Speeding the Change We Need

21. That's how many cities we've visited since March 31 to present the Talent Dividend.  Thanks to the Lumina Foundation and DeVry, cross-sector groups of urban leaders -- people making things happen in cities -- have met to hear the difference just a one percentage point increase in college attainment will make in personal income in their communities.  The numbers are big enough to get their attention.  But that's not enough, of course.  They actually have to do something -- and the "something" must add up to a specific number of new graduates -- the number that represents the Talent Dividend.

That's harder than it sounds.  The initial reaction is, "Sure, we want to increase college attainment. And surely we can increase it by one percentage point."  But, then the decision has to be made:  Who will be responsible for doing what by when?  And will that collectively add up to the Talent Dividend goal?

I was reminded of this today when I visited a new exhibition at the Graham Foundation in Chicago.  It's titled "Actions:  What You Can Do with the City."  The press release says the exhibition "challenges visitors to think differently about how to walk, play, recycle and garden in order to reshape the city."  The exhibition does all of that.  But it does far more.  It shows how change gets made quickly in cities.

Some of the changes showcased here are the result of guerilla action. No one asked permission.  Some of them are temporary or trials, a reasonable way to get around onerous filings and long government deliberations.  (Calling the pedestrianization of Broadway in New York and the Castro District in San Francisco trials is another example of the same approach.) Other examples are urban changes masquerading as play.

We need to learn far more about to speed the changes we need.  It is apparent that government is not built for speed.  (This is not just a result of government as bureaucracy.  It is also an unintended consequence of citizen consultation and rules to protect the public.)  It is also obvious that the federal government is in no position to lead. There is still too much conflict between parties and almost no agreement on the national interest.

But our challenges won't wait.  The need to start the race to regain our global superiority in education won't wait.  Climate change won't wait.  Our ballooning health care costs won't wait.  That python of a demographic -- boomers -- is inexorably ageing and will need care.  It won't wait.  Our economy will not reinflate in a familiar pattern, and the need to gain resilience won't wait.  Our rusting infrastructure won't wait.

But while our challenges need intelligent responses now, we have become flat-footed.  Sometimes it seems we can't move at all, much less as fast as need to.

If we don't find ways to move faster and speed the change we need, we are in deep trouble.  That's why "Actions" is so important.  We need good examples of fast action on issues that matter and learn the lessons they have to teach us. 

We will be returning to this challenge.

  

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