Library to host Dream On Thursday

Submitted by Casscounty1 on

Forum invites public comment on what would make Atlanta area better

 

By Robin Aaron
 
A unique event will take place this week at the Atlanta Public Library. The event called Dream On will be hosted to hopefully bring people together for a thoughtful conversation about the Atlanta Area and what would make it a better place to live. 
Anyone is welcome, not just Atlanta residents, and organizers hope to provide an open and honest environment for people to express their thoughts and concerns. 
Library Director Jackie Icenhower and two of her advisory board members, Laura Comer and Fern Porter will conduct the forum and have received training in doing so by the Harwood Institute. 
According to the institute’s mission statement, The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation is a nonpartisan, independent nonprofit that teaches, coaches and inspires people and organizations to solve pressing problems and change how communities work together. The Institute has worked across the U.S. and increasingly around the world and has partnered with some of the world’s largest nonprofits, including United Way Worldwide, AARP, the American Library Association, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and others.
Icenhower, Comer and Porter all attended training by the institute in May and hope to put their skills to work July 30 at 5:30 by hearing from local residents about their honest concerns and ideas to make their home a better place to live. 
“The library is not actually sponsoring this,” Icenhower said. “We are really just using the library as a safe place to talk and voice concerns and ideas. There is no hidden agenda other than making Atlanta a better place. Some people are intimidated to attend a council meeting. This is a great way for people to have a conversation about what you really want in your community. We are all in this together.” 
The three public innovators plan to hear the input brought forward at the meeting Thursday and bring the input before local leadership, be it county, city or local organizations. The training was made possible by a grant from the Texas State Library Association via the American Library Association. The Gates foundation is a big supporter of the training and of libraries as well. 
There is no fee for the event and attendees will have no further obligation in taking part. More forums may be held in the future, however no definite plans are set at this time. 
Those interested should be at the Jesse Miles Brooks Conference Room at the library to brainstorm at 5:30 on Thursday July 30. 
 
 
[Photo courtesy of Atlanta Public Library]
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