GOOD Ideas for Cities hosted an event in Portland, Oregon earlier this year, assigning each of six creative teams to one of six challenges facing the city. One of those challenges came from Portland Mayor Sam Adams, who asked how the city's public schools could be better supported by the local community. A team from Wieden + Kennedy tackled that challenge, presenting several ideas for how to get the 85 percent of Portland's population without school-age children more involved in public education. 

Now they're looking for creative Portlanders to help put the ideas into practice. On Saturday, June 2, join the Wieden + Kennedy team members, plus representatives from local schools, at a Hack for Portland Schools, where groups of developers and designers will create tools to allow Portland residents to easily donate time and resources to nearby schools and other educational organizations. 

Hack for Portland Schools
Saturday, June 2
10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Portland Incubator Experiment (PIE)
1227 NW Davis Street
Portland, OR 97209

More details are available at the event website. No need to RSVP, just show up to participate.

Check out the videos from our other events and stay tuned for details about future GOOD Ideas for Cities announcements. If you'd like to talk about bringing the program to your city or school, email alissa[at]goodinc[dot]com or follow us at @IdeasforCities

For our fifth event of 2012, GOOD Ideas for Cities is headed to Dallas.

GOOD Ideas for Cities taps creative problem-solvers to tackle real urban challenges proposed by civic leaders and present the solutions at live events across the country. Thanks to our partnership with CEOs for Cities and a generous grant from ArtPlace, we're taking the program to six cities in 2012. If you're in Dallas, join us on June 6 to see three visions for the city's future.

Last month, we issued a call for Dallas creatives and formed three teams to represent the city. Each team was issued a challenge proposed by local urban leaders and began working together on a solution. At the event, the creative teams will present their solutions, and the urban leaders will join them onstage for a brief Q&A. Afterward, we'll have drinks and more conversation as we discuss how to make these ideas a reality.

Wednesday, June 6
Doors and refreshments at 6:00 p.m.
Program begins at 7:00 p.m.

The Lakewood Theater
1825 Abrams Parkway
Dallas, TX 75214

RSVP here.

Hosted by AIGA DFW and DFW Design for Good

Supported by ArtPlace

The Challenges

1. The neighborhood around Edgefield and Ferndale in Oak Cliff is a medium-sized, auto-based commercial district surrounded by singl- family neighborhoods. The neighborhoods appear to be stable and well maintained, but the commercial center includes many small, vacant spaces. How do improve use of this under-used commercial space?

Daniel Oney, Office of Economic Development, City of Dallas

Elmwood Neighborhood Revitalization: Mark Lea,Whitney Holden, Krystyna Morgan, Justin Tiros

2. The City of Dallas has more than 110 miles of hiking and biking trails. But due to lack of branding, non-existent wayfinding system and a comprehensive electronic field guide, many citizens don't know that this incredible resource exists. How do we connect the dots so local residents, business owners and developers not only know about, but make better use of our hike and bike trails?

Samuel Stites, Dallas Parks Foundation; Joan Walne, Dallas Park Board; Michael Hellman, Park Planning & Acquisitions; David Whitney, Dallas City Design Studio

Connect the Dots / Bike Hike Trails: Brian Murphy, Robbie Good, Cyndi Long, David Whitley, Deana Jirak, Edna Monterrosa, Erin Hanley, Jared White, Joel Landingham, Katie Galasso, Lacy Barnett-Cagle, Mikel Wilkins

3. It's a common perception that Texans won't take transit, ride bicycles, or walk, other than to get to their pickup truck. Now with the largest light rail system in the United States, it is time to change Dallas' image into one of a truly multi-modal city. How might we transform the 55+ stations in the system into centers of social and economic activity, creating a vibrant network of communities connected by various modes of transit?

Jack Wierzenski, DART

Transformation Stations: J.B. Chaykowsky, Hon Yam Mok, Charlotte Hicks Todd, T.E. Sumner, Jeremy Klott 

Check out the videos from our other events and stay tuned for details about future GOOD Ideas for Cities announcements. If you'd like to talk about bringing the program to your city or school, email alissa[at]goodinc[dot]com or follow us at @IdeasforCities

Many of St. Louis's neighborhoods are bound by "dividing lines"—streets or other physical barriers that have historically reinforced segregation between communities. How can we turn these boundaries into opportunities for interaction between neighborhoods? As part of GOOD Ideas for Cities St. Louis, Arch City Revival presented their idea for turning neighborhood dividing lines into bridges between communities. Examining several of these boundaries in the city, the team realized it wasn't infrastructure improvement that was needed, but opportunities for people to engage socially. The team proposed a series of Streetside Social Centers, which would serve as a kind of public square, with activities curated by the communities themselves. The centers would be physical symbols that recognize and celebrate the real opportunities for interaction: the bike rides, music concerts and food festivals that bring neighbors together.

Challenge: Historically, St. Louis neighborhoods have been racially and economically segregated. The effects of these historic policies, and some current policies, allow the City of St. Louis to remain segregated in these ways: Throughout the city there are streets and public spaces that serve as dividing lines. How can we design the borders between our communities to act as bridges between our neighborhoods?

Jennifer Allen, Trailnet
Vince Schoemehl, Grand Center

Arch City Revival: Katy Mike Smaistrla, Emily Hemeyer, Joyce Gorrell, Amy Lampe, Sarah Paulsen, David Burnett, Michael Allen, Kara Clark Holland

Video by CAM and Nine Network

GOOD Ideas for Cities pairs creative problem-solvers with real urban challenges proposed by civic leaders. To learn more visit good.is/ideasforcities

St. Louis is a city known for its great parks. But recent budget cuts have slashed funding for public spaces, putting maintenance and educational programming in jeopardy. How can a city encourage its residents to invest their time and money to help their neighborhood parks? As part of GOOD Ideas for Cities St. Louis, HOK FIT presented several ideas for encouraging St. Louisans to take pride in their local parks. In examining the current state of public space in St. Louis, HOK FIT found that parks were taken for granted, and rarely seen as part of a larger network. A campaign to improve education and awareness about the parks system as a whole could start in schools, engendering support from young residents. But the city also needed to create physical awareness of public space by improving signage and gateways for parks. The idea is to make parks a point of community pride for St. Louis—instead of asking what neighborhood you live in or what high school you went to, you'll ask what park you grew up playing in.

Challenge: St. Louis is a region with a deep heritage in great community parks. Yet since the economic crisis, funding is scarce and the capacity of the park departments has been greatly reduced, meaning our regional, state and national parks are in serious decline. How can we ensure that the city is able to protect, preserve and maintain our prized parks for generations to come?

Susan Trautman, Great Rivers Greenway
Kevin Farrell, Partnership for Downtown St. Louis

HOK FIT: Chip Crawford, Mary Ostafi, Sarah Weissman, Charlie Lutz, Valerie Greer, Tyler Meyer, Michael Browning, Leesa Coller, Jonathan Murphy, Jason Pierce, Dhaval Barbhaya

To learn more about this idea, contact Leesa[dot]Coller[at]hok[dot]com

Video by CAM and Nine Network

GOOD Ideas for Cities pairs creative problem-solvers with real urban challenges proposed by civic leaders. To learn more visit good.is/ideasforcities

GOOD Ideas for Cities taps creative problem-solvers to tackle real urban challenges proposed by civic leaders and present the solutions at live events across the country. Thanks to our partnership with CEOs for Cities and a generous grant from ArtPlace, we're taking the program to six cities in 2012. If you're in Cincinnati, here's how you can be a part of it.

Last month, we issued a call for Cincinnati creatives and chose six teams to represent the city. Each team was issued a challenge proposed by local urban leaders and began working together on a solution. At the event, the creative teams will present their solutions, and the urban leaders will join them onstage for a brief Q&A. Afterwards, we'll have drinks and more conversation as we discuss how to make these ideas a reality.

Wednesday, May 16
Doors at 6:00 p.m.
Program begins at 7:00 p.m.

Contemporary Arts Center
44 East Sixth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

RSVP here.

Please note that RSVPs do not guarantee seats, we have limited seating.

Update: We have added a simulcast lounge in the lobby to accommodate more seating. This will be a great place for attendees who'd like to stick close to the bar and still watch the presentations! All seating is first-come, first-served, arrive early if you'd prefer to sit in the theater.

Hosted by The University of Cincinnati Niehoff Urban Studio and the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation

Special thanks to our partners Soapbox, AIGA Cincinnati, AIA Cincinnati and the Queen City Project

Supported by ArtPlace

Thanks to our generous beer sponsors at Christian Moerlein Brewing Co.

Do not call the venue about tickets, email alissa[at]goodinc[dot]com with any questions.

The Challenges

1. Cincinnati is known for its strong and diverse arts community with a plethora of offerings that include large museums and institutions, excellent arts schools, and alternative spaces and galleries. How can the local arts scene serve as a catalyst for the local creative economy in a way that will attract talent, fuel innovation and build a stronger workforce?

Contemporary Arts Center, Molly O'Toole

20-Somethings Doing Something: Michelle Stawicki, Lauren Mae Oswald, Angela Kowalski, Kelsey Downs, Mandy Smedley, Emily Wolf

Queen City Spectrum: Connect with Queen City Spectrum on Facebook, attend their first event on May 23 or email them at queencityspectrum[at]gmail[dot]com

2. Four transit agencies operate public transportation in the Cincinnati region, each with its own name and identity, spanning multiple counties and two states. How can we create a more user-focused transit experience around a bus rapid transit line that builds brand equity and consumer commitments with a unified, region-wide voice, creating rising public demand for a better regional system?

Metro, Sallie Hilvers; TANK, Gina Douthat; Agenda 360, Mary Stagaman and Adena Kass; Vision 2015, Bill Scheyer

Mission Possible: John Rizzo, Ben Patrick, Chris Simmons, Kelsey Hawke, Meghann Craig, Jon Cramer, Sarah Strassel, Missy Raterman, Carrie Farler, Ashley Plank, Kelly Horan

The HUB: Connect with What's the HUB-bub on Facebook or at @whattheHUBbub on Twitter or email good-cinci[at]possibleworldwide[dot]com

3. Studies have shown that parental involvement in a child’s academic aspirations is one of the most important elements in improving student outcomes and nurturing student success.  Knowing that early education is especially critical to our students’ lifelong development, how can we design, implement, and evaluate a system of parental involvement within early education for Cincinnati families?

Strive Partnership, Greg Landsman; KnowledgeWorks, Jamie Berg

Cincinnatives: Dustin Blankenship, Julie Blum, Doug Hovekamp, Kara Koch

Home Room: Follow #HomeroomInitiative on Twitter or visit their website

4. Walkability offers real benefits to our health, the environment, our communities, and our finances: Research shows increasing walkability can increase the value of residential and commercial real estate. How can we help our communities come together and make changes necessary to increase their local walkability?

Haile/U.S. Bank Foundation, Eric Avner; LISC, Kathy Schwab; Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors, Mark Quarry

Scout Camp: Luke Field, Tina Sevilla Stear, Michael Bergman, Nick Dewald, Lindsay Dewald, Lann Brumlik Field, Eric Stear, Will Yokel

On Foot Cincy: Connect with them at @OnFootCincy on Twitter, at their Tumblr or by emailing onfootcincy[at]gmail[dot]com

5. Homeowners in the Greater Cincinnati area are spending far more than they should on electricity and gas because their homes lack proper insulation, storm windows and efficient heating and cooling systems. With the goals of saving money, reducing emissions and putting local residents to work, how do we get more Cincinnati households to perform energy efficiency upgrades on their home?

Green Umbrella, Brewster Rhoads; Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance, Lilah Glick; and City of Cincinnati, Office of Environmental Quality, Steve Johns 

Hyperquake: Kate Kovalcin, LeAnne Wagner, A.J. Mercer, Dan Barczak, Matt Cole, Molly Danks, Chris Wallen

CGEA Home Fitness Program: Contact goodideas[at]hyperquake[dot]com

6. Adults living in neighborhoods with no supermarkets have significantly higher obesity rates compared to adults living in neighborhoods with supermarkets. Currently the City of Cincinnati should have 34 supermarkets—we only have 24. How can we increase both availability of healthy foods and education about healthy eating in underserved neighborhoods?

Closing the Health Gap, Renee Harris; Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Ray Watson; Haile/U.S. Bank Foundation, Chris Bochenek, 

Design Cincy: Ramsey Ford, Jody Weber, PJ Mason, Demetrius Romanos, Giacomo Ciminello

Shop Local: Connect with the Twitter hashtag #shoptions or email ramsey[at]d-impact[dot]org

Check out the videos from our Portland event and stay tuned for details about future GOOD Ideas for Cities announcement. If you'd like to talk about bringing the program to your city or school, email alissa[at]goodinc[dot]com or follow us at @IdeasforCities

Though the city is surrounded by farmland, most St. Louis residents eat produce grown hundreds, if not thousands of miles away. How might the city capitalize on its agricultural roots to grow more fresh, local food? As part of GOOD Ideas for Cities St. Louis, STL Provocateur proposed a new regional food system that would create jobs, educate the public, and help eaters make healthy food choices. The city's 70,000 plots of vacant land would be turned into small-scale urban farms where entrepreneurs would grow and sell what neighborhoods demanded, and citywide school gardens would serve as educational centers. A food distribution center would provide materials and resources for the garden network and serve as a way to connect the local farmers directly to stores and restaurants. Tax credits for food businesses that buy locally and policies requiring new development to add an agricultural component would spur adoption.

Challenge: Located in the heartland, St. Louis has unique resources that could allow it to become a leader in urban agriculture. Yet most of the food consumed in the region is produced hundreds or thousands of miles away, and many urban areas of St. Louis have limited access to fresh food. How can St. Louis use our resources and stakeholders to increase accessibility of healthy, locally grown food?

Craig Heller, Food Works
Frank Finnegan, St. Louis Area Foodbank
Mike Sorth, Gateway Greening
Eric Schneider, RCGA

STL Provocateur: Rhonda Smythe, Jeanette Reynolds, Stephanie Co, Nat Zorach, Andrew Flachs, Anne McCullough

Learn more about this idea and contact the creatives at STL Provocateur's website.

Video by CAM and Nine Network

GOOD Ideas for Cities pairs creative problem-solvers with real urban challenges proposed by civic leaders. To learn more visit good.is/ideasforcities

In the City of St. Louis, like in many urban centers, less than one third of high school students graduate, leading to increased rates of unemployment, crime, and substance abuse. How can cities encourage more students to get their degrees? As part of GOOD Ideas for Cities St. Louis, ACTivate the City presents their idea for motivating students to stay in school by offering them a chance to develop real-life skills. After learning that many students drop out because they feel that their schoolwork is not relevant to the challenges they're already facing outside the classroom, the team created a concept called The Sight, an off-campus building that functions like a cross between a vocational learning environment and community center. Students would work together on renovating the building itself, learning skills like architecture and construction from local experts, then program the space with everything from cultural events to cooking classes to offering babysitting for fellow students who are also parents. The students become invested in improving their local community while creating a safe, creative space that keeps them active and engaged with their fellow students.

Challenge: One of the most critical challenges facing St. Louis is the low graduation rate for St. Louis City schools. Currently, only 20 to 30 percent of St. Louis City students graduate from high school. We know that low graduation rates cost taxpayers more, and as a result there is a rise in crime, homelessness, and substance abuse rates in the city. How do we motivate and empower more local high school students to graduate?

Rachelle Morgan, Shearwater
Jay Swoboda, The Homeless Empowerment Project
Sarah McCabe, The Point

ACTivate the City: Stan Chisholm, Dayna Kriz, Gina Martinez, Kevin McCoy, Mallory Nezam, Carlie Trosclair, Daniel Waxler

To learn more about this idea contact ACTivate the City at thesightstl[at]gmail[dot]com

Video by CAM and Nine Network

GOOD Ideas for Cities pairs creative problem-solvers with real urban challenges proposed by civic leaders. To learn more visit good.is/ideasforcities

Sometimes it can be hard to demonstrate the breadth of cultural activity that's happening in a city—especially to naysayers who claim there's nothing going on. How can a city showcase its creativity in a way that makes citizens want to be a part of it? As part of GOOD Ideas for Cities St. Louis, Brain Drain presented its idea for making St. Louis's assets more tangible. As they examined the challenge, Brain Drain realized that St. Louis already possessed rich cultural activity—the problem was making it apparent to locals and outsiders. They developed the idea of building a network of large, glowing pillars that would grow brighter depending on the frequency of nearby social media like Tweets, Foursquare check-ins, and Yelp reviews. Using a browser or an app, people would view visualizations that showed the information feeding each pillar, and the pillars themselves would act as beacons in the urban environment: providing lighting (and safety) at night, serving as a kind of public square, and providing free wifi hotspots throughout the city.

Challenge: Have an animated conversation with a young transplant or multi-generational loyalist and you will understand the passion people here have for St. Louis. But, too often, the message falls back on empty boosterism. Whatever the cause, we must understand it, admit it and fix it. How do we deepen the pool of diverse people who love St. Louis and are personally invested in its progress?

Mayor Francis Slay
Jeff Rainford, Office of Mayor Francis Slay
Hank Webber,Washington University

Brain Drain: Matt Strom, Tara Pham, Logan Alexander, Noah MacMillan, Zoë Scharf, Amanda Yates, Andrew Warshauer, Kuan Butts, Danielle Wallis, Christine Stavridis, Bennett Gale

For more information about this idea visit Brain Drain's website.

Video by CAM and Nine Network

GOOD Ideas for Cities pairs creative problem-solvers with real urban challenges proposed by civic leaders. To learn more visit good.is/ideasforcities

After fantastic events in Portland and St. Louis and two more events planned in Richmond and Cincinnati, we're thrilled to announce the next GOOD Ideas for Cities events in Dallas and New Orleans.

GOOD Ideas for Cities taps creative problem-solvers to tackle real urban challenges proposed by civic leaders and present their solutions at live events across the country. Thanks to our partnership with CEOs for Cities and a generous grant from ArtPlace, we're taking the program to six cities in 2012.

In Dallas, individuals can attend a kickoff event on April 13 to join one of three teams. In New Orleans, individuals can apply and will be placed on one of three teams. In each city, the teams will work together with their civic leaders for several weeks to create a solution to their urban challenge, presenting their idea at a free event that anyone can attend.

Dallas, Texas
Wednesday, June 6, location TBD
Hosted by AIGA DFW in partnership with AIGADFW Design Week

Creatives who want to participate should attend a kickoff event Friday, April 13 at 12:00 p.m. at the Dallas Design Center. All details here. 

More information on how to attend the June 6 event will be posted soon.

New Orleans, Louisiana
Thursday, July 12 at Launchpad
Hosted by Neighborland

Creatives who want to participate can register as individuals here. Deadline to apply is May 10 and a kickoff event will be held May 12. You'll get more details when you register.

More information on how to attend the July 12 event will be posted soon.

For examples of how the events work, see our videos from previous events, watch a video of an event in San Francisco, view a growing list of all ideas presented since 2008, or read recaps of the events from the last three years.

We hope to see you at an upcoming GOOD Ideas for Cities event! If you want to bring the program to your city or have any questions about applying, email alissa[at]goodinc[dot]com or follow us at @IdeasforCities

St. Louis has a relatively new light rail system, yet it still isn't used by large parts of the city. One major issue is proximity: There are 79 neighborhoods in St. Louis, yet the light rail system only runs through a handful of them. So how can the city encourage more residents to ride and become advocates for the light rail system? As part of GOOD Ideas for Cities St. Louis, STL Alley Lovers presented its idea for how transform the light rail network into a source of neighborhood pride. Each of the 79 neighborhoods in St. Louis would perform a "takeover" of a light rail car, turning it into an environment that best represents their community. Pop-up storefronts, restaurants, galleries, and in-car bars would rotate in and out of the light rail system, encouraging residents from represented neighborhoods to experience the light rail, and providing a city-wide attraction that creates civic pride. By showcasing the unique communities of St. Louis, the light rail system becomes a destination in itself.

Challenge: We have a world-class light rail system in St. Louis. However, we have not seen a major effort to leverage the system as a catalyst for building more livable communities in the St. Louis region. How might we increase ridership on St. Louis' light rail to help demonstrate to the city the important opportunities around transit?

Citizens for Modern Transit, Kim Cella
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, Rhonda K. Hamm-Niebruegge

STL Alley Lovers: Christopher Galli, Andy Heaslet, Derek Hoeferlin, Monika Jankowiak, Jenny Murphy, Jonathan Stitelman

To learn more about this idea visit The 79 on 1 Line Tumblr.

Video by CAM and Nine Network

GOOD Ideas for Cities pairs creative problem-solvers with real urban challenges proposed by civic leaders. To learn more visit good.is/ideasforcities

For our third event of 2012, GOOD Ideas for Cities is headed to Richmond, Virginia.

GOOD Ideas for Cities taps creative problem-solvers to tackle real urban challenges proposed by civic leaders and present the solutions at live events across the country. Thanks to our partnership with CEOs for Cities and a generous grant from ArtPlace, we're taking the program to five mid-sized cities in 2012. If you're in Richmond, Virginia (RVA) here's how you can be a part of it.

Earlier this month, we issued a call for RVA creatives who we placed into three teams to represent the city. Each team was issued a challenge proposed by local urban leaders. At the event, the creative teams will present their solutions to their assigned challenge, and the urban leaders will join them onstage for a brief Q&A. Afterwards, join us for drinks and more conversation as we discuss how to make these ideas a reality for RVA.

Tuesday, April 24

Doors at 5:30 p.m.

Program begins at 6:30 p.m. 

Virginia Historical Society
428 North Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23220
*Please note this venue has changed from what was originally posted

RSVP here

Hosted by The i.e.* Initiative of the Greater Richmond Chamber and Capital Region Collaborative

Sponsored by the Virginia Historical Society

Supported by ArtPlace

Special thanks to our partners AIGA Richmond, Greater Richmond Grid, RVANews, and Style Weekly

RSVPs do not guarantee admission after 6:15 p.m., please arrive on time. Do not call the venue about tickets, email alissa[at]goodinc[dot]com with any questions.

The Challenges

1. The James River is a critical resource for the region. The City of Richmond has recently announced a comprehensive plan to revitalize the riverfront in the city that includes parks, trails and community gathering places. With this plan in mind, how can we leverage the James River and Canal Walk as an economic driver that brings not only people, but dollars to the region?

Andreas Addison, chief administrative office: civic innovation team, City of Richmond

Creative Team: Larkin Garbee, Andrea Goulet, Amy Broderick, Holly Pearce, Jake Mitchell, Jeff MacDonald, Kendall Morris, Scott Ukrop, K. Giles Harnsberger, Evan MacKenzie, Sarah Keane, Ronald Rogers, Allen Chamberlain, Caitlin Kilcoin, Christie Thompson, Maureen Neal, Corey Lane, Emily Smith, Maritza Mercado

2. The Richmond Region is rich in history, the arts and entertainment opportunities, but tourists often pass us by when traveling along I-95 and I-64 on their way to other destinations. How can we make the gateways to our region more attractive and encourage travelers to exit the interstate and visit the Richmond Region?

Chuck Gates, communication coordinator, Richmond Regional Planning District Commission

Creative Team: Heide Trepanier, Collin Brady, John Sarvay, Stephen Robertson, Charles Collie, Casey Quinlan, Elizabeth Cogar, Ryn Bruce, Ross Catrow, Johnny Hugel, Tony Scida, Meredith Salley, Ali Croft, Christine Pizzo, Emily Smith, David McIntosh, Carter Graham Holt, Alana Kucharski, Ansel Olson, Jon Baliles

3. There are some vibrant elementary schools in the City of Richmond. However, middle schools can be another story. Some parents send their children to private schools starting in middle school and other parents stop showing up. The community is often more interested in volunteering in elementary schools or high schools. How can we keep the community involved with the goal of improving our city's middle schools?

Harold Fitrer, President/CEO, Communities In Schools Richmond

Creative Team: April Johnson, Lisa Taranto, Sarah Milston, Peter Fraser, Camden Whitehead, Mimi Sadler, Dean Browell, Emily Griffey, Dominic Barrett, Emma Terray Spivack, Peyton Rowe, Trina Lambert, R. Vincent Alfaro, Rachel Kopelovich Douglas, Shannon Williams, Elizabeth Hailand, Stephen Curtis Clark, Sara Dunnigan

Check out the videos from our Portland event and stay tuned for details about future GOOD Ideas for Cities announcement. If you'd like to talk about bringing the program to your city or school, email alissa[at]goodinc[dot]com or follow us at @IdeasforCities

The statistics are not on Americans' side when it comes to obesity. In Oregon's Multnomah County, for example, half the population is overweight, which is fairly representative of many counties around the country. Some of the blame can be placed on the way our lives have been designed for cars. So how to transform our cities to make citizens more physically active? As part of GOOD Ideas for Cities Portland, Official Mfg. Co. presented their idea for creating public spaces that encourage healthier lifestyles. The team developed several infrastructure improvements, from giant kinetic sculptures to encourage active play to pedal-powered parking meters that required physical activity to park. But they also wanted people to see they had a choice for activity when taking transportation. So a new feature would be added to the online transit planner that would allow a user to "add exercise" to their transit plans.

Challenge: Today one of every two adults in Multnomah County is overweight or obese. The way we build our cities is part of the problem. How might we re-think our public spaces to promote public health and more active lifestyles?


Department of Planning, City of Portland: Eric Engstrom, principal planner

Official Mfg. Co.: Mathew Foster, Jeremy Pelley, Fritz Mesenbrink

To learn more about this idea contact Official Mfg. Co.

Video by Paul Searle 

GOOD Ideas for Cities pairs creative problem-solvers with real urban challenges proposed by civic leaders. To learn more visit good.is/ideasforcities

Many studies have proved that cutting back on meat and dairy is the most significant single action individuals can adopt to combat climate change. Now think of it on a city scale: reducing the meat and dairy consumed by a major metropolitan area could drastically reduce emissions and save energy and improve the health of its residents. So how to encourage consumers to eat this way? At GOOD Ideas for Cities Portland, Ziba presented their idea for encouraging the citizens of Portland to buy and consume less meat. Ziba realized that the intervention needs to come at the decision-making phase, and created a series of apps that provide at-the-ready options for choosing foods and making grocery lists based on your economic, environmental and ethical values. They also propose a social club in which people try new veggie-focused meals and restaurants together, and a campaign that asks kids to choose and cook fruits and vegetables in exchange for incentives, putting pressure on their parents to eat better and ensuring healthier habits for life.

Challenge: A reduction of the amount of meat and dairy in local diets could have a profound impact on the city's environmental footprint. How do we get the residents of Portland to consume less meat?


Sustainable Food Policy and Programs, City of Portland: Steve Cohen, Manager


Ideas for Cities from Ziba: Steve Lee, Molly Ackerman-Brimberg, Carl Alviani, Joo-Young Oh, Eric Park, In Baek, Maria Lalli, Chris Butler, Paul O'Connor

To learn more about this idea contact steve_lee[at]ziba[dot]com or carl_alviani[at]ziba[dot]com

More information on GOOD Ideas for Cities can be found at good.is/ideasforcities or on Twitter at @IdeasforCities

Video by Paul Searle

GOOD Ideas for Cities pairs creative problem-solvers with real urban challenges proposed by civic leaders. To learn more visit good.is/ideasforcities

Portland is famous for its vibrant biking culture, but the city's infrastructure hasn't caught up with the number of bikers on the streets. How do we create bikeways that will not only protect current cyclists, but also encourage more people to ride? As part of GOOD Ideas for Cities Portland, a team from THINK.urban presented its idea for creating a system of bike highways that run throughout the city. Instead of relegating cyclists to side streets and bike paths, the new bikeways would take over major Portland thoroughfares, making bikes more visible and creating more direct routes that would shorten ride times. Witnessing the shift from streets of mostly cars to mostly bikes will also start to create a sense that riders are prized and protected as a major transportation solution, not forced to stay in painted lanes.

Challenge: Portland is known worldwide as a bike town; yet we have stalled when it comes to infrastructure. How might we create a major new bikeway that helps make bicycling as visible, safe, convenient, and pleasant for as many people as possible?


Bike Portland: Jonathan Maus, Founder


THINK.urban: Jason King, Allison Duncan, Katrina Johnston

To learn more about this idea contact jason[at]thinkurban[dot]org 

Video by Paul Searle

GOOD Ideas for Cities pairs creative problem-solvers with real urban challenges proposed by civic leaders. To learn more visit good.is/ideasforcities

A city's economic health relies on a vibrant community of invested business owners. But how do we encourage the establishment and growth of small, local businesses? As part of GOOD Ideas for Cities Portland, a team from ADX presented its idea for how to revitalize the business climate in Lents Town Center, an area in eastern Portland that hasn't seen the same level of economic growth as the downtown area. ADX was focused on finding great businesses in Lents when its team discovered Marshall High School, which had been closed years earlier. They propose using the school as a small business incubator for the community, where people can learn new skills, set up shop, and connect with like-minded entrepreneurs.

Challenge: Local businesses are hesitant to set up shop in some areas located outside of Portland's city center. How do we help nurture a stronger, more competitive business climate in Lents Town Center?


Portland Development Commission: Kevin Cronin, Senior Program Manager
 and Shawn Ulman, Public Affairs Manager

Team ADX: Building a Community of Thinkers and Makers: Kelley Roy, Greg Simons, Sean Barrow, Simon Yuen, Sarah Thilman, Tyesha Snow, Iain Thatcher, Max Miller

To learn more about this idea contact Kelley Roy at kelley[at]ADXportland[dot]com, visit The Marshall Project's Facebook page, or follow the Twitter hashtags #iwillbethere #imalreadythere

Video by Paul Searle

GOOD Ideas for Cities pairs creative problem solvers with real urban challenges proposed by civic leaders. To learn more visit good.is/ideasforcities

Even as more attention is being paid to bringing farm fresh produce to urban areas, many rural farmers are reporting shrinking profits. How can we ensure the success of these small businesses that are so valuable to a region's health and well being? As part of GOOD Ideas for Cities Portland, Sincerely Interested presented their ideas for how to help small, local farmers become more profitable. Starting with a campaign that brings visuals from farm life into the city, the team proposed some non-traditional ways for the public to engage with buying local produce, from night markets (complete with beer gardens, of course), to artist-farmer collaborations in greenhouses that pop up on city streets.

Challenge: Local farmers are reporting that they are working more markets yet making less money. How do we increase access to fresh locally grown food while ensuring profitability for our region's farmers?

Portland Farmers Market: Trudy Toliver, Executive Director

Sincerely Interested: Nicole Lavelle, Sarah Baugh, Justin Flood

To learn more about this idea, contact Nicole Lavelle at nicole.lavelle[at]gmail[dot]com

Video by Paul Searle

GOOD Ideas for Cities pairs creative problem solvers with real urban challenges proposed by civic leaders. To learn more visit good.is/ideasforcities

Plagued with funding shortfalls, public schools across the country are looking for support from outside their walls. How should we engage local businesses and residents to help keep them strong? As part of GOOD Ideas for Cities Portland, a team from Wieden + Kennedy presented their idea for how to get Portlanders more invested in their local public schools. From a campaign to encourage childless citizens to volunteer or donate to creating desirable hipster-quality merchandise featuring local school mascots, the idea is to raise the level of pride and awareness each Portland resident has for their local school.

Challenge: Local schools must be supported by the community if they are to be successful. How can our neighborhoods, and institutions in them like businesses, work better to support youth, their educational outcomes and opportunities?


The Office of Mayor Sam Adams: Mayor Sam Adams; Cary Clarke, Arts and Culture Policy Director; Lisa Libby, Planning and Sustainability Director; Kali Ladd, Education and Youth Policy Director
; Samir Raad, Youth Strategies Policy Coordinator

Wieden + Kennedy: Nick Barham, Eugenie Frerichs, Bernadette Spear, Justin Morris, Igor Clark, Patrick Nistler, Jamie Ostrov, Joseph Limauro, Matt Brown

To learn more about this idea contact Nick Barham at nick.barham[at]wk[dot]com or @nickfbarham

Video by Paul Searle

GOOD Ideas for Cities pairs creative problem solvers with real urban challenges proposed by civic leaders. To learn more visit good.is/ideasforcities

After a fantastic event in Portland, Oregon, and another event coming up in St. Louis, we're thrilled to announce the next GOOD Ideas for Cities events in Richmond, Virginia and Cincinnati, Ohio.

GOOD Ideas for Cities taps creative problem-solvers to tackle real urban challenges proposed by civic leaders and present their solutions at live events across the country. Thanks to our partnership with CEOs for Cities and a generous grant from ArtPlace, we're taking the program to five mid-sized cities in 2012. In Richmond, individuals can apply and will be placed on one of three teams. In Cincinnati, groups of any size can apply as a creative team, and six teams will be selected to participate.

Richmond, Virginia
Tuesday, April 24 at The Valentine Richmond History Center
Hosted by The i.e.* Initiative of the Greater Richmond Chamber and Capital Region Collaborative

See the event details, challenges, and RSVP information here.

Education and Economy
April Johnson, Lisa Taranto, Sarah Milston, Peter Fraser, Camden Whitehead, Mimi Sadler, Dean Browell, Emily Griffey, Dominic Barrett, Emma Terray Spivack, Peyton Rowe, Trina Lambert, R. Vincent Alfaro, Rachel Kopelovich Douglas, Shannon Williams, Elizabeth Hailand, Stephen Curtis Clark, Sara Dunnigan

Congratulations to the Cincinnati creative teams!

20-Somethings Doing Something: Michelle Stawicki, Lauren Mae Oswald, Angela Kowalski, Kelsey Downs, Mandy Smedley, Emily Wolf

Mission Possible: John Rizzo, Ben Patrick, Chris Simmons, Kelsey Hawke, Meghann Craig, Jon Cramer, Sarah Strassel, Missy Raterman

Cincinatives with GOOD Ideas: Dustin Blankenship, Julie Blum, Doug Hovekamp, Kara Koch

Scout Camp: Luke Field, Tina Sevilla Stear, Michael Bergman, Nick Dewald, Lindsay Dewald, Lann Brumlik Field, Eric Stear, Will Yokel

Hyperquake: Kate Kovalcin, LeAnne Wagner, A.J. Mercer, Dan Barczak, Matt Cole, Molly Danks, Chris Wallen

Design Impact and Kaleidoscope: Ramsey Ford, Kate Hanisian, Demetrius Romanos, Giacomo Ciminello

Event details, urban leaders, challenges and RSVP information will be posted soon.

For examples of how this works, see our videos of the Portland event, watch a video of an event in San Francisco, view a growing list of all ideas presented since 2008, or read recaps of the events from the last three years.

We hope to see you at an upcoming GOOD Ideas for Cities event! If you want to bring the program to your city or have any questions about applying, email alissa[at]goodinc[dot]com or follow us at @IdeasforCities