10 cities, 5 themes, 3 days to address problems

An article in the Aug. 5, 2008 issue of Forbes Magazine declared Buffalo, NY; Canton, OH; Charleston, WV; Cleveland, OH; Dayton, OH; Detroit, MI; Flint, MI; Scranton PA; Springfield, MA and Youngstown, OH as the 10 Fastest Dying Cities in America.

Taking a page from Woodstock, Dayton businessmen Peter Benkendorf and Mike Elsass have declared Aug. 7 - 9 as “Three Days of Ideas and Inspiration,” in an effort to bring together artists and activists, community leaders and organizers, and civic-minded people from the 10 cities. In order to make the session as valuable as possible, and to attract a diversity of backgrounds, the Symposium is being organized into five content strands. Local action groups will be responsible for helping develop the substance of each, as well as getting the word out.

The Five Strands, and working themes are:

• Neighborhood/Grassroots: Ideas & Inspiration

• Artist/Activists: Cross-Pollination and Showcase

• Government: Role of the Public Sector as Catalyst and Resource

• Academia: The Role of Universities, Theory and Practice

• Media: The Role of Media in Saving our Cities

Friday , Aug. 7

Check-in and opening of the Forbes 10 Fastest Dying Cities Art Exhibition, featuring leading work from each community. Show will coincide with Dayton’s monthly First Friday of gallery openings.

Saturday, Aug. 8

Day-long symposium where people from each city will have an opportunity to present some of the most innovative projects currently underway. Special interest discussion groups will allow attendees to cross-pollinate ideas around the specific topic areas.

Saturday evening, Aug. 8

Time to head out with new-found friends for dinner and entertainment in Dayton’s vibrant night life.

Sunday, Aug. 9

A morning session will give people time for some further sharing of ideas, a final exchange of contact information and to some grab nourishment before heading back to our respective communities to get on with the work at hand.

For more information visit www.tenlivingcities.org

Sister City Le Vesinet ready to
strengthen ties

Oakwood family receives tre bien treatment

Pictured (from left) Le Vesinet Sister City Association vice-president Annie Serin, Mayor Robert Varese, committee secretary Anne-Marie Borderie, Dr. Jack Bauer, Tricia Bauer, Grace Bauer and Jackson Bauer.

The city of Oakwood was recently honored by its sister city, Le Vesinet, France, during the annual Fete de la Marguerite. Dr. Jack Bauer, professor of psychology at the University of Dayton, and his family represented Oakwood during the MarguÈrite Festival. This year’s festivities were highlighted by a grand opening ceremony in honor of Le Vesinet’s six sister cities, and particularly in celebration of the 25th sister-city anniversary between Le Vesinet and Worcester, England. Representatives from Le Vesinet’s sister cities in England, Germany and Spain were also on hand to participate.

“Le Vesinet is an absolutely beautiful city,” Bauer said. “We found the people there to be very warm, engaging, and even eager to talk with us - even though I had to pardon my French quite a bit.”

Bauer said Le Vesinet’s Sister City Committee made it very clear that they want to strengthen ties with Oakwood, primarily through the cultural exchange program for high school students.

“We left with the feeling that Oakwood is fortunate to have ties to this city,” Bauer said.

Bauer presented the Le Vesinet committee with gifts from the Oakwood Sister City Association, the book “Oakwood: From Acorn to Oak Tree, A Centennial Celebration 2008” and a publication featuring the writings and artwork of Oakwood senior high students, “Inkblots.”

The Oakwood Sister City Association works to actively fulfill the stated mission of Sister Cities International, honoring President Eisenhower’s 1956 mandate for citizen diplomacy, to “promote peace through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation ≠ one individual, one community at a time.”

Oakwood currently has two French speaking sister cities: Le Vesinet, a suburb of Paris, and Outremont, Canada, a suburb of Montreal. They also have an official Friendship Pact with Unterhaching, Germany.

For more information regarding the Oakwood Sister City Association, please send an e-mail to oakwoodsistercity@gmail.com, or visit us online on our Facebook page or at www.oakwoodsistercity.webs.com. The group will also host a booth at Oakwood’s Ice Cream Social on Aug. 16 at Shafor Park, featuring a special guest who will create souvenirs a la Francaise.