Ed Morrison · The national leadership of Roy Church and Luis Proenza

April 23rd, 2009

Yesterday, I was in Washington DC representing Purdue University on the Education Council of the National Association of Manufacturers. The Council consists of about 30 members drawn from all levels of education across the country.

Roy Church, the president over Lorain County Community College, sits on this Council. The work of this group is fascinating. They are sharing their innovations in moving away from systems of public education that no longer work. Their focus is not education reform but education transformation.

Among other things, we got a briefing from the Boston Consulting Group on new international research focusing on the linkage between education and innovation.

I came away from my meeting of the Council impressed by the extent to which Roy Church has become a national voice for education transformation.

The day before, I was representing Purdue University at the Council on Competitiveness in Washington.

A smaller gathering, this meeting focused on the evolving role of colleges and universities in regional economic development. The staff from the Council had called together representatives from Penn State, The University of Akron, and Purdue to explore a national network of colleges and universities guiding the development of new models of regional economic development.

This week, we were exploring new models of regional leadership. It’s clear to me that Penn State, The University of Akron, and Purdue will form the core of this new network.

Back in Cleveland, civic “leaders” are still trying to decide — after a decade of trying — where to locate a convention center. (Which, if wildly successful, will generate low wage jobs in the hospitality industry.)

The pie fight continues.

Last 5 posts by Ed Morrison

Random Posts

Category: BFD
6 Comments »

6 Responses to “The national leadership of Roy Church and Luis Proenza”

  1. Rick Pollack Says:
    April 23rd, 2009 at 9:40 am

    Speaking of Lorain County Community College…I actually enrolled this session to take the 1-hour course in their Fab Lab (I drive an hour each way from my home in Shaker to take this class). It cost me about $125 and it is money well spent!! The best part is that you don’t have to enroll to use their Fab Lab, it is Free and Open To The Public. (I really hope the new Fab Lab at Nela Park opens to the public soon – they are too valuable to close off). If you don’t know what a Fab Lab is (it stands for Fabrication Laboratory) do yourself a favor 1) google Fab Lab and learn about Personal/Desktop Fabrication – you can Make (almost) Anything 2) head over to LCCC and check out their Fab Lab – it is run and staffed by great people, people who are very willing to help you learn how to use the equipment and create whatever it is that you are trying to create. They have two very nice laser cutters/engravers, a desktop mill, a shopbot, two vinyl cutters and a 3d printer (only the 3d printer has a cost due to cost of source materials).

    Of the 40 (or so) Fab Labs in the world, two of them are in Cleveland. Personal Fabrication is a very big deal…be sure to take some time to learn what resources are available and what you can do with them…

    Google ‘LCCC Fab Lab’ to get the lab hours and learn more about the resources available. They’ve had the Fab Lab for about four years. It took tremendous vision to bring it here. I can’t say enough good stuff about LCCC and the people involved with the Fab Lab. Well Done and Thank You.

  2. lmcshane Says:
    April 23rd, 2009 at 1:21 pm

    This is great stuff Rick–I would love to see a full article on the project in the PD. The science writer John Mangels has been putting out some great articles.
    http://fab.cba.mit.edu/

  3. Ed Morrison Says:
    April 24th, 2009 at 6:12 am

    Rick:

    Thanks! I did not know about the Fab Lab at LCCC. That’s exciting news! I have been following this trend for some years out of MIT. It has big implications for manufacturing and economic development.

  4. Rick Pollack Says:
    April 24th, 2009 at 9:30 am

    I couldn’t agree more Ed. This Fab Lab bit has me wondering what other little/big secrets Cleveland++ is hiding…

    Laura – let me know when you are heading out the Lab…I am there Tuesday afternoons for my class and then I usually hang out until 5:00 (closing time) making stuff…

    Unfortunately, the Fab Lab will be closing in May for the summer for renovations…

  5. lmcshane Says:
    April 24th, 2009 at 9:58 am

    You mention two sites–where is the other Fab Lab?

  6. Rick Pollack Says:
    April 24th, 2009 at 10:06 am

    One opened this year in Nela Park but it is not open to the public – most unfortunate.