Honolulu, Hawaii & New York, New York – January 23, 2013 – The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) today named the 2013 Top7 Intelligent Communities of the Year. The Top7 list includes three from North America, two from Taiwan and two from Europe. “The Top7 communities of 2013 have made innovation – based on information and communications technology –the cornerstone of their economies and fostered economic growth through high-quality employment, while increasing the quality of life of their citizens,” said Lou Zacharilla, ICF co-founder in announcing the list at the Pacific Telecommunications Council’s annual conference (PTC’13) in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

Co-author of new “Seizing Our Destiny” book outlines strategies to future-proof communities in the new broadband-based economy

Oslo, Norway – 10 December, 2012 –Intelligent Community Forum co-founder Louis Zacharilla is in Oslo to deliver a presentation and moderate a symposium on creating collaborative, successful and open communities. The symposium on Tuesday Dec. 11, entitled Visioning the Open Society Forum, is part of Nobel Week events in Oslo. Zacharilla will discuss the inability of many national governments to respond significantly to the social collapse and economic stress of recent years. However he notes that a growing number of communities have found their way back to economic prosperity after being given up for ‘dead’. “The stakes are extremely high for the smaller communities and cities to get it right and to harvest their natural and embedded “intelligence,” says Zarcharilla.

Stockholm hosts the 21st Annual Global Forum and a theme "Shaping a Digital Future", which is the expertise offered by John Jung and the Intelligent Community Forum

Stockholm, Sweden Global Forum – November 11, 2012 – The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) studies the world’s cities to discover and then share the strategies used to create an Intelligent Community able to cope with the connected Broadband economy. Jung will discuss the platforms communities can use to increase innovation and grow their local economy. Jung travels the globe outlining the steps needed to future-proof a community and those steps lead to significant economic benefits. “Innovation is one of the main building blocks for any community that wants to expand its economy and is one of the techniques we have seen used over and over in successful communities around the world,” says Jung.

New Delhi hosts Canada-India Business Council and World Town Planning Day and Jung highlights the keys to building an Intelligent Community

New Delhi, India – November 4, 2012 – The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) studies the world’s cities to discover and then share the strategies used to create an Intelligent Community. At the Canada-India Business Forum Jung will lead a discussion on boosting the skills of India's workforce. Jung travels the globe outlining the steps needed to future-proof a city for the new broadband-based economy and how those steps lead to significant economic benefits. “A workforce that has the skills needed for the broadband economy is a key element for any community that wants to build its economy and is one of the techniques we have seen used over and over in successful communities around the world,” says Jung.

“Seizing Our Destiny” book title inspired by Riverside California’s transformation into a model city for high tech innovation and economic recovery

Riverside, CA – 21 October 2012 – With the International Monetary Fund scaling back its global growth forecast for 2012 to 3.3 per cent from 3.5 per cent and warning that risks of a serious global economic slowdown are “alarmingly high”, the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) is offering communities worldwide, and their mayors, municipal administrators, economic development executives and educational institutions a new solutions playbook entitled “Seizing Our Destiny”. The launch of the group’s new book, available now on Amazon.com, coincides with the announcement of ICF’s 2013 list of Smart21 Communities.

There are clear strategies to build an intelligent community and intelligent communities attract new economic investment

Moscow, Russia – Moscow International Foreign Investment Forum – 17-18 October 2012 – At the first-ever Moscow International Foreign Investment Forum Intelligent Community Forum co-founder John Jung is giving a presentation detailing the steps cities need to take to future-proof themselves in the new broadband-based economy. The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) studies the world’s cities to discover and then share the strategies used to create an Intelligent Community.

ICF Institute Inaugural Symposium “Seizing Our Destiny: Getting a Grip on the World Economic Shift”

North Canton, Ohio – Dr. Norman Jacknis will deliver the keynote address at the Walsh University Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) Institute Symposium luncheon Seizing Our Destiny: Getting a Grip on the World Economic Shift on Thursday, October 25, from 11:30 am to 1 pm, in the Barrette Business and Community Center on the campus of Walsh University. The cost is $25 per person and includes lunch. Registration is required. This event is a part of the Walsh inaugural ICF Institute for the Study of the Intelligent Community Symposium, October 24-25. Registration is available at http://walshicfsymposium.eventbrite.com.

Seizing Our Destiny: Imagining New Models for Educating Our Communities

North Canton, Ohio –– Imagine an all-digital school where learning is accelerated by online resources that replace textbooks. Imagine a classroom in which students work collaboratively online and in global communities. Imagine every learner, in or outside of traditional classrooms, being inspired by world’s greatest scientists, artists, philosophers and entrepreneurs. In this rapidly evolving global economy, imagine what would happen if we changed nothing to leverage these technologies.

Seizing Our Destiny: New Models for Re-energizing Our Communities, Our Schools, Our Economies

North Canton, Ohio –– Walsh University will host the Inaugural Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) Institute for the Study of the Intelligent Community International Symposium, October 24-25. All events will take place on the campus of Walsh University in North Canton, OH. Event registration is due by October 15 for one or all three of these public events is available at: http://walshicfsymposium.eventbrite.com.