CCG recently finished up a Creative Community Leadership Project in Noosa, Australia. The program was a true success with the original group of catalysts championing several successful initiatives. 

As the program moves forward into the second year, it will operate under a broader umbrella – the Sunshine Coast Regional Alliance. The program’s goal will be to build off of Noosa’s success and extend the Creative Community project to the entire Sunshine Coast.

Read more about the coverage here:

Noosa Journal – Now it’s over to you…

Noosa News – Change of name is a Sunshine Coast merger

Sunshine Coast Daily – Handover stretches benefits of alliance

The City of Roanoke announced today that 30 local individuals have been selected to participate in a year-long Creative Communities Leadership Project, which will kick-off with a two-day workshop session with the Creative Class Group on March 30-31. The selection committee, made up of regional business and community leaders, received more than 90 applications for the 30 Creative Connector positions. Additionally, more than 20 inquiries were received after the application deadline. Selected participants represent the diversity and talent of the Roanoke region. The following individuals will serve as Roanoke’s Creative Connectors:

• Kelvin Bratton
• Bruce Bryan
• Matt Bullington
• Mark Cathey
• Krisha Chachra
• Joe Cobb
• Michael Dame
• Pete Eshelman
• Jay Foster
• Robyn Goodpasture
• Nicole Hall
• Leigh Anne Hindenlang
• Marie Hodge
• Jeremy Holmes
• Jonathan Hunter
• Gene Marrano
• Nancy Maurelli
• Bridget Meagher
• Tyler Nguyen
• Cyrus Pace
• Elizabeth Parsons
• Sharon Rapoport
• Jane Rorrer
• Pugal Selvaraj
• Rick Sheridan
• Kevin Sullivan
• Katie Wallace
• William West
• Betsy Whitney
• Gordie Ziegler

Launched by the Creative Class Group, a world renowned advisory services firm associated with leading academic Richard Florida, the Creative Communities Leadership Program is designed to use local volunteers to work with the community to build a more authentic and prosperous region through the creation of sustainable projects. Furthermore, the Creative Connectors will encourage the entire community to support these projects, which will be aimed at fostering a creative base for Roanoke.

Roanoke City Manager Darlene Burcham said the community’s reaction to the call to serve as Creative Connectors was exciting. “It was fantastic to receive the kind of response and interest we had,” says Burcham. “I am looking forward to working with the Creative Connectors and the community to build a more authentic and prosperous Roanoke region. Our Creative Connectors are a diverse team-by background, industry, age, race, orientation and experience; each team member shares an enthusiasm for the Roanoke community.”

Those not selected as one of the 30 Creative Connectors and the general public are encouraged to attend a presentation on March 31 at 4 p.m. at 22 Kirk Avenue to learn more about the selected initiatives and how they can become involved in the community engagement project.

For more information about the Roanoke Creative Community Leadership Project, visit: www.roanokeva.gov/creative