IQUEST

THE “

WH

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THE “

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STARTING BACKWARDS FROM THE ULTIMATE GOAL:

The region currently known as “The Corridor” becomes internationally recognized as a hub for innovation, education, entrepreneurship and culture.

A place where people want to live, companies want to locate and from which globally relevant ideas spring.

WHAT DOES THAT FEEL LIKE?

Who are the role models we should look to?

COMMON THEME??

Mountains?

Ocean View?

Smarter People?

COMMON THEME = CULTUREThese areas have cultivated a culture of

openness, collaboration, entrepreneurship, calculated risk taking and creativity. In short:

Connected Community

They have learned to embrace non-traditional thought at the personal, organizational, educational and governmental levels;

accepting the status quo is not sufficient to be recognized as a leader.

TAKING STOCK OF OUR REGIONAL ASSETSStrong economy with low unemploymentOne of the highest educational attainment levelsDiverse mix of international people & industryMajor research universityTop tier community collegeWriter’s Workshop / City of LiteratureVibrant art and cultural sceneLow cost of livingSafe, engaging communitiesMetro and rural living optionsMidwestern values, civic pride, compassionLogistics and locationAwesome weather (at least 20 days a year)

WHAT

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WHAT

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a culture of innovation

THE

CHALLENG

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Embrace the best of our Midwestern culture, while moving past its limiting factors.

LIMITING FACTORS OF OUR CULTURE

• We resist change and fear risk• Our concern for each other can be overly protective

and parental• It can be difficult to express differences directly,

opting instead for parking lot conversations• Many times we jump to the “How” before we grasp

the potential of the “Why” (credit the Pacific Institute)

• Often we see our turf as mutually exclusive and needing to be protected

• Symptom vs. Cause problem solving • Excessively humble when we need to be more proud• We tend to create and identify with un-inclusive

‘bubbles’ or silos which limit our spheres of influence

EXAMPLES OF OUR MACRO BUBBLES

Education

Industry

Art

Government

Non profit Sector

More separation than overlap

EXAMPLES OF OUR MICRO BUBBLES

EducationK-12

UI

Kirkwood

Non profit Sector

How much potential do we squander with

separation?

RegionRural

Cedar Rapids

Iowa City We still look at

driving 25 minutes as a insurmountable obstacle.

THEN WE HAVE REGIONAL BUBBLES

ALL T

HESE BUBBLE

S LEAD

TO:

LIMIT

ED S

PHER

ES OF

INFLU

ENCE

COM

PETITIO

N

RED

UN

DAN

CY

DIS

CON

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NESS

We need to change how people interact, engage and collaborate

TO C

HANGE OUR

CULTURE:

WE N

EED TO C

ONNECT

MIDWESTERN MIND CHECK:

Raise your hand if some variation of the following thoughts / questions

occurred to you? BUT HOW???

You can’t change culture…

Do we have to start some new organization now to do this?

What does this have to do with economic development?

This is long term stuff, we need to focus on the immediate.

What is this going to cost?

I thought there would be a real breakfast.

Things are just fine the way they are, why mess with it?

These guys are dreamers, we need a practical approach.

We should hire a consultant to help with this

And.. This is all a load of garbage (because I really don’t get it)

WE START TO CHANGE THE CULTURE IN THREE SIMPLE WAYS:

1. Encouraging innovative ways for people to connect and engage

2. Leverage existing connections to foster meaningful relationships

3. Create physical spaces within the region which embody this new mindset where people can interact

Outcomes: Topophilia is strengthened. Innovative thinking improves our organizations, businesses, governments and cultural entities. New companies form. Outside industry locates here . People recognize the region globally and want to be a part of what we have built.

One Connected Region:Internationally recognized as a hub for

innovation, education, entrepreneurship and culture.

A place where people want to live, companies want to locate and from which

globally relevant ideas spring.

BACK TO THE END GOAL – A.K.A. THE ELEVATOR

PITCH

QUESTIONS?

?Topophilia= the bond between people and place. Examples: That longing you have for your grandmother’s kitchen when you were six and she was baking, that corner booth in the bar you hung out in college, the spot someone proposed, or the way people talk about living in NYC.

We need people to have this feeling about the corridor.

THANK YO

U

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