Creative Connector Project FAQ
What is the goal of this project?Cause a conversation about good leadership in Greater Philadelphia.Identify leaders who build community and economic vitality while creating art, culture, or design.Celebrate and convene the unsung heroes who seem to know everyone and get things done “beneath the radar.”Who is leading this effort?LEADERSHIP Philadelphia (LP) is a 52-year old non-profit non-partisan organization that mobilizes professionals to serve the community. LEADERSHIP initiated the Connector Project in 2005. The work puts the ideas of Malcolm Gladwell’s book The Tipping Point into action.Project partners are:The Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative EconomyJohn S. and James L. Knight Foundation Newsworks, the online home of WHYY News.Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance’s Philly 360°Greater Philadelphia Tourism and Marketing CorporationWhat is a Creative Connector?Malcolm Gladwell coined the term “Connector” to describe the people who seem to know everyone and who get things done behind the scenes. They are the glue that holds their organizations and/or the community together. Creative Connectors use art, culture, and design to build community and economic vitality.What is the history of the project?The original Connector Project was done in 2006. The project identified the top 101 Connectors and studied them so that LP could teach others to connect. In 2008, they identified the region’s emerging Connectors. Each time LP recognized and convened the Connectors to spotlight this collaborative form of leadership. Several other cities have replicated this work over the past two years. The project details are available in Six Degrees of Connection by LP’s CEO Liz Dow. How were the Creative Connectors identified?A public, online survey was circulated by partner organizations and through an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer.What are the next steps?The list of Creative Connectors will be released to the public on October 1st, 2011. The Creative Connectors will be convened at an event on October 25th at World Café Live. On November 30th the entire group of Connectors will be assembled at the Franklin Institute.Questions? news@leadershipphiladelphia.org
WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.