From Here

So the project booklet has been completed. All the interviews are done and the semester is almost over. Yet, I don't think I'll forget about this school project as quickly as the rest of the papers and end of the year projects I'm working on. This mainly has to do with the fact that doing this project made Fort Wayne a visual map for all of the concepts of creativity and community I learned in class. When I'm working downtown, I can't help but think of the writing of Don Mitchell when I see a homeless person walking by. I think of Oldenburg when I see my friend enter his third place and greet everyone he knows (which is most of the people in there). I think about Edward Soja's comparison of Los Angeles and Amsterdam, and how I want Fort Wayne to lean more in the direction of Amsterdam and have it's "stimulus of confusion". 

Asking people about Fort Wayne made me feel like people care about it. I admit that I'm someone who is looking forward to living in a new place since I've lived here my whole life, but I'm glad that people have places they love here and are willing to voice their opinions on improvements and changes that can be made. I have hope for Fort Wayne. I think developments such as Parkview Field and the hope of riverfront development are steering the city in the right direction. Change, improvement, or keeping what's good here good relies on the people, and their willingness to take responsibility for the city. It can be easy things, like not littering by the river, that can make the city better for everyone to live in. 

If you care about Fort Wayne, I encourage you to get involved and participate. If I leave this city, I hope I leave people behind who will continue to support local events such as Buskerfest and the Zombie Walk and who support local businesses such as the Friendly Fox or the unique downtown bars, such as the Brass Rail. If you have any power in decision making, I encourage you to take into consideration viewpoints and opinions from those who are in their 20s and early 30s if you want them to remain here in the city.