may have worked for dad or
grandpa, with tough international competition for manufacturing and
the growing sophistication of manufacturing itself, manufacturing jobs
are harder to find and even entry jobs take a certain level of
computer skills.

Cleveland has a low level of high school attainment and low level of
computer access and computer skills. With the right training, current
computer/work force skills can help individuals get decent work in
today's economy. Families face fierce challenges with their time,
balancing work (maybe several jobs), education and family obligations.
A computer center can be a neighborhood resource to help those
without computer skills get them, right in the neighborhood, during
evening and week-end hours when individuals may have time. The center
would also serve a resource for those who have skills, but don't have
a computer, need special hardware, software or higher speed, more
reliable connection to the Internet. While computers and computer
skills are often taken for granted, city residents often have little
computer experience, habits of use, computers at home or the
high-speed connection needed for content-rich education applications.

So what are the needed tools for a neighborhood computer center? The
answer, of course, evolves, as a computer center can evolve grow and
become more valuable with each donation or purchase of equipment (for
models, go to the national Community Technology Center Network,
ctcnet.org, or the Ohio Community Computing Center Network,
www.occcn.org). Here are some ideas:

Hardware: Hardware may be the simplest of the needs to address, with
refurbished, business-donated computers available from a variety of
local refurbishers. At various times, I have volunteered in a
computer center, assisted in setting up computer centers, donated
computers to individuals for their home, or helped ship off
refurbished computers for disaster relief (earlier this year, over 600
computers went from RET3, a local refurbisher, to gulf states for
Hurricane Katrina relief, but others, including nonprofit Computers
Assisting People, www.capinc.org, have also provided assistance).
Basic computers, scanners, printers, and software can be secured
through donation or acquired at subsidized rates (see the nonprofit
supplier, www.techsoup.org).

Space: Basically, the project would need an empty storefront (I think
the area has a few of them), with wide entry, adequate power and
access to the Internet. Ideally, there would be areas that could
serve as an office and a reception area. Ideally, the space would be
donated by a owner or rent would be paid by a neighborhood development
group. The facility would need adequate security arrangements.

Staff: The facility would need a project coordinator, to secure
donations and volunteers, open the door and pay the bills.

Volunteers: The heart of all endeavors, a committed group of
volunteers and users could provide the training for non-users and
hands-on assistance, as well as provide marketing and solicit
donations.

Enhancements: The center can be augmented by donations for a variety
of applications. Building developer David Perkowski (Hyacinth Lofts
in the Slavic Village/Broadway area), has provided a digital lab for
audio and video artists as a building asset. Computer center users
can serve as recruiters and solicitors of donations and other
volunteers. In some cases, the model borrows from co-op models for
needs and activities.

This is just a quick note to summarize the needs and steps involved in
creating a community computer/ digital media center. I helped use
similar strategies when I was the director of Digital Vision, the
group that helped Cleveland City Council create a $3 million
Neighborhood technology Fund, as well as worked at the nonprofit
social service organization, University Settlement, in Broadway/Slavic
Village, helped to raise money for what would become the Magic
Johnson/HP Inventor Center, a 25-computer lab supported by the
businessman and former basketball star. The computer center could be
a terrific neighborhood asset, offering education, training and
resources for those without affordable technology access. I'd welcome
the thoughts from others on this ide

Cool Blog: Designing for Civil Society

2006-06-12T19:53:00.000-04:00

Here is an excellent blog I think you will enjoy reading as well as viewing.

David Wilcox on technology, engagement and governance here.

LIVE BLOG: Building Global Literacy Networks

2006-06-10T16:56:00.002-04:00

Global Literacy – Bob Cheshire & Gwen Fischer

Yuganda in 1994 visited medical library - they had finest medical school in that part of the world. (Director of Kelvin Smith Lib. – best on Case campus) Bob told class he would send them some books – they all applauded – he has been back twice.

Do not have books in schools. Publish same books every year: childrens books – very little public in indigenous languages. 52 languages in Yaganda tribe. Childrens’s books in English or Swahilii. Frm 3rd grade on – everyone learns English.

Need strong networks when shipping books overseas

The problems in Africa are exactly like problems in Cleveland – find commonality in problems. Bob Worked with schools and catholic priests went to a number of schools – only had 4 boxes of books. Why is problem with literacy & books so difficult.

Books here are institutionalized
Had career day in K-6 at Case School. Talked to 2 hispanic girls – one said she didn’t read much – the other read all Harry Potter books. Then the 1st girls said she wanted to read it too and Bob offered to get her the Harry Potter books. Broought in book, she read first one and read the others in fast succession.

Looking for common networking, common problems, common solutions between US and Uganda. Learned more networking from Jesuit Prists at St. Ignatius than from anyone.

Sent 25,000 book – textbooks 12,000. If they go to Jesuit priest, the books get there. They are the intellectuals. Has helped Bob to do more for the children in Cleveland by sending books to Uganda. At Case school, Gray’s publishing showed Bob a book that was not selling very well – what’s so good about Cleveland, OH – a children’s book. Beautfilly illustrated. Shows all landmarks in Cleve. – only one child in the school actually saw those landmarks in person. Gave kids Bob’s collections – had an affect. Bob gets every book that comes out of Shaker Hts. Brecksville, Broadview Hts. He packs them up and sends to South Africa near Zimbabwe.

The Denton Program – Dept. of State, Defense & USAID – you would pack books and first shipment was 52 boxes of books – if you pay to get to closest air force base, then it goes over to Africa free of charge. The program stopped because of corruption in Africa.

Wayne Dudley, The books professor (sent millions of books to Africa) in Mass. Introduced by Gwen. The network is developing overseas.

The problem with publishing in Africa – dealing with beaucracy.

Barbara Byrd Bennett – 75,000 students, 20,000 teachers, 30,000 other employee. She made $270,000 per year. Then you are taking on the parents.

How do you gets kids to read?

Gwen:
Led groups of students from Hiram to Zimbabwe since 1994. Visited a program Girl Child Network – after school programs for girls started by a teacher who worried about girls dropping out, who are abused and parents not interested in their education. Now there are school girls clubs all over the country.

Gwen read in PD that there was a woman at Patrick Henry starting a girl’s club for the same reasons the women in Zimbabwe did. Managed to get a pen pal thing going. Letters sounded almost identical about what was going on in both countries. Again, the commonalities here and in Africa.

Spent time in Zimbabwe & Tanzania – problems are the same. Spend 3-1/2 weeks for each trip. Africa looks scary to Americans. Her ideal would be to have student exchanges. Would like to get students to come to Hiram and find out about education and maybe go to Tanzania.

Gwen collected 9,000 books at Hiram and sent to Dudley in Boston and combined with his – have to find a network so that books will get through customs and to the destination. The rotary club would store them and then contact the schools to pick up. The schools are comprised of a teacher, cement block bldg,. and a bunch of children. No desks, no books, no supplles.

Need a good network that has international presence that are committed to doing good. Constantly seeking people to represent you overseas. Need network so that books get to right people – not privateers who sell them at auction.

How do you build recognition and value in books to children in Africa. in Tanzania and Zimbabwe. How do we translate that idea in greater Cleveland. It works when the teacher hands the kids books. Hooking kids in Cleveland to know that kids in Africa would love to have books so that they would value them.

Satellite Country School in Uganda– kids in contact with students in schools Maryland. A great communication opportunity.

Bob gets several e-mails a day from Africa. Aids causes great problems. Lose parents and then they don’t go to school. Then they don’t learn to read.

Minister land, air & water interested in the books and education. Kids in Cleveland do not have access to all kinds of books (books that actually belong to them).

Kudzai idea - Set up internet cafes for blind kids during the day and open up to public in evening.

In 3rd world there is athirst for books – not in Cleveland.

Receive 3 free computers. Will go to schools and create computer labs but not allowed to hook up to network.

Bangalor India one of the great technological centers. Puts CA to shame. Set up kiosks with computers so kids could use them.

Bob has 60 – 70,000 books and 40,000 in flats. Lots of volunteers helping. Teams Learnig to Connect from Shaker Hts. Borders helps by giving equipment to store books. Also has suppies for Cleveland schools. Gives to teachers free. He met a teacher recently who visited him and said she knew nothing about him.

I-Open has brought awareness of people doing work like this and builds networks around this.

Have to pick your places carefully so that books will get there.

Getting container to Congo from S. Africa took 6 months. (4500). If you send to Uganda, 4300. Network becomes crucial to help books get over there without exhorbitant price. A kid in Uganda would “kill to get a book”. Be careful where you sent books.

If you want to assist developing countries, help girls.

Gramein Bank only lends to women. 95% payback.

LIVE BLOG: Global Sustainable Business Practice

2006-05-31T18:45:00.000-04:00

Question: how can I-Open leverage the social network mapping to idetnify resources and capabilities for initiatives and entrepreneurial activity occuring in Midtown? How can others access the social network maps in a dynamic way?

Michael Salkin: talking about the implications of building sustainable business in a challenging global market.

NEO is an attractive location for global businesses desiring to set up business in a US market. Two items bring people together: economics and defense. Cities aggregated and eventually expanded to cities and city states. Countries as an entity are only about a couple of hundred years old. The same things that drove people together as a unit are now driving us together as a global society. It is nearly implossible to defend countries in this global state.

Offshoring is not a disaster and is part of the economic evolution happening across the globe. For every dollar outsourced, the US economy gains $1.19 and the developing country economy gains $0.33. Profits should be re-invested in upskill of employees. The $.33 profit has a significant value in the developing country and is capable of creating new demands and economies.

What is the predominant opportunity?

What is the intelligent response for leaders and politicians reagrding the global market? What is the government's role? The significant role is in the private enterprise. Government can help the private enterprise.

Energy: the US has the cheapest prices in the world. For the past thirty years we have known of the energy crisis.

LED lights use 60% less energy and the bulbs last 100,000 hours. There are many more people realizing - espeically in corporations - that the dollar, mangement and technology resources exisit to redirect activities in a more sustainable manner. Great technology and management opportunities are available for those ready to grasp them.

Environmental stress: global warming. Challenge: is to address how we maintain quality of life.

Widespread poverty: this is the largest market opportunity

Nine Sigma: The Internet has delivered 150%. Business can be created and taken to market without even meeting individuals. Look at the proiblem itself: this is a great time - software is available, Internet high speed broadband. language is not a problem: the communication just needs to be in the software code and architecture. IP issues is a big issue: in the US the company that pays for the work owns it. Everyone needs to think diversely and globally.

Reaching to the Base of the Pyramid: volume makes up for a lower level of individual wealth. This is an opportunity and a new challenge that will drive affordable technologies. 80% of the world's population makes $2.00 per day. This is a great market opportunity - however, the wealthy (companies) are proficient at producing products for the wealthy socieities.

Need technology, organization, managment to be able to create the new opportunities.

We should be investing in places where there is high public value. (reference: Ed Morrison)

Lever Shakti Video: 12% of the world's population live in rural Indian places. Shakti has taken on the challenge to network self help groups. People pool resources to invest in a larger business investment. This is a model for large corporations to reach down to provide self help (especially to women) to the masses. The goal is to encourage self improvement.

This is not something WalMart will be able to do. Cell phones and internet access by the minute is purchased allowing window access to say...the daily farmer's market. Another example of this is single use package of product - more profitable than in larger quantities. This is similar to the Shaklee, Avon type of marketing approaches.

Only a handful of companies are practicing this new approach.

If you are looking for a future role in this: Environmental Impact - Population X Affluence X Technology

The Private Sector will lead societal innovation

1) R & D

2) Education

3) Sustianability

What is the role of the governmennt and the private sector? Years ago innovation was driven by government; this has flipped and is now lead by private interests. Industry spends more than any other entity on education. Life long learning is the most important value. In the future: we need to recognize that education is the responsibiltiy of society.

Sustainability - most companies are talking about the triple bottome line - financials and human resources. A good example is LTV. ISG bought the company and had Bill Brig lead the company. Bill was trained in some of the new thinking, ie., we are in this together and need to collaborate. Part of sustainability - and the most important part - is the human part. As a result of these efforts the company excelled. Brigs talks about spending most of his time changing the culture in business.

In summary: there are many opportunties for new work - technololgy

We need to fix education. The private sector needs to play a larger role in this. Companies need to be more conscious of the role education plays in the changing of employees. The real bottom line: first religion - then state government entities - and now today the greatest opportunity lies in business.

While working in Connecticut, Michael started a correspondence network to think about the technological opportutnities in developing corporations to innovate solutions through intelligent exchange of knowledge. Many times the solutions are less expensive and ideally, environmentally aware.

Question: should there be a standardization of regulations state, federal level?

Government is being driven by private interests: ie., in Deli the high level of smog was addressed by the private sector. The people sued the government for cleaner air and won. The improvements in society will be driven by the base of the pyramid.

2006-05-31T17:17:00.000-04:00

ED MORRISON WILL SPEAK AT WORKFORCE INNOVATIONS ANNUAL CONFERENCE

On July 12th, Ed Morrison will be a speaker at Workforce Innovations 2006 in Annaheim, California. Co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD), Workforce Innovations is the premier annual conference where local, state and national workforce leaders and their partners from industry, education, and economic development gather to sort through issues and confront the workforce challenges facing our country. This year’s conference theme, “Regional Strategies… Global Results: Talent Driving Prosperity,” will explore the important role of workforce professionals and their partners in meeting the national challenge of global competition. Over 3,000 attendees are expected.

Go to www.WorkforceInnovations.org for more information.

LIVE BLOG: MIDTOWN WEDNESDAYS

2006-05-24T17:22:00.000-04:00

We should celebrate the small entrepreneurs who are here in NEO. how do you acknoledge success here without bragging...this is something that needs to come from a larger group.

Every business sector needs to step outside of ourselves and identify what is good. The Crain's directories herlad success and largess.

Cleveland mentality is such that if you are working in Cleveland you must not be doing well...Cleveland is full of lots of great things...

Why don't we have civic organizations standing up and celebrating their successes?

Does the region have a large inferiority complex? Or, is it a lack of ability to accept failure? Local organizations talk alot about what they are going to do, what they dream but fail to do something.

What would be the context of celebrating businesses? I-Open can provide support network for people who may have failed. There are not alot of support networks here in Cleveland.

Should we concentrate on positive behaviors? It is good to stay connected with the people who get it.

I-Open teaches new ways of seeing things and then new ways of doing things. Cleveland has alot more things than what other regions have. There just seems to be less sharing.

When good things happen we should celebrate our work.

Alex Michaels: talking about developing branded entertainment medium...Alex moved his direction toward including branded product placement in the story. By including products in the stories, new attention is given to Midtown businesses. Massimos was featured in one of the detective show Alex produced. For the last couple of years, Alex has been connecting closer with businesses.

One model that came out of the Katrina disaster was the model of big businesses adopting and mentoring small businesses. We need to do more of this and do it on a larger scale with the businesses here. Appreciative behavior and use of products is productive.

What about creating a network of Midtown businesses that supports business placement in local shows? Commercials are being replaced by product placemen in the stories. Traditional businesses are still buying traditional advertising. Content is being put on line - this cuts out the local and national television station.

There is a new program "Saved" to put exclusively on the web with no commercials. Another unexpected move: the growing audience for late late night programming.

Alex currently shows on Google TV. Virgin Mobile is sponsoring new formats and content.

Next steps: getting more businesses involved.

Team NEO will help Alex by providing some suggestions for new resources.

STA Strategic Technology Alliance helps by connecting to nonprofits to vendors. The benefit is to work co-op buying power and to network among industry peers to have learn best practices. The advantage of this is to accelerate connectivity.

Case will host the New Media Consortium (NMC) conference June 7 through 9. The conference will talk about how to leverage technology for learning. NMC is talking about using new gaming for learning.

Phoenix Coffee sponsors coffee for the I-Open forums. Please thank them.

MidTown Development Inc Annual Meeting

2006-05-24T12:34:00.000-04:00

We're at the Myers University for the MidTown Development Annual Meeting. Mark Dodash, Editor of Crain's Cleveland, is the keynote speaker...

Title of our meeting: Open...to Possiblilities

There are about 100 people enjoying lunch, reviewing business, past accomplishments and future dreams.

Talking about the publication's growing coverage of industrial space...another story about college graduate finding more and more opportunity coming out of college. Although there are other concerns...with shifting of populations with not much inflow...with Cleveland just holding there own...less of an educated workforce and compared to the US, we are at alower level. This is a probelm with moving toward a tech economy. Cleveland's loss is to the gain of other suburbs. There are reasons for hope. The more we can position ourselves as providing opportunity...and the amount of brainpower that is here with the Cleveland Clinic and other institutions. Medicine and manufacturing...Sherwin Williams continues to innovate...

Compared to Boston as a center of excellence for medical innovation, Cleveland continues to do well. There is alot of activity going on that we don't see...pockets of activity.

Crain's was one of the first organizations to be contacted by MidTown about the MidTown Master Plan and the Euclid Corridor. Michael Cottichia and Jim Haviland were the first ones to go tothe Crain's office about ODOT activities.

The presence of fresh water (here in NEO) is the ace in the hole...just how long will the source of water last in other regions like NM and CA? ...There still are things we have going for us here that other regions do not.

Mark is appreciated by his wife and vise versa...we should appreciate what we have in each other. MidTown Cleveland is critically important to the city and we should appreciate what we have.

Questions:

Q: How do we work to keep the ramps open in MidTown?
A: Not sure how the marginal roads can provide ths seam access that the roads camn

Q: What is the political spending cap and how will it affect ...Comments on the spending capital for ...legislation.
A:

Q: What do you think the outcome of the Mayore aeffrots to collaborate with thoutlyeing comuntise>?
A: Don't know...case by case basis. It is good there is dialogue and the efforts of such groups as Team NEO are valuable...we need to position NEO as a center of brainpooiwer and tansportation...if we work togther , we can do this better than indidivuallly when pushing for development.

Q: It is hard to understand....why county commissioners are not taking a strong approach to helping not to move people quickly through Cleveland.
A: NA

LIVE BLOG: Non-Profits Building Collaborative Networks

2006-05-17T16:41:00.000-04:00

Introductions

The value of social network mapping: Who do you collaobrate with? Who do you mentor?

Updates on Open Source Economic Development process work in Indiana, Oklahoma City and in Kentucky. Ed Morrison is leading the WIRED initiative in Indiana

CAAO - Looks, Listens, links. CAAO brings connections to others and facilitate opportunities for people to build relationships. Bank Roundable began about three years ago with people reluctant to share ideas. Now the group is standing room only. networking of insttituions, survey of participants, attendees matched to opportunities at the end of the day. Executive Auction is a successful match making process. Entrepreneurial website is open to the world and provides a place for people to connect.

Stuart Mendel, CSU how do organizations learn better and more intensely when they work with other organizations. In the Learning Environmnet organizations are brought together as a team to build capacity. organizations that thrive are adaptable and participate in replicable acitivites. Non profits create webs of relationships such as the ones IOpen.

David Akers, Cleveland Bridge Builders, Is there a leadership gap? Who is the present leadership? Leadership program helps individuals to figure out projects and then work with their team along with accountability measurements to learn new ways of leading. Can existiing leaders see the new leaders? Sometimes it seems as if there is a filter. Someitmes it is necessary to position people in ways for them to be seen by those in existing power. How do you systematically create ways of connecting? Leadership Cleveland - existing -, Bridge Builders - emerging - and iCleveland - students - will as of July 1 become one entity.

Courtney DeOreo, Entrepreneurs for Sustainability: attracts people from diverse sectors. Highlight opportunities for entrepreneurs. Product and process opportunities. E4S would like to help transform businesses and create new ones. Provide new learning opportunities. E4S now connects 3,000 people through third Tuesdays events to systematically build collects. Gathering information from the networks and begin to close the networks. Will add more more venues www.e4s.org a place for people to gather virtually as well as provide a new place in Glenville to allow people to begin to build out the netowrks by building collaborations together. Akron would like to replicate E4S Tuesdays model. E4S workd with Green Building Collitian and many other reigonal organizations. Don't set boundaries or control the growth. Alot of ideas have had their ideas come out of Tuesdays.

Tony Diggs, Boy Scouts of America, mission is to help boys to advance leadership through scouting. Advancement does not exist in Cleveland. This is because there has not been anyone advancing the relationships. CAAO and Capt Norman has stepped out to help to advance the Merit Badge program in Cleveland. Scouting is all about teaching the boys about leadership.

Capt Norman, is from Cleveland. Norman was mentored by many individuals. For the leaders who are able to mentor and teach children. By not doing this, children are lost because of our own lack of involvement. Sea Scout program is designed around Lake Erie, an abundant resource we have an outstanding value. Capt. Norman teaches updates about the Lake and the changes taking place. Youth need to be educated about this.

Shilpa, Team NEO talks about the organization that builds economic development and connects organizations. TeamNEO came to be by bringing an entity together to attract businesses and retain and grow businesses. A srong team of research and marketing teams to get the word out about what NEO has to offer. Preceptus, a company at Case, was growing very fast and needed expansion support. TeamNEO connects needs and resources of businesses to existing resources in NEO.

Q & A

Many complaints that NEO has too many nonprofits, too much talk and not enough happening is this true?

CAAO connects 9,500 Black Professionals; Boy Scouts depends on collaborations to exist, in 100 years the Boy Scouts has moved out across the globe.

SA Mendel: Society wants to be prosperous; people see the gaps in society and we all watch the compeititon. When people feel strongly enough about something a nonprofit will be formed. Our ability to walk freely is to thanks to nonprofit oprganizaitons.

C DeOreo: after 4 1/2 years E4S thought long and hard about incorporating as a nonprofit. In Cleveland there are alot of opportunities.

CAAO: gets a return of $25 on every $1. CAAO does alot that is not seen. A large funder requested that all Black organizations come together. CAAO does not feel that by building mega bureaucracies will be good for the larger community because of the lack af ability to access information and power. With Connie's background

There is alot of space for civic entrepreneurs. In NEO there are alot of closed areas vs rural areas where it is open.

Eric Johnson Do you see NEO profit driven, growth driven and how does that affrect business?

Most of the people who run organizations are attorneys and not entrepreneurs and not risk adverse. In the 1990's how many multimillionaries were created in NEO? During an economic boom? Very few.

Necessary to mastermind the environemnt that leads to success. Too focused on dictating on success instead of creating the environment

Not for poroits, academics, governments are not known for creating wealth. Looking around the room we see many people are entrepreneurs.

Tony Diggs:
Alof of corporations left the region. The nonprofits came forward to fill the gaps. The corporatins left are the ones who have dwonsized and are too busy paying the bills and not going to be taking on the job of the nonprofits. The region must come together as a region. Everyone must collaborate and replicate the successes we have had.

Clevelander's spend too much time standing in line waiting for permission. We need to create the environments to help ideas to bubble up. There is alot of networking going on in NEO.

Stuart Mendel: ultimately nonprofits need to dig deeper and go beyond networking. What is it that needs to be done? These are the next steps.

Courtney: the people who participate have a passion for doing something.

Shilpa: the focus is to listen to the businesses in NEO. Let the state and county do their job. Listen only to the companies.

Emma: what about tapping into the teens that are looking for jobs? An opportunity to supply experience, education and mentor.

CAAO focuses on educating high schools students. Youth Innovation Forum for students built through collaborations with local institutions. Disappointed in the lack of creativity and ingenuity.

Dot com entrepreneurer built the infrastructure for the websites for the future. This type of thinking prepares for the future.

Midtown Wednesdays: Non-Profits Building Entrepreneurial Networks

2006-05-13T16:27:00.000-04:00

Forward this invite link here.
Date: Wednesday, May 17
Time: 5:00 P.M. - 6:45 P.M.
Place: Myers University, Chester Campus
3921 Chester Avenue, Cleveland, OH
Map Link

Northeast Ohio non-profit leaders come together this week to swap stories and share insights about connecting in new and different ways.

Learn how non-profit organizations are responding to change in a shifting, networked world. We'll share best practices to strengthen connections in and out of organizations and you’ll hear solutions to accelerate response time to unforeseen opportunities.

Spread the word about innovations going on in Northeast Ohio. Bring your stories and questions for regional leaders in a panel presentation that combines cutting edge research updates with practitioner working know-how.

Learn more about regions making change in new and different ways on the Midtown Wednesdays Blog.

Non-profit organizations leading this week's discussion:

Cleveland Bridge Builders, David Akers, Founder & Chair-Emeritus
Cleveland State University, Stuart Mendel, PhD, M.N.O., Assistant Dean & co-Director, Center for Nonprofit Policy and Practice, Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs
Consortium of African American Organizations (CAAO), Connie Atkins, Executive Director and William Holdipp, Manager of Research and Member Services
Entrepreneurs for Sustainability (E4S), Courtney DeOreo, Network and Resource Development
Intercity Yacht Club, Capt Luther E. Norman
Greater Cleveland Council Boy Scouts of America, Tony R. Diggs, District Executive
TeamNEO, Carin Rockind, Director, Marketing and Communications

Join us to make new connections and get energized! Bring a colleague or friend.

I-Open Knowledge Resources:

Read the I-Open Whitepaper, by Ed Morrison, Director, I-Open, here.
Read the Midtown Innovation Zone 1st Quarter Report. Go.
Check out the Midtown Innovation Zone wiki we're building here.

Coming up...
MidTown Cleveland, Inc. is hosting its annual meeting, May 24. For more information and to register, go here.

Join us for Midtown Mornings. Share coffee and bagels, make new connections and explore business opportunities. Network with awesome entrepreneurs working on transformative initiatives to build the Midtown Innovation Zone. Download the PDF here.

Date: Friday, May 19
Time: 7:30-8:30 A.M.
Place: Nead Brand Partners
3635 Perkins Avenue, Suite 6a
Map Link

Midtown Wednesdays Wednesday, May 24: Updates on Strategic Doing in Midtown
Time: 5:00 P.M. - 6:45 P.M.
Place: Myers University, Chester Campus
Cleveland, OH 4411
Map Link

Questions? Contact:
Betsey Merkel, Network Development
The Institute for Open Economic Networks (I-Open)
Cleveland MidTown Innovation Center
4415 Euclid Ave., Suite 310
Cleveland, OH 44103 USA
Tel. 216-246-2447

Play Nice

2006-05-13T14:23:00.000-04:00

Here's advance copy to be posted on the Nead Change blog for Monday:

It seems to me and to others who understand that hierarchical systems, dusty political structures and closed networks are irrelevant to building better economic and social communities, that denial is still a powerful force in cities across the country. For many, the saying "You can't put out a raging brush fire if you don't think it exists" is all too relevant. So, what to do? If you're experiencing closed mindedness and hostility from members of your work group, your neighbors, or the community at large, an effective approach is to show them a better way. Be friendly. Be inclusive. Take actions, especially small ones, that create momentum and attract others. Those who resist and deny will have a choice to make: either hop in the boat or be left down stream. Or, if they must, let them build their own boat . I am a newbie to such heady notions as "quality, connected networks" and "open source economic development", but I'm quickly learning that the concept is really quite simple. Provide safe havens for open discussion, allow people to gravitate toward the focus of their discussions (they will anyway), and start taking action. As if by magic (mixed with hard work), change happens and momentum builds. There are many examples of change taking place with the help of people who respect each other, who care about driving positive change, and who see the value of playing nice. You'll know these people when you meet them – there's a glimmer in their eyes, a smile on their face and music in their voice. These are the people I want to spend more of my time on this planet talking and dreaming with.
PS - More information on an open, inclusive approach to creating positive change is at: http://midtownwednesdays.pbwiki.com/ReportsAndResources. Be sure to check out Ed Morrison's report titled "Open economic networks build sustainable regional economies." Good stuff.

Accelerating Growth for Women Entrepreneurs

2006-05-11T11:41:00.000-04:00

Here's an article about women and business from Canada:

Winnipeg business workshop will showcase success stories and provide women entrepreneurs with business growth resources

WINNIPEG, May 10 /CNW Telbec/ - BDC, RBC Financial Group and the Women's Enterprise Center of Manitoba are presenting Accelerating Growth for Women Entrepreneurs workshops this afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at the Fairmont in Winnipeg. The session will provide participants with a forum to share their experiences and to hear from experts about how to successfully implement business growth strategies. Today's event is part of a series of similar workshops held across Canada.

"Canadian women entrepreneurs represent an increasing economic force," said Joy Playford, Regional Director, Special markets at BDC. "But, according to Industry Canada, over half of businesses run by women entrepreneurs are in
a slow-growth stage of development."

Women entrepreneurs today own one-third of all Canadian companies, paying the salaries of nearly 2 million people. The top 100 women entrepreneurs in Canada generate over $2 billion in revenue annually. What's more, women now own increasing numbers of small companies outside of traditional service sectors, such as biotechnology, robotics and manufacturing. Last year, women represented 64% of new business creation. But women entrepreneurs face unique challenges when it comes to growing their business, as the majority of women-owned businesses tend to have fewer employees, export less and request
less financing.

Today's workshops will provide opportunities for women to leverage the successful experiences of other women entrepreneurs, to network with community resource people, and to learn about topics like financial growth, marketing,
exporting, and Human Resources planning.

As well, a reception to launch the 2006 RBC Canadian Woman Entrepreneur Awards - the biggest and most prestigious honour for women business owners in Canada - will be held today at 5:00 p.m. at the Fairmont Winnipeg. The deadline for nominations for these awards is July 31, 2006; the winners will be announced November 21, 2006.

About BDC

BDC is a financial institution wholly owned by the Government of Canada. BDC plays a complementary role in delivering financial, investment and consulting services to Canadian small businesses, with a particular focus on the technology and export sectors of the economy. For more information, visit http://www.bdc.ca.

About Our Keynote Speakers:

Shelly Werner, Principal, smartfurniture for business inc.

Shelley Werner, B.I.D. is principal of smartfurniture for business inc. Shelley's background as interior designer on projects that include Red River College Downtown Campus and Ceridian Canada Ltd. underlines a keen sense of the elements necessary to create a successful work environment. Her company provides ergonomic office furniture at a variety of price ranges, and excels at installation and service. With significant expansion plans, Shelly is taking her business into new markets, and offering the latest in products and technology that support effectiveness and human interaction in all types of
work environments.

Heidi Reimer-Epp, General Manager, Botanical PaperWorks Inc.

Established in 1997, Botanical PaperWorks Inc. designs, manufactures and
markets handmade paper and stationery made from recycled fibers, flower
petals, herbs and spices and more. Its products are sold to retail customers
through its website, to the wholesale stationery market and contract
manufacturing clients such as the promotions industry. The majority of company
sales are from exports to the US. Today, over 90% of Botanical's sales are
into the U.S. market. Innovation is key, as Botanical develops new products
using various alternative fibers and adapts production techniques.

Polly Craik, President and CEO, Fineline Solutions

When she was 20, Polly Craik joined a small family-owned telephone
answering service, Fine Line Communications. But Polly knew she wanted to
start her own business. Twenty years later, Polly has morphed the small
company into Fineline Solutions, a highly successful international player in
the field of information management. Among Fineline's major clients are The
American Arthritis Foundation and the Canadian operations of The Salvation
Army. Fineline processes donations and manages donor profiles. Whether for
commercial, not for profit or government clients, banking funds and creating
highly detailed reporting are also key elements of its service. Polly was
named "Manitoba Entrepreneur of the Year" in 2005.

For further information: or to arrange an interview: Eva
Boucher-Hartling, Media Relations Manager, BDC, (514) 283-7929,
eva.boucher-hartling@bdc.ca

=

LIVE BLOG: Building Sustainable Regional Food Networks

2006-05-10T17:27:00.000-04:00

Ed Morrison just called and provided an update on his work in open source economic development in the WIRED grant in Indiana. Ed has just been asked to lead a national meeting in Atlanta to talk

James Howard Kuntsler, author of "The Long Emergency", sets the table for the 21st C. Kundstler identifies trends and opportunities in sustainability and energy. We are watching a video of Kundstler talking....about the development of coal and equipment to support the production of this industrial economy progression...The kerosene lamp was the iPod of the Civil War era. During this time of development the world consumers more and more oil progressing up to 100Million B of oil a day.

Between 2/3 and 3/4 of American oil is imported. More that 2/3rd of the world's oil comes from the MiidEast - where we are not so well liked.

There is an arc of discovery just as there is an arc of

Hubbard came up with a model - bell curve graph - that states that any given region or locality will reach a peak of discovery and after that time - 30 years - will begin to decline.

US production peaked in 1970. This came to the attention of OPEC had the pricing power and the Muslum nations the opportunity to flex their political muscles. Affecting interest rates affected an entire web of pricing and the overall economy. The oil in Alaska and the North Sea saved America for 20 years from the affect of OPEC.

The Arabian population is in a predictiment of their own, because they live as a large otherwise unsupportable economy where it not for oil.

We cannot sustain the current system running without first going through a period of hardship and adjustment before we can begin to move forward.

Europe is ahead in that it did not destroy its cities and towns and as a serious habitat; they continue to support local agriculture and development of regional food production.

We will need to live profoundly and intensely locally. Large government will become increasingly ineffective. We will see profound differences in the various regions throughout the country. We are living with large systems failure. We are living with the investment of our last 60 years of resources in a way of living that is not sustainable as a car, oil driven economy.

An "outside context problem". Circumstances and events will propell us to do certain things whether we like it or not.

Link to download the video:

Here are more links to read:

"Rolling Stone" article: The Long Emergency: What's going to happen as we start running out of cheap gas to guzzle?

Howard Kunstler's web page here.

Add the Orion Magazine to your favorites here.

What are some next steps?

Horticultural Enterprise Zones HEZ

Only 1% of our population can see far out ahead. It takes time to move forward; first, to acknowledge a problem and then to reconstruct what is troubling you and what some answers may be.

The case for locally grown organic foods is very strong. We need to have healthy soils that produce healthy foods; today we think big sizes and big eating quantities. We eat large quantities because the level of nutrients in food is too low and we must eat more.

Large dam construction has displaced millions of cultures. We can love a building but somehow not as much as loving soil. Our society needs to listen and address the question of how do we create the urban environments to ensure healthy living and create community equity and social justice?

Goals:

1) Establish Eco-industrial Zones
2)

Support long term, sustainable healthy environments and create new businesses as we do that.

Pennsylvannia where oil was first discovered is now leading with models of sustainable activity.

The HEZ model points to Food Security, Green Enterprises, Alternative Energies, Support Services. All of these categories produce enormous workforce development opportunities for any local region.

Here is follow up information provided by Melvin Hendrix:

Part I: http://www.tomdispatch.com/index.mhtml?pid=82655
Part II: http://www.tomdispatch.com/index.mhtml?emx=x&pid=82790

Midtown's Movin'

2006-05-08T23:12:00.000-04:00

Here's a link to today's Cleveland Jewish News report "Neighborhood in the shadows no longer", describing new activity in Midtown. Learn here.

Calculating the ERR: Growing tomorrow's innovations

2006-05-07T11:27:00.000-04:00

The Investor's Circle's Slow Money Program is made up of a national network of investors looking for the ERR - external rate of return - while leveraging the social and financial transitions going on in the venture capital business world wide.

Read more about Investor's Circle, on the nexus of venture capital, social investing and philanthropy. Go.

Read the Spring 2006 Conference Program here.

Midtown Wednesdays: Building Sustainable Regional Food Networks

2006-05-06T20:27:00.000-04:00

Date: Wednesday, May 10
Time: 5:00 P.M. - 6:45 P.M.
Place: Myers University, Chester Campus
3921 Chester Avenue, Cleveland, OH
Map Link

In regions with flat, networked economies collaborations can be built quickly to move ahead. How residents in Northeast Ohio collaborate across social and regional boundaries to share resources and respond to change will determine the future of our region.

Food security is one of the major issues facing residents in our region and around the world in this century. Learn more about why our current food system is not sustainable and what you can do to help promote a secure and sustainable food production system in Northeast Ohio.

We're moving forward in Midtown! Join us to explore new possibilties and build your connections.

Leader: Melvin Hendrix, President, PermaCycle Organics

Learn more about organic food production. Visit the Alternative Farming Systems Information Center, sponsored by the USDA here.

Read about the Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems, University of California whose mission is to research, develop, and advance sustainable food and agricultural systems that are environmentally sound, economically viable, socially responsible, nonexploitative, and that serve as a foundation for future generations. Learn more.

Green Roofs are helping to make up for a recent loss of 676 acres of park land in Richmond Canada. Councilman, Harold Steves says, “We have to start designing cities that contain the park space and the food producing space within the area where people live, simply because transportation costs and the lack of a rural food supply are going to be pretty detrimental to cities.” Read more here.

Systems thinker, Marcin Jakubowski, PhD, is building an Operational Model for a Replicable, Regenerative Development Social Enterprise. "The two main projects that we are engaging now, in preparation of deploying our first new enterprise learning community, " says Marcin, "is the compressed earth block machine (CEB) and the modern steam engine for combined heat, power, and water distillation." Read about about Source Open Ecology, Inc. here. You can download the 2006 Activity Report here and the Future Work Report for 2007 here.

Read the I-Open Whitepaper, written by Ed Morrison, Director, I-Open, here.

Read the Midtown Innovation Zone 1st Quarter Report. Go.

Check out the Midtown Innovation Zone wiki we're building here.

Join us for Midtown Mornings. Share coffee and bagels, make new connections and explore business opportunities. Join us to network with entrepreneurs building the Midtown Innovation Zone. Work on transformative initiatives. Download the PDF here.

Date: Friday, May 12
Time: 7:30-8:30 A.M.
Place: Nead Brand Partners
3635 Perkins Avenue, Suite 6a
Map Link

Coming Up: Wednesday, May 17: Non-Profit Innovations in Networking
Time: 5:00 P.M. - 6:45 P.M.
Place: Myers University, Chester Campus
Cleveland, OH 4411

Questions? Contact:
Betsey Merkel, I-Open
Tel. 216-246-2447

LIVE BLOG: Building Black Cultural Entrepreneruship Networks

2006-05-03T16:57:00.000-04:00

Carl Williams

Networking is the poor people's way of accomplishing things. Carl started thinking about the International Cultural Parade about five years ago. Various groups have helped him to strengthen his vision.

So many people have contributed because of their passionate support. It is amazing to understand what can happen when people come together and contribute to get things accomplished.

A review of the 2005 Parade: Tri-C Professor

many different organizations were represented: Cleveland Ventures Bureau, Million More Movement...

Many performers performed from all across the country and many generations represented and theater.

This year will host a three day conference beginning August 10: International Business Conference

A new way to support this activity is to slowly build network social connectivity. Huge funders and large sponsorships are helpful, but there are few opportunities to explore this. There is a need to expand our horizons and leverage the opportunities. An example of this is to apply resources and capabilities that are not used here in other parts of the world

An objective of the conference is to ask anyone of African descent to share skills, talents and money with Africa. Different Ambassadors will be visiting. The Counselor from Zambia - this is a connection shared through Baldwin Wallace College - will come, as will many others, to talk about opportunities in Africa.

Kiosks will also be displayed to present ideas and intercontinental opportunities.

This will be followed by the Ambassadors Ball. This will be an opportunity for people to come in their best. The Cuyahoga County Library has partnered with this initiative for the summer. Each library will study one country in Africa and engage in mask making projects. Many children have not left their neighborhoods and is an opportunity for them to meet and explore.

The Parade theme will honor our African ancestors. Last year featured XXXXX who was a leader who stepped forward to engage others and who built business.

We need to change the way we operate: literacy levels are low, high levels of African American males are incarcerated.

Carl envisons a highly level exchange of international exchange and interaction.

This year Queen Nzinga is the focus this year and was from the present day Angola. Shew made a treaty with the Dutch to fight the Portegese and then made a treaty with the Porteguese to fight the Dutch.

We need to support self image in cultures to prevent enslavement and strengthen personal initiative.

The initiative is asking for Wards to enage 50 children from each district to learn about mask and costume making. This teaches children about their cultural heritage and roots. Eventually competitions can be created and engage families. In putting together presentations for the parade, families will need to come together and talk. This will help to build linkages in families where there are none today.

Everyone should be involved. The Carnaval in Brazil is a powerful model to celebrate culture. Last year 400 vendors participated from all over the county. The festival presents an opportunity to raise awareness and strengthen connectivity in all communities.

Poverty is only a mental state. If activity continues, people will connect and over time enagage.

Carl participated in the first Brooklyn parade - just a couple of fellows playing steel drums, and now millions of people participate. The San Francisco parade evolved the same way.

Efforts that make change start small; but with relentless optimism activity will build. To engage the community is the most important piece, more important than having large corporate funding. The valuable lesson is to learn to develop our own resources.

Comments: target the groups that are interested: the NCA, Community Centers, Boys and Girls Clubs, the Wards. Developing an international exchange program. Get the children from here out to Africa for education and experience.

Pre-identify what African American companies that might be interested, Dept of Defense match making. A trade show arrrangement.

How are the Colleges and Universities helping? CSU. Tri-C and Baldwin Wallace College
Urban League Young Professionals

Looking for:
CIA marketing strategy and plan ?
Technology integration and citizen journalists?
International Exchange
International Entrepreneurship program

Library partners could develop sister cities in Africa. Make the linkage. The Ohio Dept of Economic Development

Top Ranked Barriers to Innovation in Business

2006-05-02T19:57:00.000-04:00

Building open economic networks and new collaborative behaviors can accelerate the transparencies needed to move quickly in or out of the four walls of any organization.

Here's a clip from this week's National Dialogue on Entrepreneurship newsletter:

The April 24, 2006 edition of Business Week contains an interesting look at the world’s most innovative companies. Apple took the top spot, followed by (in order): Google, 3M, Toyota, and Microsoft. The survey also asked respondents to identify
the primary barriers to innovation. Slow development times ranked as the top obstacle, as firms cannot innovate quickly enough to meet rapidly changing customer needs. A lack of coordination ranked as the No. 2 challenge. Firms want
to enhance collaboration, but often find it difficult to work across different organizations and groups.

“The World’s Most Innovative Companies,” appears in the April 24, 2006 edition
of Business Week here.

May Issue: Ontario's Regional Economic Development and Innovation Newsletter

2006-05-02T19:45:00.000-04:00

Index of this month's newsletter ORED available here

Highlights:

* Toronto to Become the Largest WiFi Zone in Canada
* Canada to Play a Key Role in Biggest Science Experiment in History

Editor's Pick
* People and Excellence: The Heart of Successful Commercialization

Innovation & Related Policy
* The Knowledge Filter and Economic Growth: The Role of Scientist Entrepreneurship
* The Evolving Role of Governments in the 21st Century Economy: Summary of Interviews and Roundtable Discussions

Clusters & Regions
* Building Blocks for Place-Making Policy
* Problems and Prospects for Clusters in Theory and Practice

Biotechnology
* Innovation in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology: Comparing National Innovation Systems at the Sectoral Level

Statistics & Indicators
* Dashboard Indicators for Ohio
* Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Sector Profile, 2005

Check out the website here at the University of Toronto

A Daily Resource: Network Weaving Blog

2006-04-29T11:52:00.000-04:00

Valdis Krebs, June Holley and Jack Ricchiuto have come together to create the Network Weaving Blog. This is a great knowledge resource for learning about other communities applying new techniques to their activity, network building, and social network mapping. Read their white paper on Networking here.

Add this link to your blog roll. Go here.

Ed Morrison, June, Jack and Valdis will be leading the next session for curriculum hosted at Baldwin Wallace College June 29th and 30th.

More information is available here.
Download the PDF here.
You can register here.

A Successful Economic Development Strategy = A Healthy Map

2006-04-29T10:34:00.000-04:00

A successful economic development strategy process produces sustainable activity. Sustainable activity (the things we do together to build prosperity) is built on an infrastructure of trusted open economic networks. Here is what the map of a community who has successfully built trusted networks (and most likely with practices that parallel open source economic development practices) looks like below. The connections are thick, dense and well integrated. Thanks to Valdis Krebs for use of the map.

What's your economic development value proposition?

2006-04-29T10:09:00.000-04:00

Here is a past post from Ed Morrison's blog, ED Pro. It's worth repeating:

"Economic development is emerging as the ultimate competitive weapon and what is a major contributing factor to the speed? Networks.

"Of course, speed has been important in business ever since the California Gold Rush. What's changed in recent years is that a slew of new techniques make it possible to get things done much faster. Start with global outsourcing. A vast network of suppliers around the world stands ready to do everything from manufacturing products to drawing up legal contracts. This helps companies create supply chains that are faster, more flexible, and more efficient than ever before." Go to Business Week here.

Another factor is to stop using old methods. "Most are still bogged down in bureaucracy and old modes of doing things."

...How well do you build open economic networks? Not sure? Register for the Baldwin Wallace College June 29 & 30 (see side bar) and learn from some of the best.

New study on the economic development impact of libraries

2006-04-27T22:51:00.000-04:00

The value of the libraries: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Unveils Results of Economic Impact Study
- Reinforces library's critical role in strengthening communities and reaching region's youth
- CLP annually sustains more than 700 jobs, an economic return of $91 million, and an additional $41 million in estimated value to the community

PITTSBURGH, April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- A new economic impact study unveiled today shows that Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh provides quantifiable economic benefits to the region and is the Pittsburgh area's most visited regional asset. The study was conducted by the Carnegie Mellon University Center for Economic Development.

"The Economic Impact Study confirms that the 110-year-old Carnegie Library system has successfully evolved with the times and remains an important force for our region," said Dr. Barbara Mistick, Director of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. "In an environment of increasing electronic resources, decreasing public budgets and evolving social responsibilities, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh provides valuable economic and educational support to the community." The library generates a return of more than $91 million to the economy of Allegheny County, which equals $6 for every dollar of local public funding, and $75 worth of annual benefits per person in the County.

One of the most significant findings of the study is the library's unique ability to reach the next generation of people in our region, as 70% of city residents between the ages of 13 and 36 have a Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh card. "Many would think that our youth's Internet usage and savvy would diminish the role of libraries. However, this study proves that Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has been successful in meeting the changing needs of its card holders by transforming the system into a reliable resource where people can still borrow books, but can also do much, much more, including access the Internet and participate in a variety of community-based activities," said Maxwell King, president, Heinz Endowments.

Equally important, according to Dr. Mistick, the study clearly concludes that the library has a positive impact on area residents' quality of life. A majority of the 1,300 individuals surveyed, and participants in several focus groups, ranked the positive impacts Carnegie Library delivers as follows: promotes literacy and learning; improves the neighborhood quality of life; provides activities for children and teens; provides an informal gathering place and public meeting rooms; provides career, job and business resources; attracts customers to other businesses; and increases property values and safety. As an example, in 2005, more than 4,500 different groups participated in programs held across all library locations with almost 70,000 people attending. Beyond in-house programs, Carnegie Library conducted outreach programs to more than 3,000 groups in 2005, reaching 80,000 people. The study also demonstrates clear economic impacts on the people of the region as follows:
   - Annually, CLP generates a return of more than $91 million in combined economic output ($63 million) and customer value ($28 million). During its current capital improvement phase, the figure is even higher due to jobs and spending generated by renovations and construction.
   - In 2004, CLP provided a return of $6 for every dollar provided by the Allegheny Regional Asset District and the City of Pittsburgh.
   - Nearly one-fifth of the residents of Allegheny County are CLP cardholders.
   - Allegheny County receives $75 worth of benefits for each resident.
   - CLP is the area's most visited regional asset, with 1.6 million visitors in 2004 and an anticipated 2.2 million in 2006.
   - Most library customers identify the library's key community benefits to be a) promoting literacy and learning and b) improving neighborhood quality of life.
   - Accounting only for circulating books, DVDs and videos as well as databases, the library provides an estimated value of $41 million to library customers each year:
   * If library customers were to purchase the books they borrow, the estimated cost to them would be $27 million.
   * If library customers were to pay $3 to rent the DVDs and videos they borrow, the estimated cost to them would be $2 million.
   * The library provides free access to databases that in many cases would not be available to the public, providing as much as $12 million in value to the community in databases alone.
Jerry Paytas, Director of the Carnegie Mellon University Center for Economic Development, indicated, "With the finding that the library provides more than $75 worth of benefits for every resident of Allegheny County, this study confirms the value and impact that Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has in our region, in terms of return on investment as well as its contributions to people and their communities."
"There are many common misperceptions about the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. For example, many people believe that Andrew Carnegie endowed the operations of our library, providing long-term security. Unfortunately, that is not true," said Dr. Mistick. "There is no guaranteed source of funding for our libraries. We rely on the critical support of the state, the city, the Allegheny Regional Asset District, as well as gifts, grants and support from our customers to provide the necessary funding to keep this tremendous asset alive in our region. We rely on the entire community to be advocates for our library."
ABOUT THE STUDY
The study was conducted using various data collection and analysis methods including an online survey completed by more than 1,300 individuals, several focus groups conducted with business users and community stakeholders, cost- benefit analysis and an economic impact model to measure library impact on jobs and the economy. This research was funded
by Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh through generous donations from the ALCOA Foundation and Eden Hall Foundation.
ABOUT CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF PITTSBURGH
"Free to the People" since 1895. Established as a public trust in 1895, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh serves the citizens of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County with a distinguished history of leadership among the country's great public libraries. Through its 19 neighborhood locations, including the Main Library in Oakland and the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is the region's most visited asset. Each year the library provides more than 6,000 free programs, classes and other learning and training opportunities that are tailored to meet the dynamic and diverse
needs of people living in Western Pennsylvania.
ABOUT THE CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The report was prepared by the Carnegie Mellon University Center for Economic Development (CED) which provides the research and policy intelligence to foster an innovative region. An affiliate of Carnegie Mellon's H. J. Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management, the Center harnesses the vast resources of one of the nation's top universities to
guide action in policy and strategy. SOURCE Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Social Capital: The Bricks and Mortar of Open Economic Networks

2006-04-27T06:45:00.000-04:00

How we behave toward one another to build trust and respect is what builds social capital between people. With trusted connections, information moves freely for innovation.

We call these connections open economic networks.

There is a growing world community studying how we build social capital and its value. Rome's Fabio Sabatini is a node in the global network of social capital research. You can access the Social Capital Portal here.

Here are highlights from this morning's e-update:

• International Conference "Building Stronger Communities: Learnings, Governance, Directions". The Conference will be held in Melbourne, Australia, on July 13-14, 2006. The deadline for paper submission is May 22, 2006. Go.

• Symposium "Democracy and Social Capital: a Czech-American Dialog". The Symposium will take place in Prague on June 1, 2006. Keynote lectures will be held by Eric Uslaner and Petr Mateju. Go.

• International Conference "Poverty Reduction in Conflict and Fragile States: Perspectives from a Household Level". The Conference will be held in Washington DC on November 14-15, 2006. The deadline for submitting a paper is June 12, 2006.
Go.

• The service "New Papers on Social Norms & Social Capital" has been activated within the RePEc (Research Papers in Economics) project sponsored by the State University of New York. To receive the report, a free subscription is required at the address go here.

Fabio Sabatini

University of Rome La Sapienza
Department of Public Economics and
SPES Development Studies Research Centre
Via del Castro Laurenziano 9
00161 Rome Italy

University of Cassino
Department of Economics
Località Folcara, Via S.Angelo
03043 Cassino (FR), Italy

LIVE BLOG:OneCleveland: A Competitive Regional Advantage

2006-04-26T17:18:00.000-04:00

How do we reinvent the Midtown economy? What are our opportunities to expedite services in government, commercial, and education? What are our opportunities to design new approaches to visualization, conceptual learning and virtual experiences? (If you haven't had a chance to read the article "Digital Natives" yet, go here.)

OneCleveland builds relationships with telecommuniction providers to connect, enable and transform. A primary goal is to improve adoption of the use of technology and reduce costs. OneCleveland is talking about providing significant bandwidth access: 650 gigabites.

These kinds of broad fiber type of services will provide the kinds of connections necessary to support high definition televsion channels, for example. Think of this as multimedia converging on many lines. Broadband for the home is approaching 100.

111 Cleveland municipal schools were connected through one connection through the Clinic. New advances in networking multimedia for the early adoption industries such as health care and education which seem to be early adoption industries. The more capacity, the more applications possible.

Where are the applications? There is a pent up demand in Higher Ed and K -12. Industry is beginning to need the big bandwidth to produce efficiencies and new applications.

How do industries manage the remote processes? This broadband is capable of addressing these emerging needs. For remote offices, and virtual design work, for example.

Communities are starting to seethe broadband opportunities. One model that works: IT attraction factor - by having a region with the broadband capabilities OneCleveland is able to provide - such as the potential service to NEO - companies are attracted to begin to use the local broadband technology to generate new development opportunities.

OneCleveland's mission over the last two years has been to connect. The emphasis in the last 6 months has been to focus on larger institutions where there is an aggregated demand.

Too be near the broadband fiber enables greater access for the local businesses. OneCleveland is working on business attraction and business connections. The NEO community is getting alot of awards - one of seven most intelligent cities; nominated by Intel as a Digital City; and just received an Ernest and Young award.

Municipalities are looking closer at how to leverage this asset as a business attraction. Deploy fiber to the innovation zones, incubate the new opportunities; use th incubator model to leverage new innovations.

History: OneCleveland came out of Case. Early on the initiative received donated fiber and some equipment. The City of Cleveland was at the cross roads of a national effort to install fiber. This was completed just before the dot com bust. The bust happened and companies left leaving the fiber - - dark. To put this the fiber down under private efforts would cost $6 - 8 M.

OneCleveland is hoping to drive the cost down by developing a community wide broadband intranet to promote economic development. "The family plan." There is a need to break down the barriers.

Once you break down the barriers, the connections start building. Once everyone connects, the businesses starts changing. One Cleveland is targeting the businesses, services, government, and health care. If access is missing, the businesses will not stay or be interested in staying.

Once the capablities are improved the content will innovate. OneCleveland recently did a permit project with the City which reduced the permit process from several days to 2 hours.

Question: Who is paying for this? OC believes the community has the capacity to pay for this. OneCleveland was started with the assistance of donations, and bank credit; it now has 30 organization members, and 150 remote sites. The organization reached a break even point in 18 months. The (aggregated) demand enables lower cost services for each person. One Cleveland does partner with local providers to provide the service. The successful model engages an anchor tenant and then from there the cost diminishes, and new opportunities emerge and result.

A model: Medina wants to build out $8M worth of infrastructure in the community. This is the economic development model for that city. The Port Authority is now engaged.

Case and OneCleveland is putting dark fiber down the Euclid corridor and working with the RTA to build a wireless canopy.

There aren't that many people (other models across the country) building wireless meshes. Political roadblocks have cost Philadephia and San Francisco time. But, they have not built their activity with an economic development model in mind. Now, the community has leveraged the front end hype but now must address other roadblocks, such as engagement with government.

OneCleveland is promoting a very diverse business base of industries. With technology anything is possible and this opens the door to diversity.

Charge is based on use, and the number of connections - this drives down the cost. The challenge is getting to the real small businesses. OC is working with providers to bundle services, and help develop the applications.

Midtown example: spin off business from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and those that service/support the large organizations are what are providing opportunity in the area. Build off these existing businesses. OC would lke to seed an incubator in the Midtown area.

The business worker who we would like to attract are the knowledge workers. CCF saw the value in donating to the Cleveland Municipal Schools to educate future local workers.

OC would like to create the community buy-in. Using equipment to increase capacity with partners.

Q: How much investment must be made by hospitals?
A: Most hospitals already have the equipment. The greatest challenge is to connect to the neighboring institutions. Security comes into play with networking and public safety. Alot paraphenalia and devices are being added. RTA is enabling capability.

Comment: The present workforce is not ready for the new applications. We need a local skilled workforce. Tying the education and commuity into the network is very important. There is a need to create innovative programs to train the workforce; there is a need to create the educated workforce that is needed here - the attraction model needs to be linked to the workforce and education components.

CareerBoard, for example, works but not to create the links with employers to create the new approaches needed in workforce development. We can use the library system to reinvent workforce development. One example is to create a virtual university - these are the kinds of things we need to be thinking about.

EBS wireless spectum ideastream will manage the infrastructure. The real challenge as a community is to create mechanisms to maintain the access. How does this connect to other parts of the community?

The government has a low standard for Internet bandwidth. We have been reticent as a nation to step up and define the national vision for technoloy. This is lax, in part due to a hesitancy on the part of the providers to move forward - to do so would require more investment on their part to update infrastructure to accommodate higher level access.

To have access to the vertical rights. The major issue is the last mile: the political/social barriers.

Having a hybrid model of wireless and broadband is a good answer - having a pervasive wireless model is huge. IPTV (TV on your computer) 1.6 Megabits is what is needed.

Federal, state and community standards need to mature in order to have a broad impact.

There is a simple model to build in the community that works for aggregating capacity within a community or a region. OC costs are 50% lower than other providers because of the ability to connect.

OC is interested in addressing small businesses need to aggregate services. Bundle pricing for services.

Other communities have much more competitive environments for services. By working with Adelphia last year, for example, OneCleveland increased Adelphia business by 60%.

The best thing to do would be to network the innovation zones...

Adoption, content development and access are the targets for OC. What is regionalism? OC is starting to develop new social applications for the Voices and Choices web model...

It's not Rocket Science: Be open to change or lose edge

2006-04-26T10:04:00.000-04:00

Albany Model: Here's a good article to pass around and circulate widely. It will help open minds and opportunities at your next meeting. At I-Open we call this building "open economic networks."

Follow it up with an article and report to download published by The Arts Council of Indianapolis and consultant, Rebecca Ryan. Read and download the report here.

Be open to change or lose edge

By CATHERINE HEDGEMAN Attraction and retention of Gen X
First published: Sunday, April 23, 2006

Attraction and retention of Gen Xers in the workplace requires that employers be aware of the value approach taken by young professionals when looking at employment opportunities.

This approach is different from our parents' (baby boomers) and grandparents' (traditionalists) and involves much more than an interest in decent pay and benefits.

We look for value-added items: ways we might contribute to the workplace; the importance placed on our participation on the team; potential for training and growth; how our employer is viewed by and contributes to the community.

In addition, when considering where to work, we Gen Xers look closely at location.

In the business world "location" is everything, but most companies don't usually extend it to the attraction and retention of employees. Fortunately, the Capital Region has awakened to this idea.

It was born of a commitment from government, business, higher education and people wanting to make the Capital Region one of the nation's great places to live, work and play. Undoubtedly, this will assist us in ending the brain drain, or loss of intellectual capital.

Every day now, it seems, we read about new businesses coming to town. New residential developments have sprouted and property values have increased -- as has traffic congestion on antiquated roads and highways. Our local colleges and universities are attracting better students and better athletes, who in turn have given the schools -- and the Capital Region -- a national presence.

All these things are signs of what is yet to come. It is truly exciting to see the Capital Region open the door to innovation, creativity and modernization.

Lately, though, my concern is growing over the effects of generational attitudes on economic development. I saw this firsthand when I attended a public meeting on the proposed Harriman Research & Technology Park.

Uptown Albany residents (including myself) and residents of adjacent Guilderland are concerned about what redevelopment of the Harriman State Office Campus may mean for their neighborhoods. While the worry is legitimate, there are ways to mitigate any impact.

What was disconcerting, however, was that much of the criticism of the Harriman project did not focus on any specific quality-of-life ramifications. Rather, much of it was outright opposition to the commercial, recreational and residential uses proposed. In fact, one man proposed that nothing be done and the campus be left as is.

I am still baffled by these comments, because they ignore the chance to transform the experience of uptown living into a more urban, high-tech living/learning/play environment, while also providing the city of Albany with an additional tax base.
If we could see into the future, we might see a market address that is a nationally recognized center for cutting-edge research and development in a wide variety of high-tech arenas. We might see a Harriman campus where college students study at benches and tables; where thirty-somethings and forty-somethings shop for a DVD, take out a library book or buy an ice cream cone; where young professionals and empty-nesters now have condos; where senior citizens tutor elementary and high school students in a community atrium.

All of these possibilities would be surrounded by commercial office space that is home to world-class technology companies that will provide new jobs and tax revenue. A project like this would certainly be an asset to the region and could only add to its attractiveness. Call me old-fashioned, but I am keeping an open mind.

NextGen Workbytes is written locally by and for Gen Xers learning the realities of the workplace. Catherine M. Hedgeman is a government relations associate with Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker LLP in Albany and is involved with a local young professionals' group.

Midtown Networking Opportunity: See the Future - Don't miss ICE Showcase Event Tomorrow!

2006-04-26T09:42:00.000-04:00

SEE THE FUTURE: Ohio ICE Showcase Event

DATE:TOMORROW, Thursday, April 27
TIME: 3:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M.
PLACE: Cleveland Midtown Innovation Center, 4415 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland
Free Parking

Free Registration here.

DESCRIPTION:The electronics industry in Northeast Ohio creates many of the world's most innovative technology products. Come to the ICE Showcase this Thursday and see what our future economy may look like and how you can become part of it! Never before have so many organizations been willing to share their new research and technology in one place. Tour Orbital Research, Cleveland Medical Devices, CleveMed Neurowave, Flocel & Ohio MEMS Association. See demonstrations and meet the inventors from ABB, Rockwell, FLXmicro, Hana Microdisplay, Microfabrication Solutions, KSU
Liquid Crystal Institute & Computer Science Department, CASE, CSU and University of Akron. Speak to our region’s brightest engineers & leaders.

Network for jobs & internships.

Questions? Call 216-687-6950. Email Kathryn Ross here.

I-Open This Week: OneCleveland: Infrastructure for Regional Transformation

2006-04-23T23:45:00.000-04:00

Date: Wednesday, April 26
Time: 5:00 P.M. - 6:45 P.M.
Place: Myers University, Chester Campus
3921 Chester Avenue, Cleveland, OH
Map Link

In a flat, networked economy regions that build collaborations quickly will move ahead. How Northeast Ohio collaborates to share resources and respond to change will determine the future of the region.

OneCleveland offers a regional next-generation broadband network connecting education, government, and business partners.

Seize your opportunity by designing new ways to access high-speed broadband capabilities for Internet communications, content development and distribution to transform our region.

Build innovative collaborations to accelerate service delivery to communites, influence how institutions collaborate, and leverage community assets to drive economic development. Join us for next steps!

Leader: Mark Ansboury, Chief Operating Officer, OneCleveland

Join us for Midtown Mornings. Share coffee and bagels, make new connections and explore business opportunities. Join us to network with entrepreneurs building the Midtown Innovation Zone. Download the PDF here.

Date: Friday, April 28
Time: 7:30-8:30 A.M.
Place: Nead Brand Partners
3635 Perkins Avenue, Suite 6a
Map Link

Coming Up: Wednesday, May 3: Building International Black Culture Networks
Time: 5:00 P.M. - 6:45 P.M.
Place: Myers University, Chester Campus
Cleveland, OH 4411

Questions? Contact:
Betsey Merkel, Network Development
The Institute for Open Economic Networks (I-Open)
Cleveland MidTown Innovation Center
4415 Euclid Ave., Suite 310
Cleveland, OH 44103 USA
Tel. 216-246-2447
Email: betseymerkel@i-open.org

Purdue's Center for Regional Development Appoints Ed Morrison as Economic Policy Advisor

2006-04-23T20:51:00.000-04:00

Cleveland.-- April 24, 2006 -- The Center for Regional Development at Purdue University has appointed Ed Morrison to the position of Economic Policy Advisor. In the role, Morrison will assist the Center and the governor's office in the implementation of new regional models of economic development and workforce development.

"I am excited to be affiliated with Purdue's Center,” said Morrison. “Since its founding a little over a year ago, the Center for Regional Development has catapulted to a leadership role in regional economic development and innovation." Morrison will be helping the Center design and implement a $15 million U.S. Department of Labor Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) grant. The Center learned in February that it was one of 13 recipients nationally. The grant provides $5 million a year for three years for the the Center to design and implement a series of regional initiatives in North Central Indiana.

"The WIRED grant provides an exceptional opportunity to develop integrated initiatives that cross existing organizational and political boundaries. We will also be sharing what we learn among other WIRED regions across the country," said Morrison. Morrison will be coordinating the work of the Center with the office of Governor Mitch Daniels. The Governor will soon be releasing a statewide strategy that emphasizes the same type of regional strategies promoted by the WIRED grant.

In addition to his work with the Center, Morrison directs Leadership Indiana, an initiative of the Indiana Humanities Council. In this role he is guiding twelve regional forums across the state and building regional networks to implement a new model of economic development, Open Source Economic Development. This model of economic development emphasizes the importance of developing open networks to accelerate innovation.

Morrison is also one of the founders of the Institute for Open Economic Networks (I-Open), based in Cleveland. I-Open is developing new models and tools to accelerate regional innovation using Open Source Economic Development. I-Open is working with the Cuyahoga County Department of Development to implement this approach to strategy in Cuyahoga County. Morrison formerly headed the Center for Regional Economic Issues at Case. Contact: Betsey Merkel 4415 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, OH 44106 T 216-650-7267 betseymerkel@i-open.org

Building Resource Networks for Transformative Innovations

2006-04-22T11:12:00.000-04:00

The mission of the Cuyahoga County Department of Development is to foster strong neighborhoods, support safe, decent and affordable housing, and promote economically sound communities through programs that address issues vital to local business growth and enhanced employment opportunities within Cuyahoga County.

Visit the Cuyahoga County Department of Development website here. Be sure to read the 2005 Annual Report here.

COMMENT: ECity and E4S

2006-04-20T07:41:00.000-04:00

Susan Miller Says:

Holly Harlan is so busy advancing the Sustainability agenda at Entrepreneurs for Sustainability. And she is doing a bang up job of it! If only she had the staff and or time to suggest a sustainability curriculum insertion for ECity's new Entrepreneurs Prep School.

But EPrep is still hiring teachers according to their website.

Might there be an entrepreneur for sustainability who is ready to help prepare the next generation? Or a teacher who is ready to branch out into a new area of middle and high school curriculum (read science + economics)?

Could E4S interest The Entrepreneurship Preparatory School in a series of lectures? We are becoming better at building the links.

This seems like a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor, before these kids launch into the business world. Would it not be great to expand their thinking beyond the old school business model and have them consider how to put sustainability systems in place from the very beginning of their business planning?

Imagine classes of students from the EPrep School matriculating through the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs or the CSU Business School and then through the Erb Institute at University of Michigan. Wow!

reply »

This comment is at this address. Perhaps if it cannot come up, Mr. Zitzner or someone who is teaching entrepreneurship can address it by replying to the post.

http://www.gcbl.org/education/k-12-initiatives

Richard Dawkins

2006-04-20T07:36:00.000-04:00

Provided by Entrepreneur Melvin Hendrix: A comprehensive link to Richard Dawkins here.

LIVE BLOG: E City

2006-04-19T17:20:00.000-04:00

Review of Midtown Wednesday social network map. The MT map shows clusters that are in some cases, connected within but not with other parts of the whole system. As time moves on, collaborative behaviors will present in the map as being more densely connected.

ECity is a model that represents alot of replication and simply stolen ideas from other best practices and models in the country.

Media well covers the poor rate

National Fdn for teaching entrepreneurship - how do we teach new ways for building entrepreneurship in Northeast Ohio?
All kids are taught how to present a business plan (in 70 hours). The program is supported with an alumni program. Students participate in programs discussing ethics, etc.

Then, the question came about: what could this look like if a school was built. If an entrepreneur states what it is they want to do clearly, there are people who will help you and collaborate to share resources. Barbara Bird Bennett suggested a Charter School be started. Excellent Schools (a Google model) located in Boston offered to teach and share best models.

Planning started in 05' to create a great urban school. Through networking, Marshall headed the school by enrolling in the Excellent Schools program, a one year full time program.

What is a Charter School? If you want to start one you need to have an Authorizing Agent. such as a State University or other Nonprofits. E City went to the Cleveland Schools for recommendation.

School days are 10 hours/day and/or more if needed.

How can this model be replicated in other areas of NEO? That is not an easy question to answer...ideas for this are welcome.

Marshall:
Zealous teacher model is what is needed to accelerate and support ongoing scholarship. The goal is to have every child attend a four year college.

In 2000 Marshall started a Charter School with 85 students, no teachers, no parents, only teachers who were mission driven. Curriculum was designed around standards. Can reading and math be standards level? Assessment is constantly leveraged to keep everyone on target. How and where students are performing can be assessed at any time. An effective use of time example is: cuttiing time off in passing from one class to the next.

Standard curriculum is offered morning to 4 PM. The arts and extra help is from 4PM on. All students receive a great amount of positive support for accomplishing good grades and leadership. Head of School works hard at strengthening relationships with parents and students.

Entrepreneurial spirit: persevere, tough leadership, long hours, courage. Students are also required to complete a business plan. A Charter School has the ability to make changes quickly for curriculum and teachers.

Two models are shown in videos. One in

Glenville E 105th St. School to open in August. Lots of individual donors, foundations. What the books and assessements needed? 69 students are signed up.

Charter Funding: is relatively parallel to the public schools. With the difference being $500,000 per year that neds to be raised.

Challenges: to replicate the model and to engage the community to strengthen support for the school. How do you take this school?

Office supplies, furniture, paper and supplies are needed.

Leverage the regional network of colleges and univeristieis: Regional colleges tracking students
There is a need to integrate cognitive science when designing curriculum
Goal: to discover alternate solutions
Currciulum: bike rodeos; healthy lifestyles in Cleveland; career choices; internships: mentoring and business experience
Green industry
E City goal: students create a business plan, then go to college, then start the business in NEO
What is the value of creating free environment with digital access
How can diverse learning styles be addressed in the curriculum?
Identify Midtown entrepreneurs to strengthen new approaches to creating innovative learners
Answer: what does the market need? Team work and individual work styles

A Good Report: Building the Link Between Creative Cities and Innovating Nations

2006-04-17T23:46:00.000-04:00

Here is an interesting report from the Canadian Policy Research Network.

The description: "Creative cities are vital to meeting our community and national economic and social goals. By happy coincidence, the conditions that foster creative cities also foster economic innovation, social inclusion, democratic engagement and environmental sustainability."

Click here for four new papers from CPRN that outline the key role of arts and culture in enterprise, especially in today's knowledge economy.

What are our opportunities to strengthen creativity and innovation in Midtown?

Stage-Gate Product Innovation Workshop: Thurs 4-27

2006-04-17T21:56:00.000-04:00

In a networked economy, product life cycles are shorter and new products make old ones obsolete. Innovation is key to moving forward quickly and, so is process.

The Beachwood Chamber of Commerce, Kalypso Partners and The Nance College of Business Cleveland State University are hosting a day long workshop with Dr. Robert G. Cooper, "the quintessential scholar" in the field of new products and developer of the "Stage-Gate" process widely used by firms world wide.

The Stage-Gate web site offers a Knowledge Center where a selection of articles, research,
knowledge and working papers are available free of charge. Go.

The Stage-Gate Product Development Institute, Inc. offers more information about the process.

Program information and registration is available here.

Moving from Command and Control to Link and Leverage

2006-04-17T20:45:00.000-04:00

Ed Morrison passed along a phrase he heard about change happening in business : "We're moving from command and control to link and leverage."

We are seeing this more and more in the successful regions that move ahead.

Consider this article sent by Mark Zust about building trusted networks. Anaheim set an example of "decentralizing bureaucracies and loosening cosseted government regulation... confirming..the vitality and audacity of private enterprise. The city has made itself a laboratory for free-market thought."

Read about the exponential growth in real estate values that resulted here.

Midtown Mornings: This Morning!

2006-04-14T15:11:00.000-04:00

A big THANK YOU to everyone who brought good energy and great ideas to the first installment of MidTown Mornings at Nead Brand Partners. Who knew people could be so engaged at 7:30 am? If you couldn't make it this morning, not to worry – the sessions are EVERY FRIDAY from 7:30-8:30 am. As we agreed at the meeting, the next step will be for everyone (attendees and non) to contribute one or more Talking Points to our new "PB Wiki", which is an open site you can submit to. Betsey Merkel will send you a link, or you can find it on the Midtown Wednesday Blog. Your ideas will be formatted into a handy guide to give to prospects, peers, and anyone else who wants to know more about the personal and business benefits of being involved with Midtown. Please look over the list below of first initiatives that we can complete or at least move forward in the next 30-60 days. Please contact me directly if you have ideas/resources to jump-start any of the following ideas. Thanks for your help, and we look forward to seeing you next Friday. Fresh gourmet coffee and bagels will be beckoning....
Mark ;-)

Initiatives:
1. Create a tagline that everyone in Midtown believes in (ie: "Things are Popping" them developed by Superior/St. Clair coalition)
2. "I support Midtown" window sticker for businesses, residents, and supporters not located in Midtown. Available FREE (?)
3. Plot a simple, easy to implement marketing and communication plan that erases geographic boundaries and broadens the definition of what constitutes "Midtown"
4. Start a Venture Capital network (ie: begin dialogue with Red Room Revolution, MidTown Cleveland, individual investors, etc.) – Who do YOU know?
5. Capture Success Stories - Informal conversations, then document in writing and with video (Cinematographer Alex Michaels is ready and willing to help).
6. "Green" Rooftops - Julien Adler has agreed to begin dialogue with director of the Cleveland Green Building Coalition. Anyone know someone from the W.P. Hickman Systems company featured in this week's Crain's Cleveland Business? (check out CCB, page 7).
7. Midtown Eats - Build a list of local restaurants and other favorite hang outs by posting to the PB Wiki. This is a work in progress, so please contribute!
8. Plan a Midtown Tour (patterned after Sparx in the City or Cool Cleveland). We welcome specific ideas, resources, and volunteers. This could be a moveable feast, fundraiser, walking/biking tour, festival, or any combination. Who can we partner with who is already doing something similar in the area?

Getting Creative in Philadelphia

2006-04-13T22:11:00.000-04:00

Here is an interesting article about accelerating innovation in Philadelphia from Ed Morrison:

Philadelphia Business Journal - April 7, 2006 by Bernard Dagenais

The buzz surrounding the so-called "creative economy" has been around for years. Authors have made good money exalting artists. Now, the issue is coming to roost in Philadelphia, which will soon hold a Global Creative Economy Conference Summit.

The summit, which is being produced by the city-backed economic development group Innovation Philadelphia, provides the region with an opportunity to help mold creativity into a stronger economic force.

Peggy Amsterdam, president of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, thinks Philadelphia business leaders are missing something important and should be helping to drive the growth of the region's creative economy.

"This is something that the corporate community should be talking about, thinking about, promoting and seeding," said Amsterdam, who was one of the leaders of a group that set out to capitalize on the region's creative economy assets three years ago as part of a "Roadmap for Regional Growth."

Read more.

Casinos, Income and Tax Revenue

2006-04-13T20:22:00.000-04:00

Crain's Editor Jeff Stacklin posted this about revenue figures that make traffic light cam proceeds pale. Go.

Question is, whose pocket does the money come from and what are those economic development consequences?

Myers Minority Business Contractors Assistance Program

2006-04-13T19:21:00.000-04:00

Dr. Michelle Spain, Director of the MMBCAP, spoke about services Myers University offers to entrepreneurs:

This is from the program website: "MMBCAP is a small business assistance program recognized for providing technical assistance, education, resource development, and counseling to minority-owned businesses. The program has established the African American Male Small Business Institute to educate a homogenous group of men to increase their collective and individual ability to operate small businesses in the state of Ohio. Also MMBCAP will provide information on our annual events such as Women of Color formally known as Sisters to Sisters and Night at the Races and All that Jazz, as well as new events to be announced."

The site also includes information for starting your own business in a list of small business resources.

More here.

Unseen Small Business Contributions to Innovation Huge

2006-04-13T18:22:00.000-04:00

Here is an article sent by one of our library information science partners about the unseen value small businesses bring to economic development. The article is from eJournal USA: Economic Perspectives 2006, by Derek Leebaert, entitled "How Small Businesses Contribute to US Economic Expansion":

"Small businesses contribute much more to the U.S. economy and society as a whole than can be calculated just from the spending and profit that they generate. These businesses tend to be more economically innovative than larger companies, more able to respond to changing consumer demand, and more receptive to creating opportunities for women and minorities, and activities in distressed areas. "Building, running, and growing small business is a part of a virtuous cycle of creativity and increasing prosperity that can be applied by dedicated and thoughtful people anywhere," the author says. "There are no secrets, and frequently money is less important than a considered combination of imagination and effort."

Read more here.

LIVE BLOG: NEO African American Cultural Center: A New Networked Hub of Collaboration

2006-04-13T07:14:00.000-04:00

For LIVE BLOG: NEO African American Cultural Center: A New Networked Hub of Collaboration, please visit Djembe Project Blog.

Bill Peirce: Libertarian ViewPoint No. 2

2006-04-11T11:35:00.000-04:00

The Proposed Gambling Amendment is an Abomination

“Learn and Earn,” the flagrantly mislabeled casino gambling proposal, is the worst constitutional amendment ever suggested in Ohio. If it were adopted, it would award a perpetual monopoly of casino gambling in this state to the owners of 10 specific sites: the seven existing race tracks, the Tower City complex and the Nautica Entertainment complex in Cleveland, and one unpublicized entity “no more than 3 miles from Fountain Square” in Cincinnati. The Ratner family, Jeff Jacobs, Jack Hanessian, Keith Nixon, Charles Ruma, and Brock Milstein are fine people, of course, but why would we write into the constitution that they have the exclusive privilege of extracting billions of dollars from the people of Ohio? It is even more puzzling that the citizens of Ohio would award such privileges to corporations headquartered elsewhere, including Penn National Gaming of Pennsylvania, Magna Entertainment Corp. of Ontario, and the MTR Gaming Group of West Virginia.

Once this monopoly is written into the constitution, it cannot be taken away except by passing another constitutional amendment. When the billions start rolling in, however, the holders of the privilege will be able to outspend anyone who would campaign to take the privilege away. The voters of today really are binding their children and grandchildren into this deal.

Ohio is asking absolutely nothing in return for this permanent privilege. The “Learn and Earn” ballot issue would not require any payment for the 10 casinos. Indeed, by specifying who will receive the licenses, the proposal prevents competitive bidding. In places where casino licenses are put out to bid (Pittsburgh, for example), gaming companies pay plenty for the privilege. A good estimate is that Ohio is giving away a privilege that it could sell for $4 billion dollars!

The backers of the proposal will argue that state and local governments will receive annual tax payments worth hundreds of millions. Even there, however, Ohio will be short changed. Pittsburgh will extract a tax of 54%, even after taking hundreds of millions up front. The Ohio proposal calls for a tax of 39%! The backers have referred to a tax of 45%, but 6% goes back to the racetracks to subsidize breeding race horses, so that leaves 39% for the public sector. Even for the paltry portion that does go to the public sector the designers of this proposal have had the arrogance to tell the legislature exactly how the money shall be spent.

I certainly hope that the people of Ohio will learn about this amendment before they give a few rich people a monopoly privilege that will earn them billions more.

Intelligent Economic Design: Two Fresh Viewpoints

2006-04-11T00:06:00.000-04:00

Crain's caught Ed Morrison's insightful EDPro blog this AM, "We need smarter development, not casinos"

Bill Peirce, Libertarian candidate for Ohio Governor, sent along another must read. See below:

Although there is not much support for casino gambling among the candidates of the major parties, it is revealing that these experienced public servants did not realize that the “Learn and Earn” proposal would swindle billions of dollars from the taxpayers of Ohio. Blackwell and Petro doubt that casinos produce good jobs or economic development. Strickland likes the tax revenue but dislikes the increased gambling addictions. Flannery likes the tax revenue and thinks that Ohioans gamble anyway, so it is just a question of which state gets the revenue.

There are three coherent views on gambling. Some people oppose all gambling on paternalistic or moral grounds. A small fraction of people get into serious trouble from gambling. Also, some people consider gambling to be evil. If your inclinations are paternalistic, you might want to rid the world of gambling to protect the more vulnerable citizens. This argument is not very persuasive in the state of Ohio, which advertises the wonders of the state lottery to the people it tries to protect from gambling.

A second approach is to view gambling solely as a device for maximizing tax revenue for the state. If one adopted this approach, one would presumably advocate building a full-service casino at every major exit point from the state. Thus, the gambler headed for a casino anywhere else in the world would encounter a bigger and better one before leaving Ohio. Working with consultants, one would estimate the tax rate that maximized state revenue (perhaps in the vicinity of 60%), and then auction off the permit to build and operate each casino for a long, but finite period.

A third approach is libertarian. If people want to gamble, why should the state stand in the way? The state should not be involved, it should just stand aside while anyone who wants to operate gambling games can do so and anyone who wants to gamble can choose his game and his favorite supplier of gambling services. Under this approach, gambling establishments would not require any more regulation than movie theaters or pizza parlors. Profits from gambling would rapidly be bid down to the normal level as new casinos opened and advertised their wares.

It is clear that the police effort that now goes into eliminating illegal gambling is just a device for maintaining the monopoly in gambling that now produces high profits for the state or some favored party. If the state really does adopt the second approach—maximization of tax revenue—the policing is not much different from the force necessary for collecting all taxes. Ohio cannot permit illegal gambling today because it cuts into the revenue from the state lottery. But why would the state control entry into gambling in order to protect the profits of 10 private owners?

I-Open This Week: Midtown Wednesdays: NEO African American Cultural Center: A New Networked Hub of Collaboration

2006-04-10T15:00:00.000-04:00

Date: Wednesday, April 12
Time: 5:00 P.M. - 6:45 P.M.
Place: Myers University, Chester Campus
3921 Chester Avenue, Cleveland, OH
Map Link

African American Museums across the country struggle to remain competitive for resources. Most of the museums have similar missions and broadening scopes. Read about the Greensboro International Civil Rights Center and Museum here, a typical story today. More here.

Organizations strive to be relevant to local economic and social growth. Our opportunity is to preserve history as well as strengthen social networks in the African American community. Regions that undertake these goals build innovation and accelerate entrepreneurship. This week we will begin by leveraging new open source economic development practices and tools.

Join us for an open space session to explore new and different ways to strengthen cultural museums and historical organizations in Northeast Ohio. Together we will envision new models and discover what a Northeast Ohio African American Cultural Center could provide to regional prosperity.

Leaders: Eugene Cranford, Community leaders

In Transforming our Regional Economy: Action Plan 2006 led by the Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners, innovation zones are one of five transformative initiatives designed to create focus and bring to scale grass roots initiatives to transform Northeast Ohio.

Join us and discover your opportunities as we build innovation zones around our colleges, universities and libraries in Brainpower, Dialogue and Inclusion, Innovation Networks, Marketing and Branding and Quality, Connected Places.

We're building the network! Join us for Midtown Mornings, a fresh new networking breakfast hosted by Nead Brand Partners. Download the beautiful brochure here.

Date: Friday, April 14
Time:7:30-8:30 A.M.
Place: Nead Brand Partners
3635 Perkins Avenue, Suite 6a
Map Link.

Coming Up: Midtown Wednesdays, April 19: E-City: Building New Models for Education
Time: 5:00 P.M. - 6:45 P.M.
Place: Myers University, Chester Campus
Cleveland, OH 4411
Map Link

Questions? Contact:
Betsey Merkel,Network Development
The Institute for Open Economic Networks (I-Open)
Cleveland MidTown Innovation Center
4415 Euclid Ave., Suite 310
Cleveland, OH 44103 USA
Tel. 216-246-2447

Midtown Mornings: A Fresh New Way to Network in Midtown

2006-04-10T11:29:00.000-04:00

Join us for the inaugural Midtown Mornings!

Build your networks and revitalize your Midtown business opportunities every Friday morning.

Breakfast and networking at the beautiful Nead Brand Partners Loft located in the heart of Midtown.

See it to believe it here.

Date: Friday, April 14, 2006
Time: 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM
Who: Midtown Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders
Cost: Donation to cover coffee and breakfast goodies from Stone Oven in the Galleria

Check out Midtown Mornings here.

Universities play major role developing entrepreneurs and business, research shows

2006-04-09T22:20:00.000-04:00

From this week's ED Pro.

New Jersey policy planners recently gathered at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) to learn from noted MIT Professor Richard K Lester and his associates how to bring entrepreneurs to Newark.

Lester and his researchers recently completed a three-year international study that examined ways to bring about similar results in regions and cities around the world

Read more.

MIT Walkability Ranking

2006-04-09T21:22:00.000-04:00

Here's a post about MIT graduate student Holly Krambeck, who is working on a walkability ranking system for cities.

As such cities grow more congested with cars, changes are often made at the expense of pedestrians, even though walking is the most common means of transportation in developing countries. Or developing urban areas.

Read more about promoting walking in Midtown; make your experience more than just a few traffic lights. What are your requirements? Learn here.

Building Sustainable Communities Through Network Building

2006-04-07T23:55:00.000-04:00

Here is an excellent article co-authored by Valdis Krebs and June Holley. More here.

This is another guide for us as we build the Midtown Innovation Zone.

Follow Up: Midtown Innovation Zone Meeting at Nead Brand Partners

2006-04-06T22:36:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Mark Zust and Mark Brand for acting quickly, hosting a next step process for developing the Midtown Innovation Zone. Last evening's gathering was a follow up to several recent Midtown Wednesday forums.

Last night's ideas are organized by the Innovation Framework created from Ed Morrison's 25 years of work in economic development. This map guides communities and regions in Oklahoma City, Lexington Kentucky and the State of Indiana. The Framework offers leaders a starting point to begin to understand areas of contribution and our connection to others.

Valdis Krebs teaches us about the power of collaborative networks. We have mapped our Midtown networks. See how they have expanded through Midtown Wednesday forums in 12 weeks here.

Jack Ricchiuto teaches us the value of appreciative leadership skills to build trusted sustainable networks. Here are some appreciative questions to think about as you read the idea list:
What part of the map do you see yourself contributing to?
What opportunities do you see to create new replicable models of innovation?
Who do you envision working with you?

June Holley teaches us the value of building networked hubs of activity, learning to work together on small projects and moving forward quickly.

This is a starting point to reveal emerging innovation and entrepreneurship in Midtown. Our next step is a Midtown strategic process to align passions and strengths; identify transformative initiatives together and begin taking ideas to action, what we call "strategic doing". We can leverage I-Open practices and tools to do this. Read about the Commerce Lexington model here.

We will post next steps soon. We welcome comments and feedback.

Brainpower
Videos about innovation
Committees of people with shared goals to help Midtown: people work on whatever committee goal interests them: Some skill groups needed: a finance committee, a marketing commiittee, a business committee, a residential committee

Branding and Marketing
Media platforms
Information kiosk
Banners
Street signage
Video board (street scale)
Community Internet portal
Neighborhood information, services and resources on neighborhood websites
Available rental space website with pictures
Branding businesses in local TV show. See: Prelude2Cinema
Brief ads promomting Midtown as the place build networks
Midtown online directory: whatever you need is in Midtown!
Target audiences in advertisements: college students, business persons placed in Crains, Small Business News and COSE newsletter
Shameless pugs - on web, signage, ads
Target magazines that focus on entrepreneurship and redevelopment for articles (maybe even local?)
Virtual MT story (allow users to add successes as they occur)
Radio interface with cell phone reporters : "Midtown Happenings"
Create a Midtown Magazine

Building Innovation and Entrepreneurial Networks
"Midtown cash"
Frequent buyer programs
Arts discount
Coffee card (punch)
Coupons
Water harvesting/portable potties/biodiversity planting/energy pellets/renewable energy/horticultural enterprise zone
Tax incentives for student housing

Build a network of all real estate owners and management; invite them to get involved through email and mailings
Create a plan showing potential future of MIdtown as a thriving community of residents and businesses: target people interested in helping to achieve this
Investment clubs for Midtown businesses
Micro funding networks
Consider tax increment financing -TIF (neighborhood agrees to higher taxes. 25% increase provided mooney is spent on neighborhood prioritites)

Funding sources:
Innovation financing forum/grants
Fundraisers/grants/MT Mutual fund/local investors

Quality, Connected Places
Develop a sense of place by: launching a progressive meal going to different places of business warehouses not restaurants to talk and mingle
Bike racks/free bikes
B2B scavenger hunt
How do we connect to Midtown beyond E. 55th ?

Innovation Cafe
Office tours
Create a sense of place and face to face

Midtown church bells
Restaurant tours
Rooftop parties
Bowling events
Out door dining
Tribe games group tix

Complimentary beer
Artscape messaging (temporary)
Sculpture, sponsored businesses, like guitars sponsored by United Way
Celebrate local culture through cultural events that the whole community gets involved in (ie., Chinese New Year in Midtown)
Local artists sculpt installations curbside, curbside parks, signage

Block parties
Farmers market
MT tours (with trolly)
Dine around

Treasure hunt
Progressive ''walk''
Appetizer and dessert stations at business open houses
Street fest /art fest /entertainment
Clean up saturday or spring clean up afternoon

Dialogue & Inclusion
Who is the target audience?
Residents, employees who live elsewhere, company management, building owners
Collaboration events with the quadranagle at Superior and St Clair and Midtown
Chat room(s)
Blog
Wiki
Backpack software
Midtown Directory list of:
safety (police, fire, etc.)
services
businesses
available space

We would like to connect to specific skills and location of skills.
Create a Midtown Ambassadors program

Directory of Interest: a list of who is interested in what. People connect via shared interest. People should list not just their business but what topics interest them.
Forums to post opportunities with clients where help is needed
Face to face introduction

A "Who we are" program featuring Midtown businesses - website/ad campaign/
community newsletter, paper, e-news; directory of businesses; welcome brochure/directory
Coffeee house/bakery/ culinary institute

Weekly or bi-weekly referral meetings desiged to educate neighbors and refer business
Midtown blood Drive

Monthly or Quarterly anniversary parties to celebrate milestones for companies in Midtown

Leveraging a Free Platform: Prelude2Cinema PB Wiki

2006-04-06T16:45:00.000-04:00

Take a look at how Alex Michaels has developed the free wiki site PBWiki (like Peanut Butter and Jelly) as his company website here.

Try your own at PBWiki.

Accelerating Projects and Good Eats: Two New Midtown Tools

2006-04-06T16:15:00.000-04:00

Innovation and entrepreneurship is accelerated by good food (!) and early adoption to technology tools. You can accelerate your efforts by developing an ease with working with a variety of technnology platforms. There are plenty of free tools on the web for communicating, partner and team working and just about any kind of service you need.

Here are two fun new tools I put up for entrepreneurs in Midtown, both off of the Ning.com site:

A group work/update platform: Midtown Innovation Network here.

And, a restaurant guide: Midtown Eats here.

Just let me know if you would like to contribute rave reviews or cautions about where to eat in Midtown! Email me here.

An Excellent Website and Cool GIS applications: What are Midtown's Opportunities?

2006-04-06T14:41:00.000-04:00

A note from Kevin Cronin. His source: WorldChanging: Another World is Here

...As we discuss frequently here, mapping tools and other geospatial technologies are changing the game quickly. Case in point? The California Infill Parcel Locator, a pilot program of Berkeley's Institute of Urban and Regional Development (IURD). The parcel locator is pretty simple: it measures the ratio between the assessed value of a plot of land and the assessed value of the structures and improvements on that land, and then overlays the results onto a street map.

Read more here.

Designing for pedestrians in Midtown

2006-04-06T13:26:00.000-04:00

Kevin Cronin sends us this excellent reminder about the value of designing Midtown communications for a pedestrian scale:

...I would favor small kiosks. The difference, in my mind, is scale. The large billboards are quick messages for cars as they head out of town. If someone is walking around, I'm all for wired kiosks and displays (which also would probably be paid for by advertising, but would be less intrusive).

I still urge some of the activities we've discussed - community portal, low budget information sharing (bulletin boards and
flyers), banners on major streets...

Canadian Innovation and Entrepreneurship Networks

2006-04-06T12:22:00.000-04:00

Canada is a leader in building networks of collaboration with Canadian universities and colleges. Check out Innovation Canada.

Visit the Ontario Regional Innovation System here and read about the latest in innovation and entrepreneurship from the organization's newsletter here.

LIVE BLOG: Midtown Wednesdays: Building Global Networks to Africa

2006-04-05T17:18:00.000-04:00

Rich Brhel shows us a copy of Folsom's Mercantile College, Cleveland (currently Myers University) college course offerings from the 1850's.

Participants today include leaders for Cleveland Bikes, Hiram College alumni, Myers University professor, law, Afican American entrepreneurs, family planning, biofuels and manufacturing. Each individual represents new opportunities to build innovation and entrepreneurship.

Making Global Connections - Gwen Fischer talks to us about the value of making connections. Gwen traveled in Zimbabwe, Mozmbique, Tanzania and many other parts of Africa during 2001 and 2002. Africa was deteriorating at that time. Gwen started to think about these questions: What do I know? What skills do I have? What interests me? What resources do I have available?

This became obvious when Gwen traveled to different parts of Africa realizing quickly that people

What Next? Where can these be useful? Whom do I know? How can I find others I don't know yet? Gwen began by mapping who she knew and how they are related to each other.

Next steps for a Journey to Africa: Gwen began to learn from people and organizations who she knew and settled on some strong personal decisions. With a Rotary teaching award Gwen began many trips to teach in Africa.

NGO's teach aids prevention.

Professor Dudley is a leader is sending millions of books to South Africa BookSmart in Africa. This is one of many collaborations and connections bringing resources to Africa. The Internet has made the difference.

Another realization: is that we are all the same. Eileen Burutsa is an African leader who now lives in Akron who raises resources for her homeland Zembabwe.

Gwen spent a year in Africa teaching children in Africa and studying infant growth.

We're all the same: Nurturing Children and Empowering the Marginalized Kudzai Shava is Gwen's research assistant. Shava was selected as one of 8 from Africa awarded the Claude Aki Award.

Nurturing Children who have been Neglected or Abandoned Sparrow Village (South Africa) Aurora Rotary, Anglican Research Center

International and Institutional Connections Gwen is connected to the Fulbright Scholar Program, Africa American Institute, Rotary International, etc. Personal connections can be leveraged to help us to strengthen the work we do.

Gwen shows us many photos of the beautiful scenery, schools and people. A poor school is one teacher sitting on the floor with one book for the class. Gwen shows us another science class proud of the one piece of equipment: a cart for doing experiments at, but there is no other equipment to do experiments with.

Girl Child Network Trust / Zimbabwe (another example of how we are all alike) and the Princess Program (Cleveland) exchanged one round of letters. The Zimbabwe group was very excited to learn that their sister group in Cleveland have the same problems they do.

HKMU: photos of professors, classes of the medical school

How can we replicate? We need to not be jealous of others with good ideas. We need to be generous and share ideas with others. Focus on how can this idea be of benefit to others? Following up is very important and you must find out what others think.

Richard Dawkins - thinks about ideas or "memes"; human beings are social creatures and learn by sharing in small clusters to solve problems; adolescents growing up in dysfunctional communities are of greater risk to suicide.

An idea for others:
Start a school

Make a film about how a blind person gets through each day.

Carl Williams: works on strengthening international African and African American connections.

- - - will stay June 7th through

Kudzai will visit for one month this summer.

Phil Lane talks about Hiram College's lab in renewable energy. It is unusual for a lab exists at this liberal arts college. Sugar cane and corn are two crops that will be a future fast track to wealth for Africans. If Zimbabwe could begin to use their land to grow these crops as well as blue green algae. The lab at Hiram needs all the support we can provide. Every delemia the earth faces boils down to energy and politics.

Alot of the traditions have gone to the wayside in Africa because people are struggling to survive. In 2001 the exchange rate was 100:1; today it is 1000:1. This kind of economic instability reduces peoples and cultures to nothing.

This summer:
1) I-Open hosts a forum to work with African visitors this summer to create co=operatives to begin building renewable energy solutions for Africa.
2) What about shipping bikes to Africa?
3) Film summer guests to Midtown this summer
4) Map our international networks

Network---> Foundation support

local African American organizations welcome, event and netowrks to Africa
- summer visitors connect with the forum group
- engage the World Trade Center/Cleveland
- computer rehab Payne/30th//RETT3 - Kevin Cronin
- knowledge of global business networks
- find out about businesses interested in Africa
- Kudzai - setting up computer centers/internet cafes managed by the blind- this is a huge market inZimbabwe
- Pharm companies funding efforts in Africa for children
- Trade TO the US/Midtown - cheap labor
- funding topic: children
- solar experts

I-Open Curriculum at Baldwin Wallace College: Closing Summary: Ed Morrison

2006-04-03T20:27:00.000-04:00

I-Open presented curriculum for new practices and tools for open source economic development March 27 & 28th at Baldwin Wallace College. Ed Morrison provided this wrap up - a story about that morning's meeting of the CuyahogaNext (formerly Blue Ribbon Task Force) process demonstrating strong First and Second Curve behaviors and the affect on economic development:

Open source economic development offers an opportunity to spread the word about new opporutnities the Second Curve economy offers all of us.

The first session (Monday, March 27) outlined the importance of people moving their thinking to second curve paradigms. The CuyahogaNext (formerly Blue Ribbon Task Force) process is an example of a new and inclusive way of thinking. But, there are still difficulties communicating with people, who, as David Morganthaler says, "are prisoners of their own paradigms." The County process has afforded us all the opportunity to observe examples of First and Second Curve thinking.

For example, in the latest CuyahogaNext meeting groups assembled to work on next steps for the transformative initiatives. Group No. 1, designing next steps for Innovation Zones, demonstrated First Curve thinking - and here's how: ground rules were set, all three exercises were completed, prototypes were built and innovation zone criteria were discussed. Examples of the group's outcomes include: the decision to set up of 3 to 4 zones in NEO and that zones are not confined to geographic boundaries but are lead by anchoring organizations. This group moved quickly, finshing 30 minutes early and all exercises completed.

Contrast this approach to working together to Group No. 2 focused on the development of clusters. The first question is essentially the same for all of the meeting's working groups: How do we build networks? Group No. 2 instead chose to request the County give all of the alloted funding (for the entire process) to Group No. 2. Group No. 2 spent the first 90 minutes trying the get through the first question. At the close of the meeting Group No. 2 was only able to complete 1/2 of the first question and set the date for the next meeting. Group No. 2 was comprised of philanthropic, foundations, and intermediary leaders. Their's was an effort with a questionable faith to resolve these issues. It is valuable for us to learn that First Curve thinking is slower. And certainly not as much fun. Nor productive. This is what happens when participants demonstrate little appreciation for strengths.

Group No. 1 included Eric Fingerhut, Prof. Pete Rea (Baldwin Wallace College), Collette Hart (Cleveland State University), James Haviland (MidTown Development Corp.), Ed Morrison (I-Open) and two leaders from NASA.

Group No. 2 addressed:
What we need to do is to worry about this as a boundariless problem
Strengthening what the big vision is for each participant
We don’t need competition among groups: we need learning to take place
Sharpen our focus on how will we move quickly to build collaborations

Participants resolved to establish a new pattern of behavior. And from these two examples it is clear to see why our region moves so slowly. One example of First Curve and Second Curve thinking was right next to each other.

Peter Rea is a consummate appreciate leader; for example, he admitted he didn’t know about Midtown and didn't hesitate to be open to learning.

There is a complex set of tasks that need to be done appreciatively and on a short leash.

This is similar to embarking on a family vacation; the group decides what to do next and in doing so may make wrong decisions. But the end result is people are working together to get to next steps.

These are the lessons Jack Ricchiuto, Valdis Krebs and June Holley teach us about appreciative leadership, building collaborative networks, working together in focused hubs of activity sharing resources to achieve specific outcomes quickly.

Valdis reminds us of this lesson: We must transform from the inside-out and the bottom-up, to “criticize by creating,” as Michelangelo said.

There was alot of frustration in the meeting room; but, we are seeing a gradual transformation happening. And, new people are engaging from the libraries, NASA, and Baldwin Wallace College …many new links.

The Short List for Thursday's Working Meeting

2006-04-03T17:24:00.000-04:00

Notes for Next Steps for the Thursday Working Group, follow up to last week's Midtown Wednesday forum. Hosted at the office of NEAD Partners. Map Link

Infrastructure to Build
1) Ongoing engagement process to teach new practices and tools for economic development. Open to civic, government, academic and business stakeholders
2) Midtown Business Network List
3) Communication platform(s)
4) Midtown Mutual Fund

Some Next Steps:

1) Resources to identify
Inventory Midtown resources and capabilities
Midtown guidebook
Promote cuurent success stories

2) How to Connect
Blog
Online calendar
PBWiki - virtual workplace
Brand: we are all witnesses
Video documentation of Midtown

3) F2F Programs & Events
Block party
bark at moon
Midtown Mornings: at 5 different Midtown venues
Midtown Wednesdays - open forums at a local cafe
BiMonthly working groups/forum "Midtown Thursdays"
Technology/BioTech Center - Haviland
Church Gallery event
Midtown Farmers Market

4) Communication platforms
Kiosk
Banners
i-pod
Flyers that are emailed as PDF's
Video Boards
Taste tents

5) Sense of Place
Innovation Cafe
Perkins Plaza
Green space/reclaim
Victory gardens
Farmers market
Create Saturday Jaunt map

6) Build a diverse funding platform for initiative support
MTC
fund raisers
Grants
MT Mutual Funding via Nat'l City
City of Cleveland
Nationwide Wide Insurance
Parkwood Financial Group
Fairport

7. Promos
Midtown Cash
MT Credit Card
Frequent Buyer Program

Join us! Thursdays Working Meeting: MidTown in the Mix: Making connections to tell the MidTown story

2006-04-03T17:09:00.000-04:00

Here is the official NEAD Brand Partners invitation for the Thursday working group, follow up to the Midtown Wednesday forum last week. Anyone who has initiative and is known for getting things done is welcome to join us.

We'll take a close look at actionable initiatives we can accomplish to accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship in Midtown!!
_________________
_________________
MidTown in the Mix: Making connections to tell the MidTown story

When: 5:30-6:30 pm, Thursday, April 6, 2006
Where: Nead Brand Partners offices, 3635 Perkins Avenue. We're located just two minutes away from Myers University. Go to www.neadbrandpartners.com for easy directions. Click on Contact Us/Getting There. Parking is free in the large, enclosed lot. Travel to the back of the building and look for the door (with oval window and entry keypad) next to Loading Dock B.

Brewski Reception immediately following. Brews include your choice of gourmet coffee and specialty beers.

RSVP by Tuesday, April 4

Thanks to all who attended the i-Open event. It was a lively, powerful dialogue that reinforced MidTown's successes and ongoing potential as a vibrant live/work community.
Now, the real work begins. We look to you for ideas and answers on the big question: Where do we go from here and how do we get there? Please join us for a one-hour discussion on how to clarify the MidTown brand, promote the area, and create venues to build networks and communities. If you believe in MidTown, this meeting is a must-attend. Please RSVP by April 4. See you Thursday! Mark Zust and Mark Nead, Growth Partners.
PS - Go to www.midtownwednesdays.blogspot.com for notes from last week's i-Open discussion and info on upcoming events.

Mark Zust, Growth Partner
NEAD Brand Partners
Strategic branding for all points of contact.

3635 Perkins Avenue, Suite 6a
Cleveland, Ohio 44114

www.neadbrandpartners.com
www.neadchange.blogspot.com
Phone: 216.431.9301 (Ext 13)
Fax: 216.431.9331

=

Leading the Charge: Workforce Development Skill Training and the Midtown Gaming Network

2006-04-01T11:22:00.000-05:00

Tune up your skills by gaming! Read this article to learn how workforce training skills are accelerated by gaming. Go.

Video game ‘slackers‘ target of Orlando media fair
By Barbara Liston Tue Jan 24, 3:25 PM ET

ORLANDO, Florida - While many parents look at teenagers tethered to video game controls and see slackers, Dr. James "Butch" Rosser, chief of minimally invasive surgery at Beth Israel Israel Medical Center in Manhattan, sees potential surgeons.

Rosser says laparoscopic surgeons who have played video games can perform surgery 27 percent faster with 37 percent fewer errors. Laparascopy uses a scope to perform abdominal or pelvic operations through a small incision.

Rosser‘s video game skills study, and his "Top Gun 4 Kids" surgical skills games, are one of the features of Otronicon, a unique 10-day digital media festival under way this week in Orlando, Florida.

The festival, targeting 11- to 18-year-olds, has the long-range strategy of building a trained local work force that can grapple with future digital technology business.

Read More Here.

Out of Sync: Inappropriate First Curve Behavior

2006-03-31T23:54:00.000-05:00

The CuyahogaNext initiative supported by the Cuyahoga County Commissioners Office, is an open process of public participation with guided leadership direction: a typical Second Curve activity.

Change is not easy for some individuals who stubbornly continue to demonstrate out of sync First Curve behavior: ie., communicating in a negative, non-supportive fashion behind-the-scenes to constituents and attempting to discredit public process by enacting actions to derail or hijack activities for their own benefit.

This kind of behavior does not build trust and respect. We learned this in Kindergarten. And, we don't have time to waste.

New solutions to the complex challenges we all face need to designed and put into place as soon as possible. This will be accomplished by everyone working together, sharing resources and pitching in. Catastrophies, $5.00 gallons of gasoline and natural disasters do not discriminate between individuals who have money and those who do not.

It is time to move forward quickly with transformative initiatives that make a difference. This is already happening in the Midtown Innovation Zone.

And Baldwin Wallace College and the City of Berea, Kent State University and the City of Kent, Hiram College and Hiram Township and the Fairview Park Library and the Fairview business leadership.

The next time you hear or see First Curve Behavior ignore it; give your attention to the County Commissioners who have relentlessly continued to look ahead.

Blue Ribbon Task Force: Moving Forward with CuyahogaNext

2006-03-31T23:34:00.000-05:00

Read the latest about CuyahogaNext activities, a group of citizen leaders working together to transform Northeast Ohio and supported by the Cuyahoga County Commissioners. Here.

The 50 member network has identified five transformative initiatives; Innovation Zones are one. Read more about building Innovation Zones in the Second Curve Economy. Here.

Midtown is the model for others who wish to build innovation zones in Northeast Ohio. The Midtown Innovation Zone is being built by the Midtown Development Corp., Myers University, Cleveland State University, the City of Cleveland, Phoenix Coffee, NEAD Brand Partners and the Midtown Innovation Building 4415 Euclid Avenue.

Other Innovation Zones are being built by Baldwin Wallace College, the Berea Library, the Berea Chamber of Commerce and the City of Berea; Kent, Ohio and Kent State University; the Fairvew Library and in the University Circle area.

Next Working Meeting: Thursday, April 6th at NEAD BRAND PARTNERS

2006-03-31T23:32:00.000-05:00

Next Working 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

LIVE BLOG: Midtown Wednesdays: Criteria for Innovation Zones

2006-03-29T17:24:00.000-05:00

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

Midtown Wednesdays: Moving Ahead: Designing Criteria for the Midtown Innovation Zone

2006-03-27T15:17:00.000-05:00

Date: Wednesday, March 29
Time: 5:00 P.M. - 6:45 P.M.
Place: Myers University, Chester Campus
3921 Chester Avenue, Cleveland, OH
Map Link

The world is changing and with it our perceptions of what it takes to build an entrepreneurial culture. What kinds of places do we need to support a climate for business innovation? How can we move quickly toward new collaborations? What are our standards for leadership?

Innovation zones offer small networked hubs for entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurs look for places where information and resources move quickly. Innovation today depends on proximity to dark fiber, cafes with delicious food, access to support services, and comfortable places to network.

In Transforming our Regional Economy: Action Plan 2006 led by the Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners, innovation zones are one of five transformative initiatives designed to create focus and bring to scale grass roots initiatives to transform Northeast Ohio.

Join us this week to create criteria for building innovation zones around our colleges, universities and libraries in Brainpower, Dialogue and Inclusion, Innovation Networks, Marketing and Branding and Quality, Connected Places.

Coming Up: Wednesday, April 5: Building Global Innovation Networks
Time: 5:00 P.M. - 6:45 P.M.
Place: Myers University, Chester Campus
Cleveland, OH 4411
Map Link

Follow up to last week's forum "Marketing and Branding Innovation Zones" is available on the Midtown Wednesdays Blog. Connect to new opportunities and next steps in a working group:
Date: Thursday, April 6
Time: 5:30-6:30 P.M.
Place: Nead Brand Partners
3635 Perkins Avenue, Suite 6a
Map Link

Questions? Contact:
Betsey Merkel, Network Development
The Institute for Open Economic Networks (I-Open)
Cleveland MidTown Innovation Center
4415 Euclid Ave., Suite 310
Cleveland, OH 44103 USA
Tel. 216-246-2447

LIVE BLOG: 03-22-06 Midtown Wednesday: Branding and Marketing Innovation Zones

2006-03-22T16:51:00.000-05:00

Review of the Midtown Wednesday social network map.

EdPro Blogspot: see "Branding Central New York"

Midtown Wednesdays

Downtown Portland is known for walkable and seeable assets with alot of locally owned businesses. More coffee shops. Ning.com could be a platform to identify Midtown restaurants. Google offers a tool

There are many assets in Midtown that people just don't know about. Inventory and assets. A central clearing house on the internet and accessible on the street.

Jim Haviland, Dir., MidTown Cleveland. MidTown Cleveland denotes a place rather than the old name of MidTown Corridor.

How can we leverage services and companies in MidTown?

MidTown has:
650 businesses
2100 residents
18,000 emloyees
250 non profits

So why is MidTown NOT an area of innovation? How can we leverage new business opportunities from 18,000 brains in and out of MidTown five days a week? What is the potential buying power of day time residents?

There is a strong need to add amenities. What is a collective vision of MidTown?

This is an area of opportunity. Great access to renovated wharehouse space in MidTown. Urban Ohio blog.

What is your experience in MidTown?
- stop lights on Carnegie, Euclid & Chester
- empty spaces, boarded up
- no connection with residents
- beautiful historic buildings

What are the needs of Midtown?
- exploration: places to eat and shop
- see what's happening? : development/validation/why we are here/things are getting better
- new housing in and around Prospect and 36th St
- biotech companies, design, photography, arts & communications businesses

What are the benefits of Midtown?
- The Agora
- cheap free parking
- reasonable real estate
- low crime rate

Solutions for building a Quality Connected Place:
- create an public inventory of community assets: zip codes
- creating alternate platforms to define MidTown: ie., Google Earth; http://www.niong.com; fly throughs, etc.
- more coffee shops
- progressive lunch/ happy hour
- block parties
- scavenger hunts
- great race
- bike tours/segways
- electric cars (Myers Motors/Vespa Golf Cart)

MidTown has good security. How situations are handled will strengthen a brand. Or, demolish it.

What does OPEN mean to you?
OPEN MidTown
open minded
Open source
Open for business
Open for living and play
Open to innovation
Open to intrepretation
Open for environmental and green technology
Open for lunch
Innovative living - not necessarily urban or traditional but open to alternatives
Open to collaboration
Open community
Open real estate because of low demand
Panoramas

How do we communicate with each other and spread the word about MidTown?
Conversations
Networking
Brainstorming
Chat Rooms
Blogs
Pod Casts
Other?

Other creative industries in MidTown: Taxel, ThunderTech,

Future developments in MidTown: August 2007 Silver Line

Follow up session at Nead Offices to take ideas to action:

When: 5:30-6:30 pm, Thursday, April 6
Where: Nead Brand Partners
3635 Perkins Avenue, Suite 6a
Website: www.neadbrandpartners.com
Phone: 216.431.9301 (Ext 13)

Driving Directions: Take 90 toward downtown Cleveland to the Chester Ave. exit. If coming from the East, turn left off of the exit, and then left at the light onto Chester. If coming from the West, turn right onto Chester. Go two blocks to 36th street. Turn left onto 36th, and right onto Perkins. Travel a hundred yards until you see a building on your left marked 3631 Perkins. Turn left into the large fenced lot just past the 3631 sign. Travel along the side of the building, past the striped awning entrance. We are located in the taller (6 floor) section of the building, near the back (North) corner of the lot. This entrance is marked 3635 Perkins. Enter the oak door with oval window to the immediate left of Dock Door B. Welcome!

Midtown Wednesdays: Marketing and Branding Innovation Zones: Telling the MidTown Story

2006-03-21T18:36:00.000-05:00

Join us for New Approaches to Economic Development

Dates: Monday, March 27 & Tuesday, March 28
Time: 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Place: Baldwin Wallace College

Open Source Economic Development is a new approach to economic development that shows you how to develop the open networks that drive innovation. Register here for this new curriculum.

The City of Cleveland and Myers University generously support Midtown Wednesdays and the development of an innovation corridor along Euclid Avenue.

Marketing and Branding Innovation Zones: Telling the MidTown Story

Date: Wednesday, March 22
Time: 5:00 P.M. - 6:45 P.M.
Place: Myers University, Chester Campus
3921 Chester Avenue, Cleveland, OH
Map Link

What does it take to make the MidTown Innovation Zone a Quality, Connected Place?

Beautiful streetscapes, renewable energy sources, arts & culture festivals, ethnic food restaurants, city side gardens, interesting cafes, public WiFi, public art, entrepreneurial incubators and labs humming with activity...

We'll learn the Midtown story from Nead Brand Partners , the firm who developed the initial research and branded messages for Midtown in 2003 with the MidTown Development Corp.

Fuel this week's dialogue with your ideas, questions and what-if stories building next steps and initiatives to bring the Nead Brand Partners vision to life.

Be a part of the networked hub of innovation in MidTown. Join us to create new MidTown opportunities in the arts, technology and education.

Facilitators:

Mark Nead and Mark Zust, principals and growth partners, Nead Brand Partners

Visit the Midtown Wednesdays Blog to learn about marketing and branding innovation in the Second Curve.

Coming up: Wednesday, March 29: Criteria for Innovation Zones

Time: 5:00 P.M. - 6:45 P.M.
Place: Myers University, Chester Campus
Cleveland, OH 44114

Questions? Contact:

Betsey Merkel, Network Development
The Institute for Open Economic Networks (I-Open)
Cleveland MidTown Innovation Center
4415 Euclid Ave., Suite 310
Cleveland, OH 44103 USA
Tel. 216-246-2447

Speed is emerging as the ultimate competitive weapon and what is a major contributing factor to the speed? Networks.

2006-03-21T18:33:00.000-05:00

Here's an interesting article sent by Dennis Coughlin from Business Week:

Of course, speed has been important in business ever since the California Gold Rush. What's changed in recent years is that a slew of new techniques make it possible to get things done much faster. Start with global outsourcing. A vast network of suppliers around the world stands ready to do everything from manufacturing products to drawing up legal contracts. This helps companies create supply chains that are faster, more flexible, and more efficient than ever before." Business Week here.

Another factor is to stop using old methods. "Most are still bogged down in bureaucracy and old modes of doing things."

Cleveland Memory Project: History is so much about the Future!

2006-03-15T17:31:00.000-05:00

Three things to look at:

Gateway to 19,000 images - delivers a thumbnail image first, then click on to the image with printed copies available upon request. The pictures show snapshots of life and living in Cleveland.

The Cleveland Memory Project begins with historic sites across Cleveland marked by Google map red maps. Clicking on the sites reveals layers of information about the structure.

CMP is a static platform delivery system for people inquiring about landmarks. Bill is also experimenting with social tech platforms, such as FlickR, blogs, etc. The Cuyahoga County Fair has asked Bill to apply technologies to connect people in ways that they have not before.

The Greater Cleveland History Library Consortium -how to interconnect the digital histories are many regional Cleveland organizations.

A new collaborative project is to create a 3D exploration of Cleveland based on images and offered in time sequences.

This kind of platform could be used for historic, tourism interests, rental/purchase space. The only infrastructure that needs to be integrated is bandwidth and permissions which are easy enough to work out.

What is Cleveland? Will vary from generation to generation. We might thnk of Paul Newman but someone else might think of Halle Berry.

Questions:

How do we strengthen the connections to the historic pieces of Cleveland?

How do we integrate GIS with this?

There are other models: Colorado, etc.

Fly throughs are where we need to be to be able to experience material in 3D.

Map important events for example, map important events of innovation and link stories to the sites by adding a social technology platform.

Susan Miller: our geography has dictacted our environment and our actions in the past. How does this shift affect how we need to teach our children now? Put in a zoom function to view the geography from the glacial time to presetn. Maps are a great way to develop our conceptual thinking. (Is this one way to accelerate our thinking about the future?)

Values:
What is the historical value of our landmarks?

There is a need for social engagement of all of the organizations that archive huge repositories of information to share information. There needs to be a strategic process to network people together.

Fly throughs are critical for communications. We need a virtual museum of stories, history, images.

Valdis Krebs and Social Network Mapping Updates

2006-03-13T22:42:00.000-05:00

Valdis Krebs, social network software entrepreneur, has been highlighted in two global news sources in the last ten days.

Take a minute to learn more about social network mapping applications in a networked world, Can Network Theory Thwart Terrorists? and IBM: Untangling Office Connections

Valdis will be leading the I-Open Curriculum Session on Open Source Economic Development at Baldwin Wallace College along with economic development strategist Ed Morrison, appreciative leadership leader Jack Ricchiuto and entrepreneur network builder June Holley.

You can register here.

Join us to make new connections with people who are interested in building the innovation economy just like you.

Open access to federally funded research -- growing momentum

2006-03-13T22:35:00.000-05:00

Here's an update about open access to research from Ray English via Midtown Wednesdays host Rich Brhel, Director of Library at Myers University:

12/13/06. Today's Washington Post has a great story on the developing political momentum for changing US government policy to require government funded health researchers to make the results of their research openly
available in the Internet. The story describes recent developments that are moving in the direction of a change in the voluntary NIH policy -- a change that would make deposit in PubMed Central a requirement and mandate open access within six months of publication. The story also mentions two Senate bills. The first, which has been introduced by Senators Joe Lieberman (D-CT) and Thad Cochran (R-MS) is the American Center for CURES Act, which has a provision requiring open
access (within six months of publication in peer-review journals) to research sponsored by Health and Human Services Agencies (NIH, CDC, etc. ). The story also mentions a bill being considered by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) that would require public access to government-funded research across a broad array of U.S. government agencies. Although the story doesn't mention it, Cornyn's bill is supposed to be introduced soon.

The title of the story is:
Government Health Researchers Pressed to Share Data at No Charge
and it's available here.

Note that access to the Post is free, but need to be registered first
before gaining access.

Ray English
Director of Libraries
Oberlin College

_______________________________________________
lac mailing list
lac@ohiolink.edu
http://ohiolink.edu/mailman/listinfo/lac

GreenCityBlueLake: Change Infrastructure

2006-03-08T17:19:00.000-05:00

GreenCityBlueLake represents a re-branding process of the region to help the larger community to think about sustainbility in a broader way.

EcoCity provides services and frameworks for the region. EcoCity is working with regional organizations with community development, watershed awareness...part of EcoCity's mission is to tell the story of all of the wonderful things going on in the region.

About one year ago, David and the community explored different ways of telling the story of all of the sustainability activities going on in the region. The Brain.com is one of the platforms and this is still accessible on GCBL.org. GreenCityBlueLake now resides on a Drupal platform. The intent is to leverage GCBL as a larger umbrella context - a tool - to guide the community discussion about how do we transform the region by asking the tough questions and simultaneously move the conversations forward?

The web site looks at 11 different areas of sustainability; as well as multiple functionalities. The site includes a regional calendar, discussion threads, blog entries, photo albums, etc.

There is a blizzard of sustainability activities going on in the region; this site will begin to assemble and build community knowledge assets so that the knowledge can be redistributed back into the community.

The platform will help to strengthen all existing efforts. EcoCity Cleveland will agressively encourage others to get involved. For individuals all that is required to participate is to log on and obtain a user and password ID. Over the next month blank pages will be put up encouraging discussion and participation.

GCBL creates a context for people to contribute their knowledge. The current focus is broad categories in sustainability and what will move the region forward.

Question: How will GreenCityBlueLake move beyond the sustainability community? How can one leverage activities?

David Beach: NEO needs to have a climate change plan. Our business community should be thinking about this. Does the Greater Cleveland Partnership have a climate change plan? What could be done and where are the innovative opportunities? EcoCity will do strategic outreach to reach leadership and educate.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development does excellent work convening NGO's to collaborate strategically with a heavy focus on how to reach out to decision makers. We need to empower others to assist in making good decisions for the region that may not have been made in the past.

We can ask: How is work taking place across the region related? How are the different investments coordinated?

An opportunity is to begin working with the nonprofit community and identifying ways of collaborating to improve efficiencies.

David was involved in helping the City to acquire a Sustainability Director. This will have a significant affect in a large way. This is where we need to be spending our energies. We need to ask ourselves where is the energy out there for sustainability?

Each category will have a justice side of things. This is an appreciative approach.

GCBL hopes to educate people - such as Voices and Choices - with how do we address sustainability? Bumper stickers and stickers will identify entities that are aware of green. The spirit of the site is to be not just cheerleaders but what will help others to envision what the future needs to be doing?

The site seeks to inform and encourage people to visualize the future.

What encourage you to participate? Specific topics; other people doing stuff that I might be interested in; event promotions; encouraging others to link; email syndication; creative digital media integration; posting pictures of what people like; What about gaming applications?; RSS feeds?

Look at Big Planning Projects. For example: no one seems to be addressing air quality or energy. The GCBL site includes targeted communication campaigns. Google maps is automatically connected to event locations.

What are the next steps? How can this be applied to innovations in industry?

For fun: Visit Music genome and pandora.com

I-Open: An Invitation to Learn

2006-03-05T19:34:00.000-05:00

New Approaches to Economic Development

Date: Monday, March 27 and Tuesday, March 28
Time: 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Place: Baldwin Wallace College
275 Eastland Rd. Berea, Ohio 44017-2088
Register here.

Learn the latest approaches to building an innovation economy in your region

Innovation drives regional economies forward, but how do economic developers promote innovation?

The traditional tools of economic development are inadequate to the task. We need new models, new tools, and new approaches to economic development leadership.

Join us on March 27 and 28 for the first two day workshop on Open Source Economic Development. This new approach to economic development shows you how to develop the open networks that drive innovation.

This workshop is designed for economic development professionals looking for practical, new approaches to building prosperity in their communities and regions.

You can learn more and register here.

Questions? Contact:
Betsey Merkel, Network Development
The Institute for Open Economic Networks (I-Open)
Cleveland Midtown Innovation Center
4415 Euclid Ave., Suite 310 Cleveland, OH 44103 USA
Tel: 216-246-2447

I-Open is presenting this workshop in partnership with Executive Education at Baldwin Wallace College

Midtown Wednesdays: EcoCity Cleveland's GreenCityBlueLake Network: The Future of Northeast Ohio

2006-03-04T10:07:00.000-05:00

We're moving into a "Second Curve" knowledge economy built by entrepreneurs spotting opportunities and moving forward faster. The regions that learn to adopt these successful practices quickly will survive; the ones who don't will not.

GreenCityBlueLake is a national model designed to accelerate information sharing across our region with stories of innovations in sustainability. This web portal acts as a knowledge management tool publishing stories of innovations in sustainability. GreenCityBlueLake is a new kind of framework in service of our treasured natural resources.

Help us to go live! Visit GreenCityBlueLake test site and be a part of this week's introductory tour. Give us your feedback to design an information highway of best practices.

Forum Leader:

David Beach, Executive Director and Founder, EcoCity Cleveland

Coming up Wednesday, March 15: Beyond Training: Non-Profit Innovations in Networking Connections

Time: 5:00 P.M. - 6:45 P.M.
Place: Myers University, Chester Campus
3921 Chester Avenue, Cleveland, OH
Map Link

Questions? Contact:

Betsey Merkel, Network Development
The Institute for Open Economic Networks (I-Open)
Cleveland MidTown Innovation Center
4415 Euclid Ave., Suite 310
Cleveland, OH 44103 USA
Tel. 216-246-2447

Midtown Wednesdays: Unforseen Opportunities for the Knowledge Economy

2006-03-01T16:29:00.000-05:00

Creating an Informatics Culture: Technology, Learning & Visualization

Building an informatics culture and being part of the information economy

learning objectives:
define an informatics culture
list the 6 elemn ents in a

computer technology makes possible: 2 unantivipated outcomes of having computers are,
"information on demand"- should be able to get information on demand in seconds. This is something new.
"Information just in time" - we learn basic concepts and know where to go to get the information.

Vision for an informatics culture: eVerything for eVeryone eVerywhere

The computer just connects url to the information out there.

1993 Case Med schoold was one of the first universities in the world to give students computers. Also started eCurriculum.
2001 was a transition year but this was not mandatory

Fall 2001= Transition time. This lead to the developent of specialized curriculum available only on the web, teaching resources, and interim exams, quizzes, etc., student information like test results were nearly immediately available, student assessment

For the first 2 years every hour of student time is represented on the calendar. Each day has session links with email, instructor info, learning objectives for the class, video of the class is available 10 minutes following close of class, and any kind of resource can be made available: sound files, etc.

Six elements in a rteaching/learning informatics culture:
1. Multimedia classroom
2. Notebook computers, Ubiquitous environment
3. Network and service support: robust computer nework
4. Application development: eAssessment system.This allows for virtual microscope online, video, sounds (you can play heart sounds - is this a murmur, other?) ; Audience response system - Prof can ask a question with answers posted immediately that can positively affect student performance; Studetn Advisory ; ePortfolio for students and professors
5. Serious Gaming: NEXT KILLER ap. $1M grant to teach students to cancer genetics "Tower of Learning"

The first three towers are now built as of this afternoon. Two Case medical students and the CIA medical illustrator have wroked together to create a three demesnsional self paced learning environment

This exists on one url that links to knowledge anywhere in the world. Learning objectives are provided from each floor to acheive before you can progress to the next floor. All based on information just in time and on demand linked through the Tower of Learning.

The Tower of Learning follows 4 patients with expanding learning objectives. As you move up the Tower you must qualify to move forward. This environment allows access to thousands of slides accessible through the Internet instantly.

There is alot of potential for doing this.

$10M grant to build Mount Sinai Skills and Simulation Center to open March 24th:
The serious games help to prepare the students in the simulation center with simulated patients and then move on to the hospital environment. The idea is to prepare students for patients.

An informatics culture is an example of a knowledge economy.

The Axiom Porject: Andy Sher and Greg Wrenn are learning new ways to teach neurobilogical anatomy. They produced this solution in an effort to learn neurobiology in a 3D environment making it less difficult to learn from a 2D and unrealistic environment.

Game has been devised to provide

Fly-in, with 3 Demensional aspects. Display also includes 2 demensional image that a student would otherwise see in a traditional textbook. This version includes schematic and xxx versions.

The Cranial Nerve Lesion page allows a student to affect "Lesion Larry" with any particular lesion and to see what the affects are. This is the only

This would be a future application as a diagnostic tool. These applications are targeted toward 1 and 2nd year Medical Students. The next step is to implement CT and MRI scans all on the same PDA!

A quiz system could be constructed leveraging the material available from the program.

Once you create the environment, you don't know what will develop. If you have created the networks

Case has cultivated the envrionment for entrepreneurs to follow the opportunities they see such as the product above.

Q: Is there a way to get this information out like NetWellness? There is an effort to

We must create the envrionment for the Information Age:

We must:
1. Mobiole computing
2. Ubiquitoues Internet
3. Network and server support
4. Application development
5. Education support

Some ideas of what you could anticipate that could happen once the environments are created:

By creating the networked community and postitive things will happen:
1) community unput to solvbind probeklems
2) Connections amog people with common interests and skills, new business opportunities
3) Healthcare networks
4) Educational/recreational opportunities - "Serious Games Network"

We as leaders need to build the confidence in people to embrace the new information and create unforseen opportunities. The possiblities come from bringing the teams together to create what is envisioned.

Midtown Wednesdays: Creating an Informatics Culture: Technology, Learning & Visualization

2006-02-25T20:23:00.000-05:00

Date: Wednesday, March 1
Time: 5:00 P.M. - 6:45 P.M.
Place: Myers University, Chester Campus
3921 Chester Avenue, Cleveland, OH
Map Link

Simple collaborations between short and long distance partners can create awesome unforeseen results.

Case Medical School and the Medical University of Ohio at Toledo partnered to share an eAssessment system over the Internet to create and administer online examinations. Their collaboration shows the power of the Internet and the potential for long-range interactions.

Learn how media and web based technology innovations have been applied to educate our future researchers and physicians.

We'll cover everything from the creation of a simulation center to teaching cancer genetics through serious gaming.

You'll also hear the story of three entrepreneurs - two medical students and one Cleveland Institute of Art alum - moving ahead with a new business spin-off.

Join us - and leave with new ideas and new connections.

Forum Contributors:

Dr. Tom Nosek, Case, Prof. Dept. Physiology and Biophysics
and Assoc. Dean for Academic Computing

Dr. Carlos Baptista, MD, Ph.D., Medical University of Ohio at Toledo's Center for Creative Education

Gregg Wrenn, Case, Medical Student & Entrepreneur

Coming up: Wednesday, March 8: GreenCityBlueLake Network Portal

Time: 5:00 P.M. - 6:45 P.M.
Place: Myers University, Chester Campus
3921 Chester Avenue, Cleveland, OH

Map Link
Questions? Contact:

Betsey Merkel, Network Development
The Institute for Open Economic Networks (I-Open)
Cleveland MidTown Innovation Center
4415 Euclid Ave., Suite 310
Cleveland, OH 44103 USA
Tel. 216-246-2447

What About It? Open Access to Business Related Research

2006-02-24T01:38:00.000-05:00

Rich Brhel, Director of Library at Myers University and our partner in hosting Midtown Wednesdays (the first step in building the Midtown Innovation Zone), sees academic libraries providing support through access to their collection and open access to business related research.

Rich has suggested a national leader Ray English, Director of the Oberlin Library, lead a future forum with us to explore the results of open access to research in business.

Ray was recently named National Research Librarian of the Year by the Association of College and Research Libraries. Read more here.

Read the interview about Ray's leadership in the open access movement here.

Midtown Wednesdays: A National Legacy of African American Innovation & Entrepreneurship

2006-02-23T22:03:00.000-05:00

African American community leaders came together at Myers University to make new connections, share an appreciation of Cleveland's rich history of African American cultural institutions and long standing leadership contributions to the history of American innovation and entrepreneurship.

Next steps involve exploring new practices of economic development to strengthen regional cultural assets and resources, engage in purposeful dialogue and identify transformative initiatives from the African American community in Northeast Ohio.

Here are attendee insights:

..We need to work on capacity building in the community. How do we get long term financing? These are the questions that need to be addressed. Everyone needs to participate. Bring out the history for everyone. We must tell both sides of every story and the third side too.

...There are deep differences between cultures that we tend to gloss over. Our (American) understanding of community was brought from the African culture. These are deep culture differences that we all need to understand. It is very important to network the Cleveland institutions and history of the African American culture.

For the summary go here.

Our next steps are to:
- Engage a community of commitment lead by the African American community (if you would like to participate email betseymerkel@aol.com)
- Begin a mapping effort of historical African American sites and social innovation
- Next forum: April 12, Myers University, Chester campus, 5:00 to 6:45 PM

A Cultural Aesthetic: the Djembe

2006-02-21T14:23:00.000-05:00

The Djembe or, "talking drum", is interpreted in this proposed model for the 2003 Pittsburgh African American Cultural Center Design Competition.

Download the PDF here.

What would that look like in Midtown?

How Much Better Can it Get? Libraries offer Significant Economic Returns to Communities

2006-02-21T09:02:00.000-05:00

It would cost certified financial analyst John Birmingham of Fort Collins several thousand dollars a year if he subscribed to all the business resources he uses at the Fort Collins Public Library.

Instead, Birmingham gets the information he needs for free.

Libraries offer critical infrastructure to economic development. Read more here.