Nenf/The New England Common -- Regional issues resource
LINK TO VIDEO OF THIS SESSION
Among the regions of America, New England may be better know worldwide than any other. But what are New England businesses doing to take their brands beyond the neighborhood? And how can you become more involved in building civic collaboration and action on New England issues? An update on the New England Futures Project. Conveners: David Soule, UMass-Lowell; William Mass (UMass-Lowell, Center for Industrial Competitiveness); George Hamilton, president, Institute for Sustainable Communities, Montpelier, Vt. Neal Peirce (CitiStates), Jonathan Weber (NewWest.net). Additional resource: Jason Rudokas, Univ. of N.H., Carsey Institute. )(Rudokas did not attend)
(Summary by Meredith McCulloch)
New England was described by Neal Pierce, writer and founder of CitiStates, as a region rich in resources and natural beauty, but blind to it s need to cooperate as a region by Neal Pierce, The big issues facing the six new England states echoes those facing the nation as a whole. Challenges of transportation planning, environmental issues, and economic growth are common to each state, but require regional solutions. Historically New England has enjoyed great influence for such a small corner of the world, but it present trends continue it will lose that standing.
One obstacle is the image of New England as cold, elitist and snobby. A new brand for the region would facilitate economic marketing of the region. Can the changes in media coverage help shift the focus from just politics to urgent issues that New England is facing? Smaller communities fear Boston's dominance when solutions are sought, but a more regional view may assuage those fears. Today most media covers the local and the national news, but little time is spent with regional issues.
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