Making the Grass Greener? Not really.
Submitted by carolyn on Fri, 03/16/2007 - 11:43.
As I was reading my beloved Washington Post online this week, I happened upon this article. (Richard Florida's site also links to it.) It's a fun read.
One of my greatest frustrations living here in Fresno is that local organizations who could be working to address more of the underlying issues keeping this region from reaching even some of its potential... don't. Instead, they host monthly social happy hours or "battles of the bartenders" (both of which I have attended - initially wanting to be more involved), and raise money to paint murals in blighted areas of town.
Forgive me if I don't jump to write a check.
Last week I spent six days in Washington, DC, which is a fabulously creative and vibrant city, full of young people, fresh ideas and innovative ways of thinking (and not a single mural, mind you). This thriving young culture is partially due to the fact that half of the working population in DC is 18-30 year olds who come from all over the country to work, go to school, pursue opportunities and experience big-city life. And the city embraces them with open arms.
In a city like that, you don't have to have structured or organized happy hours. The young professionals find each other and socialize together, forming rugby teams, hiking clubs, and travel groups. But I digress.
I guess I just wish that some of these groups here in Fresno would start trying to actually change the professional culture, rather than creating groups to help make it a little easier to stomach. Fresno is dying, and it's dying because within the institutions and power structures in place there is no platform for young voices and very little opportunity for young talent. I actually heard someone say that he believed you couldn't be truly experienced or demand respect until you're in your 40s(!). Excuse me if I disagree.
I think most of the old fogies who feel similarly to this misguided manager would be shocked to learn that most of the work of running the nation and much of the world is actually done by interns, many of whom haven't even graduated from college. Not to mention those senior-level staffers who (in their late 20s/early 30s) are making policy recommendations to presidents, senators, congressmen, cabinet secretaries, and UN ambassadors. Oh, and let's not forget such institutions as the World Bank, the Fed, and the Supreme Court. But, again, I digress.
Personally, I am an advocate for a merit-based and results-oriented workplace. That philosophy says: "It doesn't matter who it comes from or how it gets done; if it's a good idea, let's do it!" Work environments that embrace creativity and innovation are more productive and produce significantly better results. They also tend to employ more young people. (A great website to check out is www.nextgenerationworkplace.com.)
We are at a point in this Valley where we have to move beyond the Old Boys' Network as the only source of ideas. We face so many unique and interrelated challenges that it is absurd to allow the status quo to remain intact.
Why do young, talented people leave Fresno? Because they are given opportunities to succeed in other places. The only way to change that is to give them real opportunities to succeed here. There should be a real, concerted effort to bring the "leaders" of our city — business, government, nonprofits, and education — to a table with talented young professionals and address these very issues. Challenge them to explain why they don't hire, promote or invest in young talent… and challenge them to change.
Until these fundamental problems are addressed, we can paint all the murals we want; we'll just be putting a new façade on a termite-infested building.
Clever
Rob DeFrees
Know you take this as 'urban legend' but is very true. MOI lived in Honolulu for 5 years. Guess what is favorite dish? SPAM!!
They fry it up, mix with rice and love to have for cook-up any time of the day or night. Tell you true, they are wild for the stuff.
The one plus side of Fresno
There's one nice thing about Fresno. I'll never starve because of the endless supply of SPAM!
see the puppet masters at work
PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE
Fulton Mall Water Feature
February 13, 2007
Location: Fresno City Hall Council Chambers
2600 Fresno Street, Fresno, CA 93721
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Special Guest: Danno Glanz, Principal, Calthorpe
City of Fresno: Jon Ruiz, Assistant City Manager
Kelly Riddle, Economic Development Coordinator
Jeff Eben, Deputy Mayor
The City of Fresno is exploring the possibility of a dramatic new water feature for the downtown, a ‘linear fountain’ that would help to revitalize the Fulton Mall, connect the City’s important new redevelopment projects, and generally reinvigorate the heart of the community. The planning and design of this downtown water feature will be an exciting challenge and opportunity. The ‘linear fountain’ will need to satisfy a number of important criteria: it will need to be interactive and fun; attractive to kids and families; accommodating of existing conditions on the Fulton Mall; cost effective; and environmentally friendly. It should celebrate the role of water in Fresno’s history and deepen the community’s appreciation of Fresno’s unique culture and setting. But, most of all, a new downtown water feature should bring people back to the center to rediscover the heart of the City! Interested? Come hear about the project and give us your ideas, thoughts, concerns.
Fresno dying...
Actually, while there may not be "good ole boy frat relationships" there are certainly "good old boy" payoff relationships.
We know the city council is corrupt. Proving it is another matter entirely.
This would be
ed's chance to earn his steakhouse dinner a day...just sayin...
Diablo
Fresno does not have the Ivy League contingency either. No good ole boy frat relationships. I'm sure there is but not like in other places.
I would not knock a place I did't know in California
I apologise first cause I didn't read the article, I read that Fresno was dieing, and I disagree with that.
If I didn't know the other place in California I was talking about, I still would not be inclined to say the place sucked. Either way, no city is perfect.
I lived in another big city too, but I don't now.
But I digress, I don't know enough about politics to pretend to know how to fix the "problem" with Fresno. I don't even think polititians know enough for any place anywhere anyhow. From my point of view there is always room to improve anything, there is something wrong with every city let's not kid ourselves.
My point would be that you don't need to knock the efforts of others in order to make a point. Doing something about it makes a better point. At least some people are trying.
I think small diffusions of culture is cool, not only that but the entire city is very diverse to begin with. Where else can you learn to say hi in 5 different languages?
Diablo
Diablo misses the point...
You can replace DC with any other big city.
Having lived in both Fresno and various parts of San Diego, there is so much that Fresno is missing as a high population city. Many Fresnans make the mistake of not thinking outside-the-box when it comes to the BIG city picture. There's no way I would have a grasp of what makes a city an enjoyable experience for many without having moved out of Fresno.
It is clear that what Fresno has now is not working in building its own identity and being a 'center' of culture, rather than have small diffusions of culture spots here and there. If that weren't the case, it would not have the problems it does now. Everyone I tell that I'm going back to Fresno, always says WHY?, following up with things like "That place is a dump", "There's nothing to do there", "That place is dangerous". Would you say the same of the other major cities in CA?
I wouldn't mind it at all
if Fresno never became anything like Washington DC.
Fresno, is Fresno. Simple. We can build it the way we want it. If that means it's nothing like any other place in the nation, I'm fine with that. The worst thing anyone can do is compare themselves to others. The best thing any individual can do is be proud for who they are and what they have to offer. There is no pride in feeling like you fall short simply because you are not like someone else.
Fresno does not have the Ivy League contingency either. No good ole boy frat reltionships, no haga-naga haga-naga sis boom ba round these parts. I'm sure there is but not like in other places.
What is in Fresno is a lot of people who do not drive an hour, to travel 10 miles to work. What there is a lot of in Fresno are strong backs and hard workers, all the way down to where it counts in the fields. There is not as much discretionary funding for most of Fresno the way there is in big Megatropolis type cities either.
Be real first with Fresnans, then you can build on that. There are a lot of Fresno State Alumni, at least we have that. Fresno loves Fresno State. We all have pride for our college.
You want to do something, start with being proud of Fresno in the first place. Then people will get behind you, and help you.
There are rugby teams in Fresno, in fact Fresno has a Rugby team. I practiced with them a few times. They were good enough that all I did was hold them back. I just wanted exercise, they wanted to compete. Wait a second, isn't Rugby one of those Ivy League things too.?.
It is easier to destroy a thing, than create a thing. Stand behind what you have in front of you, and build it stronger, not knock it for what it isn't.
I can see that a lot of what you say is wanting Fresno to be another clone "big city". Fresno is not just another city, we're the center of California. We are more than that. Stand up for what we are first.
Hustle and bustle doesn't quite work here. Nothing, but I mean nothing, will make a grape or fruit or crop ripen faster but mother nature. That is what a lot of Fresno understands, not scratch and claw your way through some kind of political or big business hierarchy.
If anything Fresno is in transition from being an agriculture based city to some kind of "other" that most big cities are already.
I think what you're saying has merit, but if you want some kind of support it'll be tough to get it by pointing a finger. Start something.
Diablo
Agreed
Your points are well taken. But I would argue as Chair of Creative Fresno that changing the "professional" as well as governmental culture is what the group was formed to do. I think you recognize that changing perceptions in this town is a monumental task, and I hope that you will forgive us if we haven't changed 150 years of the status quo in the two years CF has been around.
You state that in DC
They also find each other and form affinity groups that often host happy hours. I was one of those interns that the city attracts, and I went to my fair share of happy hours. Unfortunately for Fresno, we don't have Congress, the Supreme Court, or a bevy of think tanks to attract intelligent, motivated younger professionals to the area.
Fresno is also not lucky enough to be home to the Smithsonian and the Hirshhorn. Supporting public art is one way to improve the quality of life here, which we hope will attract more knowledge workers to the area. But Creative Fresno does other things as well: we host the community listserv MindHub, host educational MindForums on issues that affect our community (the next one to be held this Thursday, March 22nd, will focus on Green Living), and we are working on the one-year progress report of the CEC's recommendations, which you reference in the title of this post. Without support in numbers, it is difficult to serve as government watchdog. To say that we only host social hours is untrue.
I personally have not experienced the age discrimination you cite in your post, but perhaps I have been fortunate enough to work with forward-thinking people (and for myself).
As with any nonprofit group, if you don't like what we are doing, or think you have some good ideas on how we might improve, I encourage you to get more involved. Run for a seat on the board; join a committee. We'd love to have you.
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