What makes cities successful? Carol Coletta, September 2012

This 18-minute video provides an insightful and provocative look at what makes successful cities and communities by Carol Coletta, former head of CEOs for Cities.  In this speech at the Business Innovation Factory in Providence, RI, she notes that 64% of college graduates first choose a city to live in, and then look for a job, so their must be strong attractants.  A Knight Foundation study, she said, found that attachment to a community is most closely related to how accepting a community is of diversity, its wealth of social offerings, and its aesthetics. She argues that some communities have become too interchangeable and highlights that even the Champs d'Elysees is becoming "more like nowhere because we find the same thing as everywhere."  She adds that "home"--even among multi-home owners--is most clearly defined by connections, distinctiveness, and agency (ability to influence the community's future).  

Is this what Reston possesses?  Is this what the future will be if development around its Metro stations proceeds as currently planned?  Good questions to consider as you watch this presentation.

Please click on "full screen" icon on far right to view the presentation.