Creative Placemaking: A Vision for the City of Martinez Part 1

In November the Martinez Arts Association asked to speak before the Economic Revitalization subcommittee, of which I'm part, to pitch the idea of turning the Sharkey Building into a center for the arts. The building, registered on California's Register of Historical Resources, has proven to be a challenge for the City of Martinez.

Also in November a Contra Costa Times print headline "Downtown Martinez Suffers Another Blow" ran.

Months back I mentioned being on the General Plan Update Task force for the City of Martinez and I envisioned using this space to chronicle the process. Lots has happened since that I wont get into, the most significant was a hospice referral for my mother in July and her death in October. Life has a way of interfering. But I'm more than three quarters of the way back in the saddle with a brain no longer looking for ways to fix my mom. Because that's who I am at my core, a problem solver.

In my last post I mention two of David Meerman Scott's books, it was in The New Rules of Marketing & PR that I was introduced to National Resources Defense Council (NRDC). I looked them up on Twitter and Facebook and added them to my information network. That's how I ran across Kaid Benfield's blog post, Arts-driven revitalization in Kentucky and as I read through it and Kiad's links to the National Endowment for the Arts and The Mayors’ Institute on Community Design , synapses began firing.

The City of Martinez already has a diverse artistic community; actors, filmmakers, writers, musicians, painters, sculptors, dancers, graphic designers, glass blowers and the list goes on. If I'm reading this correctly, and my intiution tells me I am, the City of Martinez is already positioned for it's long over due renaissance.

I'll sign off for now with this last bit: there are a whole lot of but fors in this story; I don't believe in coincidence...

Happy New Year!

Wow, did you see what was going on tonight on Twitter? It was real-time crowdsourcing for bloggers (you can check it out by clicking #blogchat). Tons of great information, tips, encouragements, acknowledgments, collaboration, in short it is/was everything I'd imagine an artist colony to be. And isn't that what social media really encourages? Artistic expression?

Okay, it's no secret that I am a HUGE social media fan. And as it is the New Year and all, I think some acknowledgements and thanks are due. To all of the thought leaders who've made navigating these uncharted social media waters easier for this N00bz (a bit of an inside joke between me and my newest #cms pals) to navigate, thank you.

Joel Comm - author of Twitter Power
I can, with vivid recollection, remember the Newsweek cover and coverage of the Jonestown Massacre; Jim had convinced too many people to do what has now been coined "drink the koolaide". I was in high school and felt deep sorrow for the people whose lives had been cut down by a madman; thus began my addiction to news. The Internet, cable news, the events of 9/11 and my son Noel enlisting in the Navy reinforced the addiction.

By the time Joel's book came out in '09, after the Mumbai shootings, I was sold. Never before could I recall a time when individuals had so decisively wrested information control away from traditional media outlets. I had just accepted the position as VP of Public Relations for Worth A Dam and needed to know what Twitter was all about. Oh, and the forward by Anthony Robbins really sealed the deal; unfortunately I don't have video of my firewalk so people will have to take me at my word, I did it and it was very empowering!

Now there are many "Tweeps" that I need to thank for so much that I fear an academy moment and promise I will complete my "Thought Leaders list" and post it, but here in order of memory...

Glen Gilmore - Apart from Glen's dashing east coast looks (suck it up ladies he's married) Glen demonstrated a generosity of time and spirit, a true mentor. Here I was a true Twitter N00bz and Glen embraced my voice and took time to respond. A gentleman and scholar that I look forward to meeting ILR.

Thanks to Glen I've been introduced to the works of Richard Florida and look forward to bolstering my position with the #CityofMartinez in embracing our own core creative community. More on that in a subsequent posts...

Reg Saddler - Sorry Reg, I think I was enthusiastically tweeting (in true woohoo fashion) from the Embarcadero as I made my way into the City (if you have to ask - #fail) for Fleet Week '09 when you were intrigued enough to follow. Again like Glen, Reg is accessible and will respond. Added bene Reg is humble, believe me, as a single parent you get it. Pretty sure the moniker N00bz wouldn't cross his mind (or if it did, he wouldn't have Tweeted it). Reg, wishing you and the kids all the best for '11; but dude, if we're meeting IRL it'll have to be here on my turf, brrr! HNY!

Guy Kawasaki - Seriously if you have to ask, check your social media credentials at the door. Really looking forward to the release of Enchantment.

David Meerman Scott - who showed me that I could selectively post updates (Tweets) to Facebook by downloading an app and typing #fb. The fact that David had worked in an executive capacity in an industry I wanted to crack was completely missing at the moment. At the time I wasn't into TweetDeck or HootSuit and I could just imagine my facebook friends gunning for me for posting randomness (although if you ask my kid that is what I routinely post). Now if that were the only thing he taught me (ok I was just one of 40k + followers) that would've been golden.

But on my bookshelf and on my recommended reading list are two volumes penned by David, The New Rules of Marketing and PR and Real-Time Marketing and PR, for fear of sounding like I'm pandering (those who know me know I don't sprinkle praise liberally) Brilliant! David distills, in actionable chunks, the keys to leapfrogging to the top of social media maze. I promise the money you spend investing in David's books will be returned in ways incalculable.

Chris Brogan - I've been in sales for close to fifteen years (longer if I counted retail experience). I've had wonderful success and not so good fits. The book by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith, Trust Agents, really broke it down for me. I could focus my time on MY bottom line (not my authentic self) or find a better fit. Even though the N00bz tag was a slur, it wasn't too far off the mark. My life has been dedicated to tending to the needs of others. So, yes, I am a newbie, but and most importantly, I'm not ignorant of that fact. That is why I seek out the company of others (mentors). Again tremendous thanks to Tony Robbins for suggesting I could shorten my learning curve by adopting (modeling) the best practices of leaders in the field I was interested in.

Yikes! I've nuked my own rules of easily digestible chunks for this blog. Chris Voss - I promise you haven't escaped these laurels. But I need to wrap for now. Happy New Year! And when you get up to Ess Eff, call me.

That's it for now. Love and best wishes for 2011!

Linda

Stewardship: In The Beginning; Conserving the Creation

Every time I see a breathtaking sunset, an enormous moon filled sky, fox, deer, hawk, I remember the phrase “In the beginning God created” and I am filled with awe…

I forget how old I was the day I was in a doctor’s office with my grandmother and I saw an illustrated book of the bible. The inside cover had a sleeve, like a library book, but instead of a check out card there were prepaid postcards to request ‘additional information.’ My Daddy was surprised the day a door to door salesman knocked, asking for me. I loved those books.

I also forget how old I was the first time I saw a sponsorship packet for the World Wildlife Fund; I learned whales, polar bears and panda bears needed my protection. I became adept at filling out ‘for more information’ cards, I was always rewarded with stickers of animals I fell in love with.

I generally stay away from publicly discussing my deeply held beliefs because inevitably one of two things happen, simple conversation turns into a heated debate or I am beaten over the head with ‘science.’ As an INTJ the leap of faith required to cover the chasm called “the missing link” is far greater than looking at the diversity of our planet, its inhabitants and attribute the marvels of creation to a creator.

I have said ‘I’ way too many times on this blog but soon I’ll be working with folks as we try and develop a blueprint for growth for the City of Martinez. It just feels right that I share a bit about what’s important to me and why. Of the few posts I’ve written, this has been the most challenging for me personally. I mentioned on my facebook page, one afternoon not that long ago, that I don’t do emotion easily; how I feel about the natural world is pure emotion. How I will communicate about conserving open space, wildlife corridors and wildlife will be from an emotional point of view.

And not everyone will get it.

In the beginning God created; in the hierarchy of creation I am told I am more valuable than the sparrows, but God is still mindful of the sparrow. Who am I to not be equally mindful…

Stewardship: My Secret Garden, choked with weeds of neglect

Three months ago I was taking my afternoon walk around the creek when I noticed two very large truck tires in the water. Just the night before a group of teens from our Environmental Studies Academy  (14 minutes into regular meeting) gave a presentation to the city: Clean Water Program - Student Public Service Announcement. The PSA the students are developing is about litter in Alhambra Creek. I’m a sucker for fresh faces embracing a proactive role in maintaining our natural environment; I emailed our city engineer working with the kids about the tires.

After having helped organize two tree plantings, two beaver festivals and one 4th of July Parade, I’ve learned free labor is a god send and the email response seemed to be just that.

From: XXXX
Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2010 3:43 PM
To: XXX
Cc: XXX; lindajmeza@XXX
Subject: FW: Tires in creek

Mary, can you forward this request to the weekend cleanup crew and tell them to be extra careful around the dam.

Thank You

XXX

A local LDS ward was working with Friends of Alhambra Creek on a service project and they were interested in helping clear debris from the creek, tires and all. I explained where the tires were and looked forward to seeing busy hands that Saturday morning. Instead I received a terse email from the stewards of this particular stretch of the creek.

From: XXX
Sent: Friday, May 07, 2010 5:55 AM
To: lindajmezaXXX
Cc: XXX
Subject: Your request about the tires was forwarded to me

I have been working hard to keep them OUT of that area (they wanted to lower the dam by a foot). Please let XXX know specifically where the tires are.

XXX

Today this stretch of Alhambra Creek is overgrown, littered with debris and filled with stringy algae.

People willing to help clean the creek are discouraged from doing so because it may disturb the pond’s nocturnal inhabitants. Instead of employing a system wide solution, these stewards have dedicated their full focus and public resources on one aspect of the environment.

It’s never just about one thing, nor should it be…

Nature is Nurture

After Northrop I went to work for FHP, Inc. in Cerritos. I had parlayed my knowledge of Paradox (in non-geek speak it was the relational database program) into a new job. It was while at FHP that I was offered the opportunity to move my family to the Bay Area. I jumped at the chance.

I’m not going to get into the decision making process that finally led us to Pleasant Hill near Diablo Valley College. However, what is germane is my reaction the first time I crossed over from the Berkeley side to the Orinda side of the Caldecott Tunnel. Los Angeles and its suburbs hadn’t prepared me for tree lined hills and grassy meadows where deer could be seen grazing as your car zipped by at 65mph. We all fell in love.

Our apartment community was close to the creek and landscaped with liquidambers. Early one Saturday morning movement in the tree outside my bedroom window caught my eye; I watched, puzzled, as a bird appeared to scale the trunk of the tree. I can remember thinking the black and white ladder affect of its feathers was different from any bird I was familiar with when, suddenly, it stopped scaling and pecked. My whispered screams for my kids meant there soon was a dogpile on top of me. The four of us watched in amazement as the downy woodpecker scaled and pecked a bit more. After that morning Wild Birds Unlimited became our favorite hangout.

My Stokes “Beginners Guide to Birds” has seen better days but armed with it and our Bay Area Bird Guide we were soon on the trails, walking from Pleasant Hill to Hidden Lakes looking for new birds to identify.

Many years and miles later I was surprised by a call from Naval Station Great Lakes. Noel just called to say there was a northern cardinal outside of his barracks window. This late winter 2002.

From the National Wildlife Federation, Be Out There, campaign: Be Out There’s mission is to return to the nation’s children what they don’t even know they’ve lost: their connection to the natural world. Kids today spend twice as much time indoors as their parents did, missing out on the simple pleasures and lasting mental and physical health benefits of daily outdoor time.

What We Do - National Wildlife Federation

Urbanization and conflict resolution

Going to check out our first Tuesday's Blues Days but I wanted to leave folks with this trailer from local filmmaker Don Bernier highlighting the potential pitfalls of urban development. Be on the watch for celebrity cameos of the two and four footed kind.


TRAILER: The Concrete Jungle from Don Bernier on Vimeo.

Stewardship: No it’s not just a stupid effing mouse…

For the first meeting of the general plan update task force we were each given a homework assignment: “Telling My Story” an introduction in short story form touching on; where we’re from, hobbies and interests, community group affiliations, occupation, special skills and expertise and ‘anything else that could help people get to know you better’. I think I’ve covered those here as well so I’m optimistic my choice of stewardship as a focus isn’t surprising.

Ten days ago I overheard a comment about our marina and the dredge ponds as I left Starbucks on my daily hike with my dogs Baron and Snoop. There are times when I’d love to be able to just stop, turn and say “it’s never just about one thing” instead I tossed my frustration out to the twitterverse and went about my day.

This comment stands out for me not because it was unique, negative reactions from people who perceive an aspect of the natural world as an impediment to “progress” are common, but it highlighted an ignorance of the greater than fifty year history of our dilapidated marina and pier. The current state of general disrepair and neglect was decades in the making, long before some stupid effing mouse chose to reclaim its rightful place in our marshlands and wetlands.

"Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it." ~Edmund Burke.

Unfortunately the final work product developed by the task force will have zero bearing on the development of the Alhambra Highlands project. Some very smart people have already voiced concerns regarding drainage and sluff when contemplating the removal of 650 trees and grading hill tops. I see it from a different perspective. I look at the removal of 650 live oak trees, presumably many of which are acorn granaries, as setting the stage for future human/wildlife conflict similar to what’s happened in Rossmoor.

Years from now the comment will be, ‘they’re just stupid effing woodpeckers’ and my response will still be it’s never just about one thing…