'It Takes Vision to See Vision!'
By Anne Li on 05/14/2009 @ 05:32 PM
As the innovation@cfed community continues to grow, we are pleased to receive feedback on our programs and online presence. Charlene Poe, founder and executive director of Totally Gas Community Outreach Program in New Castle, Delaware, recently wrote to tell us how the Innovative Idea submission process inspired her:
To the innovation@cfed Team:
I wanted to thank you for your consideration of my application and the opportunity to be included in such a wonderful and exciting program. I first learned about CFED through my association with the La Salle University Nonprofit Center in Philadelphia. I visited the Web site and learned about CFED's mission, vision and work. I was excited to see that there was an organization out there doing what you do. It takes vision to see vision!
The programs created and supported by CFED and its collaborators and the progress being achieved is an inspiration to me. I am greatly motivated and inspired by your vision to serve, to change, to influence and to be part of a generation of visionaries ushering in a new era of prosperity for those in our country who have not experienced even a low level of prosperity.
I am inspired and greatly influenced by your passion. Thank you so much for such a platform. This is an opportunity for great ideas to be pulled out of obscurity.
Charlene Poe
Thank you to Charlene and all who have engaged with us. How did the Innovators-in-Residence and Innovative Ideas application and submission processes inspire you? What are other ways in which you are engaging with innovation right now?
Where Ideas Are Coming From
By Anne Li on 04/29/2009 @ 05:42 PM
It's very interesting to note that our Innovators-in-Residence applications and Innovative Ideas submissions have come from all parts of the country, with the South as the most active source region in both categories. As a result of innovation@cfed's international outreach, we were excited to receive some Innovative Idea submissions from abroad.
We are working with a small number of applicants on the next stage of the Innovator-in-Residence process and are continuing to evaluate the pool of Innovative Ideas. We recently met with our distinguished Strategic Advisors, who were impressed by the scope and breadth of the Innovator-in-Residence and Innovative Idea applicant pools.
We look forward to meeting with many of you at the 2009 Innovation Summit!
In the meantime, please share your thoughts and ideas in this space. Is your region represented well in our applicant pool? How will you encourage innovation and engagment in your region?
Thank You for an Overwhelming Response!
By Anne Li on 04/09/2009 @ 05:48 PM
Thanks to many of you, our Innovators-in-Residence and Innovative Ideas programs received an overwhelmingly positive response. We received more than 200 applications, submissions and nominations. Our team truly appreciates the high level of participation and interest in these exciting programs.
We are reviewing all applications and are thrilled to see innovations of great diversity, both in the problems and opportunities addressed and their creative approaches. Many of these innovations will be featured on our Web site, this blog and at our 2009 Innovation Summit, October 29 in Washington, DC. Mark your calendars now and plan to be there!
During the coming weeks, we will share with the innovation@cfed community more information about the innovative people who responded to our online opportunities and their creative solutions. Sign up now to become part of the community, if you haven't already!
We'd love to hear your thoughts on the application and nomination processes. Please leave a comment below or contact us at innovation@cfed.org.
We are excited to work with so many enthusiastic innovators. One community member wrote in to say thank you to our innovation@cfed team "for opening a door of opportunity giving birth to the dreams and visions of many Americans!" We thank you for sharing those dreams and visions.
Community Development Innovations April 22-24 in St. Louis
By Anne Li on 03/30/2009 @ 05:50 PM
Even as many Americans continue to feel discouraged and powerless amid the current economic downturn, innovators among community development leaders are growing increasingly energized and inspired to help bring about real and lasting positive change.
CFED is working with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis to plan and host Innovation in Changing Times, a conference on community development. The event, held in St. Louis April 22-24, brings together leaders from across to country to discuss and illustrate how innovation can positively impact communities. The conference aims to offer a comprehensive view of community development with a focus on resiliency, sustainability and innovations that will help organizations and communities thrive during challenging times.
CFED's Michael Torrens and Kim Pate will present at the conference, and Michael also serves on the event's planning committee. They will share their reflections on the conference, so check back with innovation@cfed and its blog for their observations.
You can visit www.exploringinnovation.org to learn more about the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis's conference and to register. We also encourage you to reflect on the conference's charge: to think beyond how communities can survive tough times and imagine how they can grow and shape the future.
We'd love to hear your thoughts here.
Cyndi says: "I'll Be Watching"
By Anne Li on 01/19/2009 @ 04:53 PM
innovation@cfed
We'd like your reactions to an unsolicited e-mail we recently received from a budding entrepreneur. And let us know if you are an entrepreneur, too!
HELLO innovation@cfed,
I just want to thank your organization for sending me the "light bulb"postcard in the mail.
My curiosity about the website piqued my interest, so I decided to check it out and certainly found it encouraging that you are doing this.
I, myself am in the beginning stages of trying to launch a business that would make a difference not only in my own community, but far beyond that. While I would not be interested in applying at this time, I am very interested in staying involved by watching how everything takes place, from selection of the Innovators-in-Residence to a discussion forum on different ideas.
Your organization hits the "nail on the head" of the economy, exactly where we need it most. We need great ideas to stimulate this economy and encourage entrepreneurs to start new businesses. While I am working on ironing out the details in launching my own business, my main goal at the moment is to find full time work to help support our family while I get things going on the side. (I've been looking for over a year so that gives you an idea of exactly how tough the economy is out there.) That is why I really applaud your efforts. My goal is to eventually have a small company that can sustain itself, show a good profit, but most of all, make a difference. I want to know in some way that I was able to help this tough economy as well.
As an American, I appreciate your innovation in coming up with this idea in the first place, and am really excited that you're doing this.
God bless, best wishes to you, and I hope that you have many successes!
I'll be watching.
(Signed) Cyndi G.
Cornelius, Oregon
PS. Whoever came up with the light bulb postcard was a marketing genius. Good job! :)
Thanks for writing, Cyndi. Please continue to share your observations with innovation@cfed as you launch your business in our "new economy."
Currently reading page 8 of 8.
1200 G Street, NW
Comments
Leave a Comment