So-Called 'Dying Cities' Fight Back With Conference

So-Called 'Dying Cities' Fight Back With Conference

Forbes magazine's alleged "10 Fastest Dying Cities" In America are fighting back with a symposium and arts festival. The event will be hosted by the city of Dayton, Ohio Aug 7 - 9. Dayton -- along with Detroit and Flint in Michigan; Canton, Cleveland and Youngstown, Ohio; Buffalo, N.Y., Charleston, W. Va. Scranton, Pa. and Springfield, Mass. were dubbed America's fastest dying by Forbes in August 2008. Organizers say the cities want to "demonstrate that our people and our citizens are very much alive, by presenting the most innovative efforts underway to return our communities to vibrancy. By sharing ideas and inspiration, we can learn from each other, form new relationships and create a host of possibilities for civic enhancement." Friday, Aug. 7 will feature an evening of arts and music from Dayton and other cities. Saturday, Aug. 8 there will be a symposium from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Dayton Convention Center. And on Sunday, Aug. 9 there will be continental breakfast at Riverscape MetroPark and more networking. The event is free, although preregisatration is requested so organizers can gauge the number of attendees. As for lodging, a group rate is available at the Dayton Crowne Plaza across from the Convention Center and at The Doubletree, four blocks away, both for $89 per night. For the Crowne Plaza, call (877) 834-3613 and ask for the Ten Living Ciities or T10 group code. At the Doubletree, call (937) 461-4700 and ask for the Ten Living Cities group rate. The 10 Living Cities is the brainchild of Peter Benkendorf, executive director of Involvement Advocacy, and Mike Elsass, owner of Color of Energy Gallery, both of Dayton. They envisioined bringing together artists and activists, community leaders and organizers, public officials and civic-minded people from the 10 cities, to share ideas, inspiration and create new possibilities for what our future can be. More at www.tenlivingcities.org.