Published: October 27, 2009 09:09 pm      

LETTERS: Oct. 28, 2009

Answer the final call Southern Indiana



I am calling on the residents of Southern Indiana to take part in a very interesting “social” experiment that is coming to an end Saturday.

On behalf of the Leadership Southern Indiana and Paul Ogle Foundation — both organizations that support a strong regional presence for Southern Indiana — I want to encourage all the readers of this newspaper to spend 15 to 20 minutes to share with us the names of those people in your lives that are “connectors,” those people that make things happen in our community, here and in the Louisville region as a whole.

This experiment is based on the writings of Malcolm Gladwell, whose “Tipping Point” book pointed out that there are individuals in every city, county or state that operate in the open or behind the scenes and whose involvement in a project can make it happen or give it legitimacy so that others recognize its importance to get on board to make it happen.

Gladwell tells the story straight out of the American Revolution. Did you know that there were actually two riders that were riding on that cold winter night to alert the residents of Massachusetts that the “British are coming?”

The one we all know is Paul Revere, but the other was an unknown man named William Dawes. Both carried the same message, each riding in opposite directions, and yet it was Revere’s work that was more successful in alerting the local militia, while Dawes ride was not as fruitful based upon the resulting battle outcomes in favor of the British in those following days.

What made Revere successful? Why him and not Dawes? According to the author, there were several traits that Paul Revere exhibited that made him a “connector.” He had a strong network of contacts and people knew him as someone to be trusted — he gets things done. Revere’s actions were the “tipping point” in the course of history.

Leadership Southern Indiana has partnered with Leadership Louisville in this project and it is only the second time that has been attempted, the first being in Philadelphia in 2006. It is hoped that we can identify and honor those people in our community that are true connectors. A secondary benefit will be to study what makes these people connectors and something we could possibly share with future community leaders to have that same kind of impact for the betterment of Southern Indiana.

OK, now here’s the hard part: go to www.louisville

connectors.com and fill out the simple questionnaire. Each question asks you to name people that are innovative and bring the big picture ideas to the table, who is effective in implementing projects, go to for advice outside your socioeconomic group or the person in your own community that you depend the most to make our area the best it can be. You will need 15 to 20 minutes and provide the names and e-mail addresses of these people.

It is our hope that since Southern Indiana represents 15 to 20 percent of the population and in economic impact within the Louisville area, we’ll see the same percentage when results are announced late this year.

To date, more than 2,500 people have chosen to fill out this survey and at least 10 percent of those answering the survey have been from Southern Indiana zip codes, so we are making some headway, but need a final push to up that number.

Consider taking action today to state the case for Southern Indiana and go to www.louisvilleconnec

tors.com. The deadline is Saturday.

— Kent Lanham is executive director of the Paul Ogle Foundation.



Organizers say thanks for cultural event



The Multicultural Outreach Council of the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana, One Southern Indiana and the Hispanic Connection recently played host to Bridges to Cultural Understanding, a public forum and panel discussion featuring Dr. Juana O. Watson, a former adviser to Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels.

Many substantive issues were discussed. Specifically, Dr. Watson, who grew up in an impoverished Mexican village, challenged community members to extend a welcoming hand to anyone from an ethnic minority group who has moved into the community. Such gestures go a long way toward helping assimilation, she said, and failing to do so only encourages further isolation. Dr. Watson is a prime example of the success one can achieve despite significant obstacles and challenges. Her words are born of experience.

On behalf of the council, we would like to thank Dr. Watson, our panelists, our sponsors and attendees and Northside Christian Church for the use of its facilities. More than 100 people turned out, from the areas of business, education, law enforcement, social services and more. Only by talking about the issues that challenge our community can we grow and prosper.

— Michael Waiz, president and CEO, Community Foundation of Southern Indiana and Alice Miles, director, Multicultural

\Outreach Council