The Grand City Experiment
It’s too easy to hide your face in a phone while waiting in line for coffee. But what if you used the opportunity to strike up a conversation with – or buy a coffee for – the person next to you in line? How would that change your day, their day – or even possibly – change the way you feel about the city as a whole?
That’s what Andrew Salzbrun, a member of the 2014 C-Change class, is wondering. Salzbrun says the C-Change Class 9 recently developed The Grand City Experiment, a movement to make Cincinnati more welcoming.
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“Grab coffee with the new guy on the street. Heck, add a shot of espresso. Now what if 100 people in our city did that today? Think of the ripple effect we could create together if thousands of us did one simple challenge each day for an entire month,” explains Salzbrun. “Everyone in our city could feel at home.”
C-Change is a year-long leadership development program that was established through the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce. “Each year, C-Change leads meaningful community projects that impact the Cincinnati region,” says Salzbrun. “For 2014, our task is to make Cincinnati more welcoming.”
Throughout the month of October, there will be daily challenges among The Grand City Experiment followers to help make the city feel more like a community. To start gaining followers, Salzbrun and his C-Change group developed a Facebook fanpage and website where those interested can sign up for email notifications.
According to Salzbrun, the goals of The Grand City Experiment are to build stronger communities, encourage diversity, attract and retain talented employees, make good neighbors and challenge the existing community and culture in an effort to improve it. “We also want to make Greater Cincinnati a more inclusive and welcoming place to live – for everyone,” Salzbrun adds.
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Andrew Salzbrun, one of the organizers of |
The Grand City Experiment will help to show both native and non-native Greater Cincinnatians that the region offers an inclusive, welcoming place to live, work and play. “Greater Cincinnati isn’t just of natives or young professionals or urban dwellers,” says Salzbrun. “Every person here can make an impact, regardless of status, age, job or neighborhood. It’s a home for everyone, created by everyone.”
To sign up to learn more about The Grand City Experiment, click here.
You can also head over to Facebook or join in on the fun on Twitter by following @tgcexperiment and using #thegrandcity. To submit your daily challenge ideas for making Greater Cincinnati more welcoming, send an email to thegrandcityexperiment@gmail.com.
“We may even use your submission as one of our daily challenges in October,” adds Salzbrun.
