Provocate.org

If Indianapolis is to prosper in the 21st century, it seems we will have to submit to global forces.  We will be more dependent on international trade, immigrants, and new ideas from abroad.  Many Hoosiers are threatened by our increased vulnerability to foreign cultures, people, and economic competition.  John Clark of Provocate wonders whether Indianapolis can be a global city while still preserving local jobs and traditional values?

When: Wednesday November 7, 11:00-11:50 AM; then lunch; then a chance for less formal discussion with John
Where: Where: North United Methodist Church, 3808 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis

The Mid-North Shepherd Center serves older adults, but opens its events to everyone. You should stay for lunch, which is at noon. Bring a few bucks for lunch, but the talk is free.

The Great Decisions Domestic Series is presented by the Mid-North Shepherd Center. This fall, it focuses on how Indianapolis will confront the challenges associated with its revitalization and get comfortable in its new skin balancing traditional values with world class stature. The series features seven speakers with widely different expertise– seven unique opportunities to have a conversation with the people shaping the future of Central Indiana. Questions? Contact 317-924-0959 or mnscenter@aol.com or Dotti Gerner.

John Clark started www.provocate.org as a way to help mobilize the good ideas and good will, the skills and resources of Central Indiana behind solving serious problems at home and around the world. For many years he was a researcher at the Hudson Institute, then helped form the Sagamore Institute when Hudson closed its Indianapolis headquarters. These days he chairs the committee to establish sister city relations between Indianapolis and Eldoret, Kenya; and is helping efforts to establish a Kurt Vonnegut Center in Indianapolis. He was a winner of a NUVO Cultural Vision Award in 2007.

Clark will use the concept of “glocalization” to explore the challenges Indianapolis faces. The erosion of powers of national governments commonly called “globalization” doesn’t just shift power to international markets and global institutions. It thrusts responsibilities and vulnerabilities upon local governments … which are not prepared. This means the problems we face are global and local, and they can’t be solved unless both aspects are addressed. Fortunately, glocalization opens the possibilities for new and creative partnerships with groups and communities around the world.

Know before you go … For an idea of what Clark means by glocal, check this out. For specific policy applications for local approaches to immigration, check out his “Ten Principles.”

If this sounds interesting, check out … two important events that bookend the fall event season, and that are meant to provoke new thinking about glocalization in Indianapolis: the people’s foreign policy summit September 22, and the mapping exercise connecting Indiana to the world November 17.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, September 2nd, 2007 at 9:23 pm and is filed under Events, Democracy, Foreign policy, Interfaith, Crossing borders, Law & justice, Hoosier history, Business, Way we live, GLOCAL-ization, Poverty, Citizen Diplomacy, Taking action, Provocate Event. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.