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Taking Action with VibrantPHX
Our last event was successful. We engaged in some great conversations about how we, as a community, can take the lead on changing perceptions about Arizona based on the great assets we have. We heard a great story about how the AZ Scitech Festival is already attracting new investment and we confronted the fact that we need to do more in creating a place for tech companies to thrive. We will continue to move forward in our work to shift the thinking among leaders in business, government and community to cultivate a rich economic environment that benefits everyone.
The energy and talent of the group present was motivating. Out of the discussion we selected two areas where we can begin to make a difference. The first takes on the concept of land reuse and the need to redevelop neighborhoods with vacant shopping centers and bring them back to life in a new way. The second is about telling personal stories of why our state is the best place to be through a video project called, “WhyPHX.”
Now you can join the action with VibrantPHX:
Vacant Spaces : vacantspaces@gangplankhq.com
Why Phoenix : whyphx@gangplankhq.com
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Christine Mackay headlines Talent, Technology and Action
Christine Mackay, Chandler’s Director of Economic Development will be the guest speaker at the next VibrantPHX event on Tuesday, March 6th. The discussion begins at 8:00am at Chandler City Hall, 175 S. Arziona Ave.
Join us to share your ideas and discuss how talent and technology converge to create dynamic communities filled with vitality.
| Reserve your seat for March 6th http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2944094867 |
Partnering with VibrantPHX will be the Arizona Scitech Festival.
This important conversation will lead to other action steps we can take to advance change in developing a strong economic environment.
| Sign up here |
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- VibrantPHX:Talent, Technology and Action
Our next VibrantPHX event is Tuesday, March 6th, 8:00am – Noon at Chandler City Hall, 175 S. Arizona Ave.
Ideas we’ll cover in our conversation include:
* How talent and technology converge to create dynamic economic environments we all want?
* What the Arizona Science and Technology Festival brings to our communities?
* How you can get involved in building a more vibrant Arizona?
Guest speaker: Christine Mackay, Economic Development Director for the City of Chandler. She’ll discuss how Chandler is positioned for talent and technology and how the Arizona Science & Technology Festival plays an important role in her city’s high tech image.
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Next VibrantPHX Event: March 6th at Chandler City Hall
Our next VibrantPHX event will be March 6th at Chandler City Hall. The conversation begins at 8:00am.
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What is VibrantPHX all about?
VibrantPHX is about engaging government, business and communities to create the environment that will encourage and build long-term economic vitality for us all.
We want to encourage open conversation about ideas that generate energy and action to attract and retain talent and investment in our region.
We have many great assets of talent, opportunity and natural beauty to compete on a global scale. It’s all here. To capitalize on it, we need to work together to organize around what makes people want to be in a place they can achieve their goals and enjoy their lives.
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Session Videos
Gangplank was able to film two of the sessions during the Vibrant Phoenix open space. The first, ‘How do we retain the creative talent we already have?’ was led by Scott Yacko. Participants debated what elements keep talent here, as well as what drives them away including infrastructure, culture and opportunities.
The second video, ‘What is your city doing for me?’ was led by Jonathan Kressaty and focused on how municipalities specifically are affecting retention/attraction of talent.
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June 2011 Report on Vibrant Phoenix
How do we attract talent, grow talent and retain talent to diversify and create a vibrant economy?
On June 3, 2011, over 100 Arizonans gathered at the beautiful new Chandler City Hall to discuss regional collaboration to create vibrant city environments to attract and retain talent and investment. The Open Space strategy session, designed to engage cities, businesses and communities to raise the level of thinking on how we position our region for economic success, made it possible for the participants to generate topics and focus on what they most cared about.
Following a morning of lively and meaty discussions, more than half of the participants committed to be hosts or participants in further conversations on the most exciting ideas for positioning our region for economic success.
Mayor Jay Tibshraeny of Chandler, Arizona and Mayor Georgia Lord of Goodyear, briefly opened the morning with former SunCor Development Co. President Steve Betts providing background discoveries of the Metro Phoenix DNA Project.
The remainder of the morning was led by the participants themselves – they created their own agenda by hosting discussion sessions on topics they have passion for.
The Open Space meeting was guided by Christine Whitney Sanchez, partner with Innovation Partners International, a strength-based consulting firm with international experience and credentials in leading groups and communities to new heights. Open Space is a non-hierarchical, transparent process that makes it easy for large groups to build on each other’s ideas and self-organize for taking action on the most exciting ideas. It is a fun and dynamic way to release the wisdom of the many.
Twenty-two participants hosted the following breakout discussions:
- Abandoning the past to enable the future
- Dichotomy of highly educated workforce & education funding
- Transforming University Education
- How do we retain the creative talent that we already have?
- What types of companies have talent we want & how do we attract them?
- What is your city doing for me?
- True & Terrifying Tales of Young Entrepreneurs
- The urban forest & economic redevelopment = lush desert lifestyle
- An environmentally & economically sustainable Arizona
- Where has the sense of caring for each other gone in our state? How do we get it back?
- Why are you afraid of telling the truth? Unlocking community by being authentic.
- Why are you scared of me? Exploring relationships w/ creatives
- Grow a culture & network of innovation
- Creating creative gathering spaces
- Arts & Culture
- How do we wake the “sleeping giants”? (moms, dads, neighbors)
- Primary Education Revitalization
- The legislature and our image
- Friends in “Low” places. Identifying other user partners to develop our communities
- How do we make AZ’s natural assets (the outdoors) part of the conversation to attract talent?
- Attracting international interest – Being globally connected
- Bridging the gap between generation leadership
Each breakout group posted their most potent and actionable ideas. One half of the participants were so passionate about the ideas that emerged that they listed their contact information to host another conversation and explore next steps.
The document below represents original discussion topics, hosts, action ideas, participants who committed to host the next conversation and people who have committed to participate in the next conversation. If you are interested in joining a conversation, please contact the host listed in the chart.
Visit the next actions online here.
For other questions about the Open Space session, please contact Parrish Spisz at the City of Goodyear or Derek Neighbors of Gangplank.
To see the final report as a pdf, click here: Vibrant Phx Website Report
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Regional DNA and Economic Growth
Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord and former Suncor CEO Steve Betts talk about PhoenixDNA and economic growth with Ted Simons from Horizon.
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Vibrant Phoenix Open Space and Convening Question
Convening Question: How do we attract talent, grow talent and retain talent to diversify and create a vibrant economy?
Opening and Discussion Topics: The first part of Open Space is dedicated to reviewing how the process works and inviting session topics from anyone who wishes to host a discussion in the breakout sessions. Our facilitator will describe the principles of Open Space, which include taking responsibility for contributing and learning. Don’t see something in the research that addresses your favorite topic? Propose it for Open Space.
Session 1: During the first forty five minute breakout, groups will form according to the discussion topics which have been posted to address any aspect of the broad theme of “(convening question)?”. Groups can be three people or 103 people.
Session 2: During the second forty five minute breakout, participants can continue discussions or join new topics, based on their own area of interest. Remember, you choose the topics, and you choose which discussions to take part in.
Session 3: During the third forty five minute breakout, participants can continue discussions or join new topics, based on their own area of interest. Remember, you choose the topics, and you choose which discussions to take part in.
Final Thoughts: All Open Space participants will reconvene together for a final few minutes to share discussion highlights and commit to next steps. Summaries of the breakout sessions will be collected and shared with everyone electronically.
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