Keep Them Here in Fort Wayne

Posted by Jodi on Oct 5, 2010 in coworking | 0 comments

Huddled around a coffee shop table, a mathematics professor sat huddled with four adult students struggling a young boy, about 9 or 10.    As the adults worked hard, and intently focused on the pre-test questions, I chatted with this youngster.    We chatted about football, school and careers.   He had no idea what to be, but he wanted to remain in Fort Wayne.   I hear that from so many of young people, that they want remain in Fort Wayne.     Yet in Fort Wayne, the options are limited.    If he wants to a medical professional, a teacher, an engineer, an accountant and football coach, there are several positions that will open to him.  But what if he wishes to be a film maker or video animator, or something super 21st century, the question becomes how will he make a living in Fort Wayne?

Fort Wayne has had wonderful youth art programs, including FAME, and awesome art and video programs at University of Saint Francis and Indiana Tech, however there are a not too many companies that can hire young people who wish to utilize their creativity in a highly productive manner.

The question is how does Fort Wayne become a creative city, full of life?   I say let’s start simply:

1.  Let’s develop an enterpreneurial spirit amongst our young people, and even our elders, to assist them develop creative companies that work on film, arts, music and such.

2.   Advocate for the legalization of buskers ’street performers’ downtown.  Liz Brown, City Council woman,  attempted to put law a busker act that would allowed individuals to play music downtown.  Although the act was defeated, Liz should be encouraged for her efforts, and asked to look at the act again.

3.  Develop a Venture Fund for Artists, Creatives, Film Makers and others, not just engineers.  While engineers will be needed in the future, so will innovators.   As research has pointed out, our youth are not as creative as in other decades due standardized testing and gaming systems, yet we know that creativity drives innovation, and innovation drives production.    Therefore, a creative downtown filled with galleries, film makers, etc. all things that can spark the imagination are vital for Fort Wayne’s future, yet in this tight market, banks are limited to the funds they have to hand out.   Therefore, a creative fund for entrepreneurs of unique business ventures could spark the imagination in an area young person’s mind, and they could be the next “Farnsworth.”