New Rules
Youngstown — Posted on September 8, 2007 at 6:12 am
There’s a new sheriff in town: you. And me. And my neighbors and yours. We own this place, and it’s time for us to talk about what we want here. What are our goals? What ground rules are necessary for us to achieve those goals? I’m going to name a couple of rules that will help overcome impediments to our success, then I’ll tell you more about what they’ll facilitate.
You are not entitled to anything. No one owes you or me anything. We will make our own future. Want it? Then make it happen. No one is going to give you a job for life, unless you’ve earned it every day. The old economy is no more. What happens in the new economy is based on innovation and energy. It’s about how we connect to and engage with each other and resources. It’s about collaboration. It’s about quality. We have to create it.
There will be no white knight. There will be no big industry to swoop in and save the region’s economy. We’ve waited for over twenty years now, and it hasn’t happened. Let’s face it: that’s because it’s not going to happen. Our new economy will be built small business by small business. They may grow large, but no ready-made corporation is coming to employ our unemployed army. So, it is up to us to create the conditions that will allow these new businesses to take root and flourish: brainpower, innovation, branding and quality places. Purposeful dialogue is at the center of the development of these pillars.
In the coming weeks, we’re going to engage our community in civic forums and create shared goals. You’re all invited. They’re all invited. Anyone who wants to participate can come along. And why not? The destination is a place we’ve all imagined: a vital valley. And we’ll take any help we can get, we’ll need it.
Then, we’re going to talk about how we can accomplish our goals. Read that again. We’re going to talk about how WE can accomplish our goals. We’re not going to leave it up to our elected officials. We’re not going to leave it to faith-based organizations. We’re not going to wait for the state or federal governments to take up our cause. We’re not going to get distracted about every shiny object near our path that we lose sight of the baby steps necessary to get to our goal. In the words of Greater Ohio’s Jim Converse: We are the people we’ve been waiting for.
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11 Comments
Awesome post, Tyler. Looking forward to the discussion. Will you be holding here on this blog, or taking it to particular places? Either way, awesome.
What’s that they say? Even the longest journey begins with a single step. I’ve got my walking shoes on, and you can count on me to cheerlead, cajole, or compel… though I do adore shiny objects. ;)
Chris, thanks for checking in. We’ll be out and about, probably starting with the library. Neutral ground, as it were. No wrong answers.
Tyler:
We’ve got some exciting work ahead of all of us.
I’m here to help out in any way I can.
Agreed. We should not be interested in waiting for others to make the frist moves – non-profits, elected officials, government – period. However, we should always welcome anyone interested in helping fight the good fight.
I recently met with the Leadership Mahoning Valley Class of 2007 who is basically of the same opinion. Our plan is to start devising a “Top 10″ list of larger scale projects, with input gathered from membership from groups like ours, theirs, existing non-profits, perhaps Mayor Williams etc..see what the common ideas are and then organize, pool resources, and execute aggressively. The discussion you describe in your post are precisely what is needed right now.
I believe the critical mass we need to do this is forming and these people now need the direction and structure. It’s time the people themselves take our/this city’s destiny into our own hands and do something that get results. So let’s do it.
I too am looking forward to this discussion. The process of rule making is a very important one. In this postmodern culture many believe that it is not possible to make objective value judgements that are applicable to everyone. Yet, in order to create a sustainable community the making of rules, in my opinion is a necessary process. It is however very important that such a discussion be approached from the intersection of race gender,class, and sexual identity. Thank you Tyler for taking the first step toward making this conversation a reality. It is not an easy one. Keep me posted.
Very cool blog! I love the internet.
I own a house across from the McGuffey Plaza. As you guys know the social services dept has moved out to city accomadations.
I have sent an email to Cafaro Co. to see if there is any way that they can attract a Home Depot or Lowe’s
’cause having to drive all the way to Boardman or Austintown (after checking out local vendors of course) is a waste of time. A super market would be great too! Anything would be GREAT. Well almost anything NOT another convenience liquor store please.
Last time I was in Youngstown I went into a convenience store off of S. Bruce St. It was GREAT
the folks infront of my friends house played their music all night and day long. Girls and guys hanging out GUZZLING bottles of vodka at 9AM.
I was lucky to find anything edible at the store. The booze was SHINNING through the cooler, but the food on the shelves was thick with dust. Seriously. I was like WOW where did I land? the TWILIGHT ZONE?
The one grocery store I did find was not very inviting. Thank GOD for the pizza joints that dot Belmont Ave. No one will go hungry as long as their stoves keep flaming.
I think we are all onto something in Youngstown and the valley. I’m glad to read blogs from the area without a chip on it’s shoulders. That was one of the most peculiar aspects of Youngstown (in my perspective as an outsider) was the down and out Youngstown sucks tude from some people I met. Weird.
The old “why here”? Why not? Youngstown has so much going for it. Cool architecture, affordable housing, GREAT pizza, small city (a scooter would be a nice way to get around). I think the possibilities for small businesses in Youngstown is HUGE. For profit or non.
Please post how your brainstorming meetings go.
Look forward to reading more.
Even better… we’ll tell you where it’s happening, so you can be there, too!
Nice blog you have going here, it looks like theres a considerable blogging community that has sprung up in Youngstown. Keep up the good work you guys. It maybe hard to see on a daily basis but I get back to Youngstown once every 4 – 6 months and I’mm always amazed at the changes I see. I’m just mad they waited for me to leave in ‘04 to start the renaissance.
OH Yeah, the pizza thing, I would kill here in Cincinnati for a Avelon pizza. These guys don’t know jack about Italian in Cincinnati.
I am very excited to see the emergance of increasing collaboration between Youngstown activists. I am very seriously contemplating moving back to Youngstown with my husband & son this summer after I finish my masters degree in NYC. I am in the preliminary stages of planning a democratic, private school K-12 to open in Youngstown (hopefully Fall 2009). I would like to locate in/near Smoky Hollow or North Sde near the university. I look forward to communicating with all the Youngstown activists that want to redevelop our wonderful city. Please keep me posted/in the loop.
Hi Sheila, thanks for your note. We’d love to have you! Smoky Hollow and North Side are both great areas. Look us up next time you’re in town.