A huge crowd braved un-Texas-like weather this weekend in Dallas to participate in the "Festival of Ideas." The Dallas Morning News hopes the citizens of Big D will keep up their momentum in working to improve their city.
"More than 700 intrepid community members spent much of the [Saturday, February 28] exercising their mental muscles to create an agenda that aspires to make Dallas the best it can possibly be," reports an editorial in The Dallas Morning News.
The editorial introduces the concept of a community-focused charrette, in this case called the "Dallas Festival of Ideas," and voices support for the ideas proposed during the festival. The event was the result of a partnership between the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture, The Dallas Morning News, and CrowdSource, The News' events division.
Some of the ideas mentioned by the editorial show a strong interest in planning and urban design:
- "We're at a turning point where lots of folks want to move to North Texas. Why not use this time to innovate and redesign?"
- "We have to get urbanism right — so that it's not a harbinger of gentrification."
- "We get excited by big projects. But what about getting grocery stores in southern Dallas? Everyone needs to eat."
The headline implores the participants in the event: "don't lose the momentum." According to the editorial, Social Venture Partners Dallas will take some of the ideas generated by the event and run with them.
FULL STORY: Editorial: Festival of Ideas, don’t lose the momentum
Smart Design = Smart Policy? Not So Fast
After a few decades watching—and sometimes helping—great ideas die of overexposure to reality, I'm convinced it's not enough to just listen to folks you're hoping to help. You have to make something happen. A well-conceived charrette helps.
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