Creativity Flowers from Diversity

Check out some creative inspiration from the web: You are the Creative Type and Accidental Inventions.

America is the grand experiment in diversity. In this blog, I want to give an update on my efforts to build bridges among diverse communities through my work with the non-profit kids program Poetry Pals. But I'm going to begin with this assertion: Much of our innovative success in the U.S. has come from the mingling and melding of diverse cultures, perspectives and talents. As economist Richard Florida has established, cities that embrace diversity are more creative and economically vibrant. As other research has shown, spaces that optimize random meetings and interactions among diverse people--whether that be an urban center or work office--result in more innovation.  As we all know, the more we are exposed to different cultures, attitudes and practices, the more possibilities we see. 

Creativity flowers when we get out of isolation, and a new trend to foster innovation (and combat isolation of the growing virtual workforce) is the collaborative work centers that are popping up around Chicago.  I recently visited 1871, a spacious co-working center for digital start ups, which opened this year in Chicago's Merchandise Mart. Run by the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center with many partners and sponsors, it's a 50,000-square-foot facility that provides Chicago startups with affordable workspace and access to mentors, programming, educational resources, potential investors and a community of like-minded entrepreneurs. I also checked out the Green Exchange, another Chicago private-public partnership project, where green-oriented businesses can mingle. While I'm not sure it yet lives up to its claim as the "country's largest sustainable business community," it is a model of a sustainable building that can serve as a hub for diverse businesses and conversations related to the emerging green economy.

For diversity sake, let's change hemispheres and listen in on a video here (and below) at the Creative Innovation conference last year in Australia that addresses issues related to creativity and diversity.

Diversity flowering: Muslim, Jewish & Catholic students

Fall Update from Poetry Pals

In addition to my consulting and creativity work with adults and organizations, I am also executive director of Poetry Pals, which I'm happy to report is now gearing up for another year of interfaith collaboration and creativity.

Poetry Pals is a Chicago-area non-profit creativity program that brings together young people (8-12 years old) from diverse cultural and faith communities. Our programs—including our groundbreaking signature tri-faith program connecting Muslim, Jewish and Catholic schools—have already given more than 1000 elementary school children and their families the opportunity to share their culture and express themselves through poetry, dialogue, rhythm and song.  Our mission is to build bridges and relationships among young people and their communities in order to foster understanding, cooperation and peace in a multicultural and multi-faith society.

We were blessed with a significant donation this summer from a family foundation, which has energized us to continue to reach out to new schools and communities for partnership. If you are part of a day school, Sunday school or youth program and are interested in partnering your kids with a different faith/cultural community, please contact us at adam@poetrypals.org.

For the second straight year, we will be running a tri-faith (Muslim, Jewish and Catholic partnership) program with our Northern Suburbs Hub. 4th graders at MCC Fulltime School in Morton Grove, Solomon Schechter in Northbrook and Sacred Heart in the city will meet for at least three sessions and a special Interfaith Community Evening, scheduled for March 6, 2013, when the public is invited.  Last year's Community Evening was a special occasion with 200 kids, parents, siblings and community members sharing an evening of dialogue and performances.  Check out this overview and pictures from host Solomon Schechter.

We are planning a couple programs in our Western Suburbs Hub this year, renewing a 3-year previous partnership between Islamic Foundation School in Villa Park and St. Pius X Catholic school in Lombard, and are in the process of partnering a southside Muslim school and city Catholic school. We are also in conversation with numerous faith communities and Sunday schools, and are excited not only to bring more Muslim, Catholic and Jewish communities together, but also to include new Christian, Hindu, Buddhist and Baha'i community groups as well.

Poetry Pals poet-educators and participating teachers

We've recently expanded our board, which is now at work improving our infrastructure, strategizing for more funding and outreach, and creating  a special event for friends and supporters soon. We are also in the process of adding more paid Poet-Educators to our group, with a training coming up soon.

Donations are always appreciated and needed so that we can offer our programs to communities at a reduced rate--and help make Poetry Pals into a sustainable non-profit.  You can donate here through Paypal on our website or mail a check (please make out to "AI Partnership for the Arts") to: Donna Yates, 400 E. Ohio Street, #1002, Chicago, IL 60611.

For the quickest overview of Poetry Pals: Watch this Chicago Tribune video. 

Visit the Poetry Pals website and connect with us on Facebook.

So here's to the great American advantage--our diversity.  While sometimes it's challenging to get out of our own isolation, tribe, routine or box, there are creative and rewarding prizes that come from connecting, combining ideas and sharing perspectives.