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.

Over 200 attendees from as far away as South Korea will travel to North Canton for the two-day symposium “Seizing Our Destiny: New Models for Re-energizing Our Communities, Our Schools, Our Economies,” which has been carefully designed to provoke discussion and creative solutions in an interactive format. Attendees will include global business executives, international political leaders, highly-respected educators and local partners who will participate in lectures, activities and networking opportunities. The Symposium will be supported by a generous grant from the Herbert W. Hoover Foundation.

The global symposium will kick-off with the Institute’s Advisory Board meeting on Wednesday, October 24. Board members for the ICF Institute for the Study of the Intelligent Community were formally announced in June 2012.

“The board meeting is especially exciting because it will be the first time our international board members will be here on our campus,” said Jackie DeGarmo, Project Director for the Institute. “It is our hope that the interactive format of the workshops on Thursday will aid in the development of global partnerships for everyone in attendance.”

Interested attendees may register for one or all three of the following events.
Workshop: “Seizing Our Destiny: Imagining New Models for Educating Our Communities”
The Symposium will kick-off on Thursday morning at 8 am with a dynamic solutions-driven exploration of “A World Without Schools” for symposium guests and more than 100 local K-12 educators and administrators from Northeast Ohio. Participants will be inspired by game-changing ideas of facilitators Christian Long, Vice President of Cannon Design and Educational Strategist; Logan Smalley, the Founder and Director of TED-Ed; and Superintendent Rick Miller from Riverside, California’s Ramona High School. Riverside, California, the 2012 Intelligent Community of the Year, boasts the first public high school in California, and the third in the nation, to go all digital, replacing several hundred dollars worth of textbooks with a single android tablet computer.

Keynote Luncheon: “Seizing Our Destiny: Getting a Grip on the World Economic Shift”
The keynote luncheon will feature Dr. Norman Jacknis, Director, Cisco’s IBSG Public Sector Group, with his presentation on “Getting a Grip on the World Economic Shift.” Dr. Jacknis is a globally recognized expert in government innovation and transformation. Government Technology Magazine selected him as one of the Nation’s “Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers who, using technology…broke bureaucratic inertia to better serve the public.” At Cisco, he has worked extensively and in-depth with the National Association of Counties and the US Conference of Mayors in the development of a strategy for the economic viability of American cities in 2030. In addition to his work on economic development, he has also worked with governments on the creation of collaborative environments for citizens to deliver public services.

The Keynote Address and Luncheon will be held in the Barrette Business and Community Center. Cost is $25 per person and includes lunch. Registration is required.

Roundtable: “Seizing Our Destiny: The Triple Helix Model for Transforming Local Economies”
Directly following the keynote address, attendees will participate in a roundtable discussion that will highlight the signature approach of Stratford, Ontario’s, ICF movement, the Triple Helix model, by bringing together representatives from government, business and education.

In a fun, open and interactive style, Institute panelists Stratford, Ontario, Mayor Dan Mathieson; Steve Reneker, Chief Information Officer for the City of Riverside, CA; and Case Western Reserve Vice President for Information Technology Services, Lev Gonick, will weigh in on the critical roles and collaborative strategies of government, business and education that are paramount to re-energizing communities for the global knowledge economy.

Thursday, October 25 Schedule of Events – Open to the Public

8 to 11 am Workshop “Seizing Our Destiny: Imagining New Models for Educating Our Communities”
Location: Barrette Business and Community Center
Cost: No cost to attend but registration is required
Presenters:

• Logan Smalley, Director of TED-Ed
• Christian Long, Vice President of Canon Design and The Third Teacher
• Rick Miller, Superintendent, Riverside California’s All-Digital Ramona High School

11:30 am to 1 pm Keynote Address and Luncheon “Seizing Our Destiny: Getting a Grip on the World Economic Shift” with Dr. Norman Jacknis, Director, Cisco’s IBSG Public Sector Group
Location: Barrette Business and Community Center
Cost: $25 per person and includes lunch

1:30 to 3 pm In The Round, Round Table Discussion “Seizing Our Destiny: The Triple Helix Model for Transforming Local Economies”
Location: Birk Center for the Arts
Cost: No cost to attend but registration is required
Presenters:

• Dan Mathieson, Mayor of Stratford, Ontario, an ICF Top 7 Community
• Steve Reneker, City of Riverside, CA, CIO and Executive Director of SmartRiverside
• Lev Gonick, Vice President for Information Technology Services and Chief Information
• Officer at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH

The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) is a nonprofit think tank that focuses in job creation and economic development in the broadband economy, for the local economy, both large and small, in the developing and developed economies of the world.

The Walsh University Institute for the study of the Intelligent Community will provide resource for local and regional communities interested in this movement to connect to over 100 international partner communities, a venue for thought leaders from around the world to share ideas and solutions, and an exploration of new models for the preparation of educators for the knowledge economy.

Walsh University is an independent, co-educational Catholic liberal arts and sciences institution that promotes academic excellence and diversity and provides close faculty-student interaction. It is dedicated to teaching its more than 3,000 students from 15 states and 24 countries to become leaders in service to others through a values-based education with an international perspective in the Judeo-Christian tradition.

CONTACT: Andrea McCaffrey, Director, University Relations, 330-490-7296 [email protected]