The Richard Florida-inspired Roanoke Creative Community Leadership Project was held on March 30 and 31 at 22 Kirk Ave in downtown Roanoke. Thirty Creative Connectors work tirelessly over two days creating initiatives around the 4 Ts of economic development – talent, tolerance, territory assets and technology. The Sunday Roanoke Times article written by Duncan Adams offered this account.  

• CNR 2030: Growing a Carbon-Neutral Region – The plan is to partner with others in the region to engage, educate and employ the community toward the achievement of sustainable living. The initiative will position the region as a proving ground for sustainable technologies.  As progression toward the goal occurs, the region will attract new businesses, generate new jobs and become a model community for sustainable living. The ultimate goal is for the region to be carbon neutral by 2030. For more information and to participate, contact Mike Dame mdame68@yahoo.com.
  
• 81 Reasons to Connect – The purpose of this initiative is to connect the Roanokeand Blacksburg MSAs through three key areas – economic development, attraction and retention of creative professionals, and leveraging its natural resources. This effort will be seeking feedback from at least 40 identified regional organizations and the general public. The group is also planning a regional economic summit in 2009. For more information and to participate, contact Krisha Chachra kchachra@aol.com.
  
• The Spirit of Tolerance and Art in the Region – STARis a movement towards inclusion. This is an umbrella initiative building upon existing events and organizations, as well as, creating new initiatives such as BridgeWalk, the Open Doors Series, and the STAR event. The STAR movement will create a website and an online calendar. The aim is to have at least one event per month, ongoing with a kick-off event as LOCAL COLORS in May. For more information and to participate, contact Sharon Rapoport at sharon@thefarm.com.
   
• YEA! Youth Experiencing the Amenities – The mission of YEA! is to grow Roanoke’s Creative Class, by encouraging youth to work, play, live and stay in the region. Many of the region’s youth lack significant opportunity to experience the region’s amenities and economic opportunities. Plus, a new, expanding audience for cultural and recreational amenities is needed. To this end, volunteerism will be promoted by working with local arts and entertainment amenities to offer incentives by donating excess capacity at their events and venues. For more information and to participate, contact Gordie Zeigler at gz.1868@gmail.com.

Now we need your help. Please contact each of these group leaders and get involved. They will be meeting weekly over the next year to carry out these initiatives. Your assistance is appreciated.