Walsh plans symposium

Staff report

NORTH CANTON

Google Inc. visionary Jaime Casap, global education evangelist, will headline the Intelligent Community Forum 2014 Global Symposium, Brain Gain + Innovation: Creating Growth in an Age of Disruption on Oct. 22 at Walsh University.

This year’s symposium will focus on exploring global innovations in technology, arts and education to produce economic reform and create new jobs.

Presented by Walsh University’s ICF Institute for the Study of the Intelligent Community, the third annual Global Symposium will run Oct. 21-22. The cost to attend the Oct. 22 public symposium, including lunch, is $7, and registration is required at www.walsh.edu/symposium14 or by calling 330-490-7442.

“What makes this symposium unique is the direct interaction between our global presenters and Stark County community and business leaders,” said Jacqueline DeGarmo, director of the Walsh Institute for the Study of the Intelligent Community. “This year’s event will focus on innovations that have helped transform communities similar to Stark County through economic growth and innovative new jobs resulting in ‘Brain Gain,’ where infrastructure and culture help entice talented graduates to remain local. It is our hope that the symposium will spark the same outcomes in our own local community.”

The two-day symposium will kick off with the President’s Reception on Oct. 21, featuring the worldwide, live announcement of the ICF 2015 Smart21 Communities of the Year. The Smart21 Communities announcement will be made by Intelligent Community Forum co-founder and Walsh alum Louis Zacharilla (’77) and will be streamed live online.

Also planned Oct. 22, 8:30 to 11 a.m. is Barrette Business and Community Center, “The Challenge: Creating a Platform for Innovation,” with Christian Long, co-founder, Wonder, By Design; Alvaro Alberqueque, Chief of Staff to the President, the Brazilian Small Business Agency, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Tim Jones, CEO, Artscape Toronto, Ontario.

From 11:30 a.m. to 1:10 p.m. at Barrette Business and Community Center will be “The Promise: Talent, Growth and the Power of the Web,” with keynote address by Casap.

From 1:30 to 3 p.m. at Birk Center for the Arts will be a town-hall meeting, “The Practice: Attracting and Keeping Innovators,” with host Dan Mathieson, mayor of Stratford Ontario. Also included are Kristina Verner, director of Intelligent Communities at Waterfront Toronto; and Norm Jacknis, senior fellow, ICF Rural Imperative.