Making Change: First Steps
November 18, 2002 @ 7:30 PM on WVIZ
Repeated November 20, 2002 @ 10:30 PM

The loss of ...corporate giants is symbolic of the erosion of Northeast Ohio’s traditional economic base. We are in trouble. But the situation is far from hopeless. There are concrete ways that you and i can begin making change to reinvent our economy. It might seem overwhelming. But as they say… a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Well that journey begins and ends right here in Northeast Ohio. And together, we are taking that first step right now.

You know, you see these headlines, and you might think, “Wow! Our local economy is tanking.“ Well, you’re partially right. The loss of these corporate giants is symbolic of the erosion of Northeast Ohio’s traditional economic base. We are in trouble. But the situation is far from hopeless. There are concrete ways that you and i can begin making change to reinvent our economy. It might seem overwhelming. But as they say… a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Well that journey begins and ends right here in Northeast Ohio. And together, we are taking that first step right now.

UNDERWRITER CREDIT:
Support for Making Change is provided through a grant from the SBC Foundation. SBC companies provide a full range of voice, data, networking and e-business services throughout 13 states, including Ohio.

JH:
If you think there’s nothing you can do to have an impact on our regional economy, you’re wrong! There are first steps you can take that make a big difference. It’s why we’re calling this show… “First Steps.” Hi, I’m Julie Henry. And over the next half hour i’ll introduce you to some local people who are taking steps to reinvent our economy. And listen to this. They’re not economists. They’re not corporate giants. They’re not political power brokers. They’re everyday people who are improving their own lives… and by doing so, actually improving our community. People like Donita Anderson… a stay-at-home mom who is helping to revitalize a local shopping center and neighborhood. Or Frederick and Janice johnson… who took a chance that paid off for their family, and for dozens of small business owners. Or Mandy Melton...

Education Matters
[Mandy Melton] is a college student who is taking her first steps toward earning a paycheck for the quality of her mind rather than the quality of her labor. And by embracing technology and taking advantage of the power of partnerships, she’s heading down a career path she never even dreamed of...

The Entrepreneurial Spirit
We've seen how getting a college degree is an important step toward reinventing our economy. And we've seen how education, business, and government leaders are teaming up to provide support services to local entrepreneurs. Well now we meet a man who is breaking all the rules. Frederick Johnson didn't graduate from college. he didn't get any help from a business incubator when he started his own company. But his brains, bravery, and belief in himself have paid off. And now, he's taking steps to reinvent our local economy… by showing small and medium sized companies how to use technology to grow their businesses...

One Person can Help Change a Community
With all this talk about the importance of embracing new technologies… you might think you have to be a computer whiz to have an impact on our regional economy. But luckily for a lot of us, that's not the case. Sometimes all it takes is vision and determination to begin making change. Donita Anderson had both… and not much else… when she set out to create the North Union Farmers Market almost a decade ago. Today, the market not only gives families access to fresh, organic foods. It's also helped some farmers to quit their day jobs… and helped turn around a neighborhood...