How will the 2010 census define our country? Is it time to change the way we census the United States?

 From August 12-14, Mayor Frank G. Jackson will host a three-day summit, bringing together a diverse group of people vested in and dedicated to Cleveland to use their vast knowledge and imagination to create an action plan for building a green economy for Cleveland’s future. This summit will be facilitated by Dr. David Cooperrider of the Fowler Center for Sustainable Value (my teacher, advisor, mentor and friend) at Case Western Reserve University, my alma mater (x2).

The Cleveland Chapter of the Dickens Fellowship was founded by Kathy Broz, a librarian at the Cleveland Public Library.  She and her colleagues were instrumental in bringing the 2009 Annual  Conference to Cleveland, Ohio.

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I am very happy that friend and local artist Carol Anderson will help our neighborhood understand Mandalas and the art of PEACE.  The theme of this summer's reading club at the Cleveland Public Library is BE CREATIVE.  So much to learn about PEACE, Love and understanding...

I got a call last weekend that one of my best friends from high school, Rene Apel, died last Saturday in California where she had transplanted herself soon after high school.  I kept in regular touch with Rene, and when in California would visit with her.  She died from complications of breast cancer that she had treated for in 1993.  Her ultimate cause of death was acute leukemia, occurring after years of continuing chemo treatments that neither shrunk the tumors in her upper torso, nor allowed them to grow (probably brought on by aggressive radiation treatments in 1993.)

Just a photo to lighten the mood--wouldn't it be great, if NEO became the first city in the world to reduce energy costs by actually observing interfaith sabbath on Friday, Saturday and Sunday?  No cars, just bikes and pedestrians :)

I believe the actions of "Blackheart Cleveland" as an association and some "members" individually consititute some variation of Cyberterrorism, Cyberstalking, Cyberharassment, and/or Cyberbullying. It appears Blackheart Cleveland exists to disrupt the business of REAL COOP and attack REALNEO members personally, to cause personal and financial harm to members. I believe this is illegal.

Adam Harvey, Amy Weahry and Tim Russo, acting as Blackheart Cleveland, you have acted to cause me and my family harm. I believe you are acting with intent, and you claim to be acting as one.

I have met Tim Russo and do not know that I have ever done anything to harm him. I have not met you other two, so consider you strangers.

In your attack against me and my family, you make a series of inflammatory and inaccurate statements, that I challenge. I also challenge your social and ethical behavior, and I call you out personally to explain your actions, to my family.

I wish I could put this book in the hands of every American.  

So I went to see Food, Inc. at the Cedar Lee with a full house of foodies on Monday night. I recommend the film. It features Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser and Joel Salatin and other well known (to foodies) folks. I had received an email invite from Brad Masi and I went with my farm collegues. After the show there was a panel. Brad was on it and some guy (who's name I cannot recall from Whole Foods) and Warren Taylor of Snowville Creamery in Pomeroy, Ohio. Warren was awesome.

Yesterday, I happened to be off (I work Saturdays), so I got to take it easy and enjoy the sights and sounds of Cleveland.  Here are a few images from the Ingenuity Festival, to Tregoning Gallery (featuring the wonderful Matt Dibble), and, finally, to Sokolowski's University Inn.  A great day in the city.

Who knew Cleveland?  Suddenly, I don't feel so blue.

Nominate a Woman of Worth, someone making a REAL difference in your community.  Win $25,000 towards your cause :)  Hello Gloria--I am nominating you!

Come to a FREE series of workshops from July 2-8.  Join fellow veterans at the Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory for papermaking, creative writing and bookbinding workshops.

 Schedule of events:

July 2nd--Breaking down uniforms and making pulp
July 3rd--More pulpmaking

July 4th--Community Potluck Picnic Gallery opening

July 5th--Papermaking and Creative Writing
July 6th--Papermaking and Creative Writing
July 7th--Papermaking and Bookbinding

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As I've mentioned previously, many of my six years with REALNEO to date have been spent in pursuit of a core research question - that economic development and community development can become equated under a frame of quality of life and place enrichment.  This has been proposed previously and backed by many of my theoretical pieces.  Now, as I shift to operationalization of the theory, it becomes more important to request feedback and input from the variously communities

Photo credit: New York Times

Dust off your Jean Jacques Rousseau NEO--Google "social contract" Cleveland, and, then, "social contract," Atlanta.

The game here will all start to make sense--after you PLEASE READ:

Atlanta Is MakingWay for New Public Housing, New York Times

Another attempt to spin off REALNEO...only with strings in all the right places...

Norm--Chris reminds me that it took Einstein years of working in obscurity to finally get recognition for his ideas...I suppose you should take the attitude that imitation is the sincerest form of praise, but these spin-offs are just that...spinning...spinning..around and around...to nowhere.

SEE the transformational economy in NEO for REAL.  Enjoy yourself and make friends.

The potluck will be from 6:30pm-11pm.

Please bring your favorite dish to help us celebrate with our Mother Earth in the passing of spring and ushering in the summer season

For more information about the workshop or potluck feel free to e-mail us at

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 I have some great pictures from a great Parade the Circle and will post them as soon as possible... here's the end of the parade, which was a true work of art!

If you were there, what were your favorite highlights...?

One I loved for sure was this...

Parade's over... time to get to work....

 During these tough economic times, libraries provide vital information resources--on the flip side, we must evidence fiscal transparency and efficiency.

Tremont Communicator is now out for distribution.  I won't harp on CDCs and the mailing list issue.  Everyone deserves a chance to have their say.