Bring diverse communities together to build a brighter future.
When NIPSCO's Eddie Melton stepped to the podium at Strongbow's Inn, he had no small task.
He was asked along with others to answer this question: “How does a diverse region learn to work together to build a great region in a global economy?
He was among a number of regional speakers at a Dare to Dream initiative called a “Cross County Breakfast and Convening” attended by more than 200 leaders on Feb. 14. The initiative was sponsored by Ivy Tech Community College Northwest, and has long been championed by the Gerald I. Lamkin Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center.
Now each of these visionaries did an amazing job. The others: Tyonne L. Green, an 11th- grader from Wirt-Emerson, Gary; Nancy Adams, Porter County Commissioner; Gary Corbett, CEO, Fair Oaks Farms; and Harry J. Vande Velde III, president/ CEO, Legacy Foundation. Also inspirational was our keynote speaker, W. Joye Hardiman, emeritus faculty, Evergreen State College in the state of Washington.
But I was especially struck by Eddie's story of how his children were challenged to put together a puzzle over the holidays. In fact, when one of his kids expressed frustration, he said: “You have the answers right in front of you.”
So after encouraging his children to work together, they accomplished the task of assembling the puzzle. Long story short: “They did it together.”
Then the light bulb moment came when Eddie realized he had the answer to this question before our audience on that Valentine's Day. “It hit me like a ton of bricks. We have the answer right in front of us.” His answer: “We are all better together.”
By looking at the puzzle as a symbol of the diversity of communities, and at his children as coming up with different methods to address key issues, he understood that all of us are part of the solution. Together, we can achieve success in a global economy.
Thus Eddie, as did other speakers that day, touched on the paradigm shift that has been at the heart of the Dare to Dream initiative led by O'Merrial Butchee, director, Lamkin Innovation & Entrepreneur Center, and our team starting in 2009, with a grant from the Knight Foundation.
This initiative was aimed at inspiring greater cooperation among leaders across Northwest Indiana. Yet this is just one initiative among many striving for greatness for our region as noted by Forrest (Bill) Thon, executive director, Corporate College. He represented Dr. Thomas G. Coley, interim chancellor, Ivy Tech Northwest, at this event.
In the spirit of Dare to Dream, I offer my own creative ideas to help our greater community of Newton, Jasper, Lake, LaPorte, Porter, Pulaski and Starke counties. This is not surprising as I serve as managing director, The Society of Innovators of Northwest Indiana, which is part of the Innovation & Entrepreneur Center.
As I told the audience that day, “Dare to Dream is rooted in our robust American experience of invention and entrepreneurship.” Here in Northwest Indiana, because we were the last region to be settled in the state, we often have been first in innovative solutions over the generations. But we don't even realize it.
Simply, I would call for more openness to new and different ideas, innovation as a core value, and creativity development for our children across the region.
After all, creativity is at the heart of an innovative economy. Some say creativity is in decline in this country. So let's fix it.
Northwest Indiana is an amazing place. But like Eddie said, it's a puzzle. We need to be more creative in assembling the diverse pieces. Then we must Dare to Do!
John Davies is assistant director, Gerald I. Lamkin Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center and managing director, The Society of Innovators of Northwest Indiana, Ivy Tech Community College Northwest.
