Community

Register for the 2010 updayton Young Creatives Summit now.

If you’re reading this right now, you know (at least a little) about DaytonMostMetro.com.   And if you drive down Wayne Ave by the railroad overpass, chances are you’ve seen some cool street art popping up.  What you may not know is that these ideas came from participants at the 2009 Young Creatives Summit.  The 2010 Summit breakouts will challenge you to devise ideas and put them into action.  Do you have the next big idea?

You’ve heard that at the Summit you can put your ideas into action…  Are you wondering what we mean by that?!?  What is the Summit?  How does it work?  What does it mean to you?   I talked to Adam Coatney, co-chair of the Wayne Avenue Corridor Committee, and asked him about his experience with Summit breakouts.  With a nod to Lisa Grigsby’s 10?s , here’s Adam Coatney.

Q: Where did the idea for the Wayne Avenue Corridor come from?
Many times after going out to dinner in the Oregon District, we would walk to the Cannery to go to Therapy or the Wine Bar and I realized that the two areas are so close, but were separated by a poorly lit, uninviting stretch of Wayne Ave.  With the arrival of Garden Station, it seemed a natural extension to create an appealing place for people to walk and relax between 5th and 3rd.

Q: People have the opportunity to join the action teams before they leave the Summit.  Was it hard to get other people on board with your project idea?
Fortunately, this was a popular idea and we have had many people on board for the first projects and, as new projects arise, more people come along, each with unique insight and resources to help!

Q: At the 2009 Summit, this idea received enough votes to be designated as part of the updayton action plan.  What happened after the Summit to turn it from an idea into action?
We had a meeting with the group and realized early on that we had to have some immediate, hands-on projects.  We planned clean up days to go through the summer and fall and started within a few months to write a grant proposal for the Dayton mini-grant program.

Q: This project spans two blocks on one street – did you ever think about going for something with a bigger impact?
We started with this area because it is between 2 popular entertainment and arts areas and it was more practical with our volunteer base to stay focused.  However, many groups around Dayton have contacted us about ways to beautify their area, get contacts for the muralists that submitted to our contest for further projects, etc.  We are still focused on our area, but are always looking to help where we can in other parts of Dayton.

Q: Were you able to find partners who were interested in being a part of this idea?
Garden Station and the Circus have, far and away, been the most involved in cooperating with us, thanks in large part to our co-chair, Lisa Helm, who is very involved with the Garden.  The Garden has been in invaluable resource for donated items, volunteer hours and the like.  The Downtown Dayton Partnership’s Kristen Wicker was an integral part of the grant writing success for the mural project, as well.  We have been very fortunate to have dedicated people from various groups step in to help.

Q: It’s been almost a year since the Wayne Avenue Corridor Committee got its start at the Summit – what have been some of your successes?
We have had the most success with winning a grant for 10 murals to be painted under the train overpass near Garden Station.  We held a contest and got a tremendous response from area artists.  We chose 10 artists who each got an area on the East or West wall.  We used the grant money to get supplies and award the winning artists.

We also set up regular clean up days on a monthly basis and are starting up this year with a bang on May 17th.

Q: Do you have future plans for the Wayne Avenue Corridor?
Lighting, lighting lighting!  Our big plan is to work with DP&L and the city to get some bright lights under the overpass to show off the new murals and create an inviting walkthrough.  We have an urban garden in the works, and we’ll be approaching local businesses about projects to beautify the chainlink fencing in the area.

Q: Will you be there again on April 16?
Undoubtedly!  We will have a booth at the Resource Fair to show off last year’s work and our plans for this year.  We will have a sign up sheet for volunteers to rally more man- and woman-power to help out!

Q: Any last thoughts or recommendations for people wondering if they can make a difference?
Any little bit helps!  We have folks coming in and out of our group as their lives allow it, and they have been invaluable.  Sometimes you are too busy to help, that’s fine!  But get on a mailing list, read the emails and if you have the time or a group is asking for something you are really good at…help out!  It doesn’t mean that you have to become volunteer of the year and give up everything else.

Well – there you have it.  The excitement, accessibility, and fun of a project developed from the 2009 Young Creatives Summit.  This shows how a simple idea and a few people can make a big impact on the region.  Join us on at the 2010 Young Creatives Summit on Friday, April 16 and bring your big ideas to make the Dayton region a better place to live, work and play.  More info here.

Here at updayton we made a name for ourselves last year with the inaugural Young Creatives Summit. This year, we are streamlining and updating the Summit in a lot of ways – including professional development.

Sure – you can call it professional development for the great networking opportunities. And we all know that volunteer and community involvement is a great way to further your career (people you meet, learning new skills, leading initiatives), but we’re not stopping there either. When we say professional development – we’re talking serious skill building.

Maybe you’re a brilliant designer or a razor-sharp lawyer or a ground-breaking engineer. But have you ever tried to coordinate and inspire volunteers (it’s like herding cats)? Or maybe you can project manage the hell out of something, but how about utilizing the best forms of communication to get your message out to your stakeholders, sponsors, team members, or media partners? Or as much as you believe in the mission of your volunteer organization – do you know the best way to approach someone and ask them to hand over their hard-earned cash for your cause? We each have great skills, but when it comes to making a difference in the community, it’s nice to be a Jack (or Jill)-of-all-trades. That’s where updayton is upping the stakes for this year’s Summit.

Like last year, the 2010 Young Creatives Summit offers idea-generating breakout sessions (streamlined voting process – yes, we listened) and a unique Resource Fair opportunity over lunch. But NEW this year are the Skills Workshops; these are “crash courses” to cover valuable topics to help you make a difference in your community. Expert panelists from across the community offer hints, tips, and insights on Entrepreneurship, Fundraising, Leading in the Community, Communication, Event Planning, and Demystifying Local Government.

We all know that making a difference in the world is about what you know and who you know. So, this is a great opportunity to enhance both. Panelists include community leaders as well as CEOs, VPs, Executive Directors, government leaders and serious movers-and-shakers in business and the community – they’re sharing practical knowledge and helping you make connections with the people you need to know.

So – take a half day on Friday, April 16 to make your mark on the community and further your career. Wondering how to convince your boss that it’s a good use of company time? Tell him or her that you’ll be giving a Friday afternoon to build your skills, network with other young leaders, and create a region where you’ll want to stick around. (And if you ARE the big boss – consider the Summit as a great employee retention opportunity!)

Registration is open NOW and more information is available at http://updayton.com.

The annual signature event of Rebuilding Together,  brings volunteers and communities together to rehabilitate the homes of low-income homeowners. Through in-kind labor and donated materials, Rebuilding Together Dayton is able to expand every dollar raised into $4.

Rebuilding Together Dayton provides home rehabilitation for low-income Dayton homeowners, particularly the elderly and disabled, so they may live in warmth, safety and independence.  Since it’s creation in 1996, they have repaired over 900 homes in neighborhoods across the city .

Rebuilding Day applicants must own their own homes in the City of Dayton and have a combined household income of less than 80% of the area median income. Preference is given to homeowners who are elderly and/or disabled and have lived in their homes for a minimum of 10 years. The 2008 recipients’ average income was 34% of median (around $14,000 annually) and average time in their home was 30 years.  Nominations are often made by neighborhood groups, churches, neighborhood development corporations, city housing inspectors, priority boards as well as individuals.

TOP 10 reasons to volunteer for  REBUILDING TOGETHER DAYTON

	10.	Take Action and Make an Impact – It beats being a couch potato. Get out of the house and be a part of what is happening in your city. Get in tune with your own skills and talents without someone telling you what they are. You have a voice and it needs to be heard. No one listens to the guy on the sidelines.
	9.	Food – Who says there’s no free lunch? Not us! We serve free lunches to everyone who volunteers. And if you’re lucky, your volunteer coordinator just might bring donuts for breakfast.
	8.	Leadership – Gain leadership skills and be the boss of your own community service project. Build a sense of responsibility.
	7.	Experience – Community service looks great on applications and resumes. Get “real world” experience right in your own backyard.
	6.	Guilt – Hey, is there anything wrong with a little soul cleansing? Besides, if you don’t do it, who will?
	5.	IT’S FUN!! Need we say more? Didn’t think so!
	4.	Friends – Meet new and interesting people. Who knows who you might meet?
	3.	Adventure – Go to new places. Learn a new skill. Get a little dirty!
	2.	New Wardrobe – Well, okay, it’s just a free T-shirt – but it’s COOL!
	1.	And the No. 1 Reason — IT’S FREE!! – Volunteer on Rebuilding Day and you can have a great time at no cost to you! Ready to volunteer? Click here or  call Amy at 229-4893.