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How might we restore vibrancy in cities and regions facing economic decline? Read the challenge brief

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Explore Vibrancy
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Mission #1 Explore Vibrancy Find out more...

Highlight your city's weirdness

Keep Austin Weird is a great example of what happens when a community chooses to highlight what makes them special/different/"weird".
"Keep Austin Weird" is the slogan of the Austin Independent Business Alliance, a local chapter of a national non-profit that supports and connects pro-local community based organizations. http://www.keepaustinweird.com/current.html

An agenda focused on unique city-centric community and cultural development through support of its local entrepreneurs, artists, and citizens not only enriches economic and social vibrancy within a city, it creates an attractive and exciting environment that encourages a constant flow of new energy into the city. 

Urban areas interested in reinventing themselves might take a few pages from Austin's book and search internally for what makes them weird....and embrace it.
Mission #1 Explore Vibrancy Find out more...

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Jenny Jin

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November 30, 2011, 11:49AM
I wonder how often a city or community can agree on what characteristic to call itself (or take pride for).

Houston (my hometown for instance) - I have no idea of what we'd say to the slogan "Keep Houston ____"

But in general I think this is a great idea when people value the uniqueness of their cities and reinforce/exclaim it widely!
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OpenIDEO

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November 28, 2011, 12:10AM
Go Austin! Tip: to activate links in your post, hit the Update Entry button up there on the right, then follow the instructions here: http://bit.ly/oi_link
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