The Fund For Our Economic Future recently publicized insight from their first Minority Forum, which features a link to an interesting presentation from the keynote speaker, Dr. John Powell from Ohio State, on issues related to diversity and regionalization. Also included is a presentation from Ray Leach, CEO of NEO entrepreneurship supporters JumpStart, which expresses a commitment to be diverse and an interest to support minority entrepreneurs and help place minority business people in companies Jump Start supports. Page 3 of the presentation also says one thing that is "Different about Jump Start" is "We believe we can serve as a convener for all interested parties to build a social network". As this is a purpose of REALNEO, and this social network is committed to all parties in the region interested in entrepreneurship, it is clear we should all work together - we're all working with Case and dedicated to bettering this region. Time to start co-convening! Later in January, Jump Start is hosting an "Exchange", which should be a nice opportunity for local entrepreneurs to form physical connections... in the mean time, REALNEO will continue developing virtual connections and explore collaboration with Jump Start.

In his ED Pro, Ed Morrison highlighted important observations about the importance of broadband internet access... in this case highlighting a foundation initiative to improve access for rural regions of Minnesota, but the same thinking must be applied to underserved, disconnected urban populations, like in inner-city Cleveland and East Cleveland. Note, in the grand spectrum of Internet access, dial-up is the minimum need of every citizen of the new economy, the level of broadband discussed here (e.g. DSL or Cable, via wires or wifi) is a valuable step beyond dial-up, and beyond that is ultra-broadband, like with OneCleveland, which provides even higher speed communications for large institutions. Toi consider what action is needed here, read the insightbelow, inserting "urban NEO" for "rural MN" and replacing "Blandin" with "Cleveland", "Gund" or any other area or national foundation.

The best concept for regional and global government, public, private, and foundation spending for economic development in this region that I can imagine is driving for a NEO MultiDATA strategy - Multimedia, Design, Architecture, Technology and Art - which fits my understanding of the purpose of our foundations and economic development visions and would revolutionize NEO's global position in many creative class and new economy ways which are not even contemplated in any of the writing and thinking I've seen around town but which are featured in major creative class communities world-wide.

Included in MultiDATA vision is a Philip Johnson conceived School of Architecture (he proposed that for our community around 1996 - perhaps it's not too late), integrating an urban and regional planning institute, featuring an "MIT-inspired" Media Lab, and multimedia production including music, video, gaming and film, and a CIA-rooted TIIMEish graphics center, and a Case-rooted third generation technology RDT center - research, development, transfer (open-source, advanced networking, IPv6, wireless, MEMS, RFID, nanotech, etc.), each and all with the capability to support secondary, vocational/trade/craft, highest education, advanced research, and entrepreneurism - from concepts and designs to production and commercialization.

<>Full house at the Trinity Commons for the Civic Innovations
Lab “Meet the Champions� breakfast.
CIL’s Jennifer Thomas spends a few minutes to introduce the
purpose and intent of the Civic Innovation Lab, thanks everyone for coming to
this event, and congratulate and introduce the champions of the latest three
projects CIL has funded. Some quick observation from this part of the event…

CIL only reviews proposals they receive over their website
so the first place to go to see if they are a good fit for a project is online
at http://www.civicinnovationlab.org/
- good, informative site.

The Cleveland Foundation established the Civic Innovation Lab (CIL website) to nurture "Civic Entrepreneurship" and CIL has in its first year provided $200,000 to 8 civic projects - details about CIL activities and outcomes are posted in this COIL  

Meet the Champions

Come hear the Civic Innovation Lab's newest
champions share their exciting initiatives and how they will contribute
to economic development in Greater Cleveland! Learn why these champions
received mentorship and funding!

The champions are:
* Erin Johnson, Founder, BackTalk Magazine
* Terry Travis, President, Cleveland365.com
* Randy McShepard, Tim Goler and Marc Batson, co-Founders, Policy Bridge

This event is FREE, but you MUST REGISTER!
Send an email with "Register" in the subject line to info [at] civicinnovationlab [dot] org.
Please include your name and company.

Location