Gordon Feller: Pioneering Urban Futures

Meeting of the Minds brings urban thought leaders together to share their experiences. The 2017 Meeting of the Minds in October 2017 in Cleveland, OHIO. Founded in 2006 by Gordon Feller, the organization’s mission is to assemble selected urban sustainability and technology stakeholders who share a common platform to build lasting alliances for urban innovation.

Richmond, CA is in many years selected as the host city because of forces converging toward positive urban innovation for Richmond. Richmond’s struggles highlight how cities can redefine themselves, create better jobs, implement smarter and more sustainable policies, and grapple with systemic challenges as they address historic problems.

The conference is always noteworthy in the diversity of leaders and disciplines it attracted, all creative thinkers committed to bridge from their own domains to others for creative problem-solving. The dramatic setting of the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond, CA, originally opened in 1931 as an assembly plant for Ford Motor Company, showcased the potential of repurposing old structures for new uses. Round Table discussions, such as the one on the future of Richmond shown in the picture below, engaged attendees in an interactive problem-solving process.

Unlike conferences in hotel settings, Meeting of Minds refreshingly practices what it preaches, engaging local communities, while attracting international attendees who want to observe this pioneering process in action.