Creative-cafe

CAP Creative Café

 
On Wednesday, September 28th, the Citizens Advisory Panel (CAP) met for the 2nd time this year at the downtown Allen County Public Library. Their task: discuss and provide feedback on the Top 8 regional priorities as determined by the Regional Opportunities Council (ROC). The Top 8 priorities, each aligning with one of the Vision 2020 pillars, discussed included: 21st Century Talent – The BIG Goal (Increase the proportion of NEI residents with postsecondary education to 60% by 2025); Competitive Business Climate – Permitting and Fort Wayne International Air Service; Entrepreneurship – JumpStart; Infrastructure – Regional Internet Access and Regional Interstate Access; and Quality of Life – Downtown Riverfront Development and a Multifaceted Public Art Program.
 
The meeting was orchestrated by CVC Communications CEO, Marilyn Moran Townsend. She introduced the idea of “Creative Café” where small groups are given 10 minutes to discuss one topic then rotate to the next topic for another 10 minutes and so on and so forth. “This isn’t a typical brainstorm” Townsend said, while introducing the idea of the project to the members of the CAP, “These ideas are going to get deeper and deeper as you circle around.” We had eight projects to discuss, each project occupied two tables making 16 tables; each table had a facilitator of the project or “expert” on the topic and a scribe who took notes during each discussion session, it was quite a scene.
 
The meeting lasted over 2 hours and when all was said and done CAP members were excited and enthusiastic about the night. At the end of the meeting, CAP members were asked to select the top priorities; first, by selecting the priority that they felt was the one that would have the most impact on the region and second, by selecting the priority that they felt would be most difficult, but that we as a region needed to take on none the less. The top three priorities that were selected through this process were: The BIG Goal, Riverfront Development, and Regional Internet Access.
 
Thanks again for everyone who participated in the event. It was a huge success and I think we made a lot of headway with the projects!
 
(Image above: Half of the room discusses the Top 8 priorities in the Creative Café format.)
 
By Erica Hahn – Vision 2020 Project Coordinator