A vision for Tallahassee’s future: Learning, Leading and Living | Jim Croteau
Rob Clarke, chair of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce wonders why, as the capital of the third largest state, we lag behind our counterparts elsewhere. Take Austin, Texas for example. Austin is famous for its outstanding food, great live music venues, history, natural beauty, weather, friendly locals and genuine weirdness. Tallahassee has all of that and more. Yet, despite Choose Tallahassee’s efforts, new residents are not flocking in, and college and university graduates are not choosing to stay here.
Clarke echoed Florida Chamber of Commerce CEO Mark Wilson’s call for a clear vision for Tallahassee, but I think it must go beyond private sector economic growth. The vision that is needed is one that directs government, businesses, and citizens to think big about the area’s future.
Tallahassee is Florida’s capital city. My vision is that it should be Florida’s Capital for Learning, Leading and Living. The components are here, but community leaders must think strategically how to be the model for the state and other communities seeking excellence for its citizens.
With a tier-one research university in Florida State, a leading HBCU in Florida A&M, and academic/workforce strides at Tallahassee Community College, 60,000 students spend years in this town. Each of those institutions has the capacity to be the best in the state and among the best in the nation. But it will take big steps to meet FSU’s research to innovation goals, FAMU’s legacy of producing leaders in business and industry and pharmacy, and TCC’s workforce partnership success.
More is needed to become the Capital for Learning, like FSU College of Medicine making Tallahassee Memorial Hospital a first-class teaching hospital, the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering becoming a bio-medical and cyber engineering leader, and FSU and FAMU’s colleges of education partnering in learning research with Leon County’s schools. These are just a few examples.
As the Capital of Leading, no other place in the state has the political decisionmakers gathering and the key elements of government and the courts visible doing the business of the state. This diverse community of ours should be the training ground for future leaders in government, business, and community development.
FSU’s College of Business expansion, FSU and FAMU law schools, TCC’s Institute for Nonprofit Innovation and Excellence are the starting points for real leadership training and practical experiences. And, why are Marist and Quinnipiac colleges the source of polling data for national news rather than Florida State’s Askew School of Public Administration and Policy?
As the Capital for Living, many of the above-mentioned qualities make us special as a place to live and raise children. Arts, sports, history, higher education, health care and creative food options are all here. Workforce housing is becoming harder to find and a previous column suggested ways that FSU and FAMU could innovate in that area. But beautiful changes in seasons and fun sports, entertainment and social activities are not enough.
Tallahassee/Leon County can lead the way in creating neighborhoods and villages that encourage people to interact and share activities. Walkable neighborhoods with mini-parks and connections to shopping and recreation should be the norm. A strong nonprofit sector helping those in need, supported by government, businesses, churches, and citizens is essential. And a variety of employment opportunities with a living wage should be models for small and large businesses.
We have sent community leaders to Austin and Nashville and other places to see how they do things. My vision is that people come to Tallahassee to learn how we became the Capital of Learning, Leading and Living.
Jim Croteau is a retired educator and social services administrator with 52+ years living and working in Tallahassee.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: A vision for Tallahassee’s future: Learning, Leading and Living
