plano has no soul that’s what I heard before I moved here nine years ago has
before I moved here nine years ago has
before I moved here nine years ago has anybody else heard that plano has no
anybody else heard that plano has no
anybody else heard that plano has no soul
soul
soul now everyone agreed plano had great
now everyone agreed plano had great
now everyone agreed plano had great schools good city services it was safe
schools good city services it was safe
schools good city services it was safe affluent but it was soulless just a
affluent but it was soulless just a
affluent but it was soulless just a suburb of Dallas populated by corporate
suburb of Dallas populated by corporate
suburb of Dallas populated by corporate folk all livin in brand-new matching
folk all livin in brand-new matching
folk all livin in brand-new matching McMansions now having lived here a while
McMansions now having lived here a while
McMansions now having lived here a while I think that’s unfair but started me
I think that’s unfair but started me
I think that’s unfair but started me wondering what do we mean when we say a
wondering what do we mean when we say a
wondering what do we mean when we say a city any city has no soul and when I ask
city any city has no soul and when I ask
city any city has no soul and when I ask people what are some cities that do have
people what are some cities that do have
people what are some cities that do have souls
souls
souls why don’t always get the same answers
why don’t always get the same answers
why don’t always get the same answers everybody says New Orleans many people
everybody says New Orleans many people
everybody says New Orleans many people said New York Austin Boston San Antonio
said New York Austin Boston San Antonio
said New York Austin Boston San Antonio San Francisco what is it that gives
San Francisco what is it that gives
San Francisco what is it that gives these cities their souls as a journalist
these cities their souls as a journalist
these cities their souls as a journalist covering religion
covering religion
covering religion I learned that almost every major faith
I learned that almost every major faith
I learned that almost every major faith tradition has some concept of soul so it
tradition has some concept of soul so it
tradition has some concept of soul so it stands to reason a community which is a
stands to reason a community which is a
stands to reason a community which is a living breathing organism might have
living breathing organism might have
living breathing organism might have some shared heartbeat that we could call
some shared heartbeat that we could call
some shared heartbeat that we could call its soul some thing that makes that
its soul some thing that makes that
its soul some thing that makes that community more than just a good place to
community more than just a good place to
community more than just a good place to raise kids or a good place to build a
raise kids or a good place to build a
raise kids or a good place to build a career it’s a place where we belong a
career it’s a place where we belong a
career it’s a place where we belong a place where people know our names where
place where people know our names where
place where people know our names where we have something to contribute a place
we have something to contribute a place
we have something to contribute a place that nourishes our spirits now if we
that nourishes our spirits now if we
that nourishes our spirits now if we listen to the wisdom of the world’s
listen to the wisdom of the world’s
listen to the wisdom of the world’s great religious traditions
great religious traditions
great religious traditions we learn that those Souls need tending
we learn that those Souls need tending
we learn that those Souls need tending you don’t become a good Christian or
you don’t become a good Christian or
you don’t become a good Christian or good Muslim or a good Jew by making up
good Muslim or a good Jew by making up
good Muslim or a good Jew by making up your mind you practice spiritual
your mind you practice spiritual
your mind you practice spiritual disciplines like prayer or alms giving
disciplines like prayer or alms giving
disciplines like prayer or alms giving or doing good deeds so that’s the idea
or doing good deeds so that’s the idea
or doing good deeds so that’s the idea so you tend to those souls and that’s
so you tend to those souls and that’s
so you tend to those souls and that’s the idea I want to share with you today
the idea I want to share with you today
the idea I want to share with you today what if we nurtured the souls of our
what if we nurtured the souls of our
what if we nurtured the souls of our communities with the same intentional
communities with the same intentional
communities with the same intentional focus that we give to maintaining our
focus that we give to maintaining our
focus that we give to maintaining our schools or maintaining our roads what
schools or maintaining our roads what
schools or maintaining our roads what would that look like
would that look like
would that look like now you can’t buy a soul as the AppStore
now you can’t buy a soul as the AppStore
now you can’t buy a soul as the AppStore there’s no ad campaign that’s going to
there’s no ad campaign that’s going to
there’s no ad campaign that’s going to make a city soulful it has to happen
make a city soulful it has to happen
make a city soulful it has to happen organically but I do think that there
organically but I do think that there
organically but I do think that there are ways that we can individually
are ways that we can individually
are ways that we can individually contribute to the soulfulness of our
contribute to the soulfulness of our
contribute to the soulfulness of our city we can make individual choices and
city we can make individual choices and
city we can make individual choices and they relate to three things that I think
they relate to three things that I think
they relate to three things that I think all soulful cities have in common a
all soulful cities have in common a
all soulful cities have in common a shared history shared conversation and a
shared history shared conversation and a
shared history shared conversation and a shared story I learned the value of
shared story I learned the value of
shared story I learned the value of shared history when I lived in Boston in
shared history when I lived in Boston in
shared history when I lived in Boston in my 20s my home was a 19th century 19th
my 20s my home was a 19th century 19th
my 20s my home was a 19th century 19th century brownstone my church was the
century brownstone my church was the
century brownstone my church was the place where Benjamin Franklin was
place where Benjamin Franklin was
place where Benjamin Franklin was baptized being a Bostonian meant
baptized being a Bostonian meant
baptized being a Bostonian meant breathing Boston’s history connecting to
breathing Boston’s history connecting to
breathing Boston’s history connecting to it and wanting to help write that future
it and wanting to help write that future
it and wanting to help write that future write that history going forward
write that history going forward
write that history going forward Boston’s history gives that city of soul
Boston’s history gives that city of soul
Boston’s history gives that city of soul shared conversation is what made New
shared conversation is what made New
shared conversation is what made New Orleans so soulful it’s a port city that
Orleans so soulful it’s a port city that
Orleans so soulful it’s a port city that brought together Spanish and French and
brought together Spanish and French and
brought together Spanish and French and African American people cooks sampled
African American people cooks sampled
African American people cooks sampled each other’s foods and exchanged ideas
each other’s foods and exchanged ideas
each other’s foods and exchanged ideas and the result was New Orleans
and the result was New Orleans
and the result was New Orleans one-of-a-kind cuisine musicians who
one-of-a-kind cuisine musicians who
one-of-a-kind cuisine musicians who they spoke different languages jumped
they spoke different languages jumped
they spoke different languages jumped into this improvised musical
into this improvised musical
into this improvised musical conversation and New Orleans became the
conversation and New Orleans became the
conversation and New Orleans became the birthplace of jazz shared story is what
birthplace of jazz shared story is what
birthplace of jazz shared story is what gives a community its unique identity it
gives a community its unique identity it
gives a community its unique identity it distills the teeming varied life of a
distills the teeming varied life of a
distills the teeming varied life of a community into a single narrative and
community into a single narrative and
community into a single narrative and that captures the imagination it’s a
that captures the imagination it’s a
that captures the imagination it’s a story that people want to be a part of
story that people want to be a part of
story that people want to be a part of so think of the story of Silicon Valley
so think of the story of Silicon Valley
so think of the story of Silicon Valley if you want to be in the middle of the
if you want to be in the middle of the
if you want to be in the middle of the tech revolution that’s where you go now
tech revolution that’s where you go now
tech revolution that’s where you go now there’s one key ingredient that helps
there’s one key ingredient that helps
there’s one key ingredient that helps that story emerge creative people
that story emerge creative people
that story emerge creative people storytellers they see everything that’s
storytellers they see everything that’s
storytellers they see everything that’s happening and they tell a story through
happening and they tell a story through
happening and they tell a story through pop culture or through art or even
pop culture or through art or even
pop culture or through art or even through a bumper sticker take New York
through a bumper sticker take New York
through a bumper sticker take New York we know that there are eight million
we know that there are eight million
we know that there are eight million stories in The Naked City but chances
stories in The Naked City but chances
stories in The Naked City but chances are you know New York through a single
are you know New York through a single
are you know New York through a single narrative such as New York it’s the city
narrative such as New York it’s the city
narrative such as New York it’s the city that never sleeps and if you can make it
that never sleeps and if you can make it
that never sleeps and if you can make it there you can make it anywhere now how
there you can make it anywhere now how
there you can make it anywhere now how do we know that through pop culture
do we know that through pop culture
do we know that through pop culture through a little song sung by a guy
through a little song sung by a guy
through a little song sung by a guy named Sinatra so a city with Seoul has a
named Sinatra so a city with Seoul has a
named Sinatra so a city with Seoul has a shared history shared conversation and a
shared history shared conversation and a
shared history shared conversation and a shared story now what if those are
shared story now what if those are
shared story now what if those are missing can we tend to the soul of a
missing can we tend to the soul of a
missing can we tend to the soul of a city that has no soul I think we can and
city that has no soul I think we can and
city that has no soul I think we can and for an example let’s look at the city
for an example let’s look at the city
for an example let’s look at the city where we are right now Plano Texas now
where we are right now Plano Texas now
where we are right now Plano Texas now Plato makes a great case study because
Plato makes a great case study because
Plato makes a great case study because Plano literally had a national
Plano literally had a national
Plano literally had a national reputation as a sterile soulless suburb
reputation as a sterile soulless suburb
reputation as a sterile soulless suburb and it started with tragedy in the 1980s
and it started with tragedy in the 1980s
and it started with tragedy in the 1980s we had a series of suicides and in the
we had a series of suicides and in the
we had a series of suicides and in the 1990s we faced a heroin crisis
1990s we faced a heroin crisis
1990s we faced a heroin crisis and that brought the national media
and that brought the national media
and that brought the national media spotlight to Plano and it resulted in
spotlight to Plano and it resulted in
spotlight to Plano and it resulted in coverage like the article by Rolling
coverage like the article by Rolling
coverage like the article by Rolling Stone that called Plano a pop-up city
Stone that called Plano a pop-up city
Stone that called Plano a pop-up city and a sea of gated communities and
and a sea of gated communities and
and a sea of gated communities and subdivisions but Plano is not that
subdivisions but Plano is not that
subdivisions but Plano is not that different from other big new
different from other big new
different from other big new fast-growing suburbs around the u.s.
fast-growing suburbs around the u.s.
fast-growing suburbs around the u.s. like the ones outside of Atlanta or
like the ones outside of Atlanta or
like the ones outside of Atlanta or outside of DC or Raleigh North Carolina
outside of DC or Raleigh North Carolina
outside of DC or Raleigh North Carolina these suburbs mushroomed in the last
these suburbs mushroomed in the last
these suburbs mushroomed in the last three or four decades around corporate
three or four decades around corporate
three or four decades around corporate and university hubs they’re new they’re
and university hubs they’re new they’re
and university hubs they’re new they’re affluent and they’re populated by highly
affluent and they’re populated by highly
affluent and they’re populated by highly educated people they’re great places to
educated people they’re great places to
educated people they’re great places to live but they can seem soulless why
live but they can seem soulless why
live but they can seem soulless why because they lack that shared history
because they lack that shared history
because they lack that shared history they feel rootless in these suburbs
they feel rootless in these suburbs
they feel rootless in these suburbs corporate nomads could move in into a
corporate nomads could move in into a
corporate nomads could move in into a lovely new home but the kids in a great
lovely new home but the kids in a great
lovely new home but the kids in a great school and then move on in a couple of
school and then move on in a couple of
school and then move on in a couple of years people who don’t plan to stay very
years people who don’t plan to stay very
years people who don’t plan to stay very long naturally don’t put down deep roots
long naturally don’t put down deep roots
long naturally don’t put down deep roots they don’t get to know the history of a
they don’t get to know the history of a
they don’t get to know the history of a city but that changes as the city
city but that changes as the city
city but that changes as the city matures take Plano a surprising number
matures take Plano a surprising number
matures take Plano a surprising number of people are choosing to retire here
of people are choosing to retire here
of people are choosing to retire here now and many are staying longer in 2000
now and many are staying longer in 2000
now and many are staying longer in 2000 two-thirds of our community two-thirds
two-thirds of our community two-thirds
two-thirds of our community two-thirds of our residents had lived here five
of our residents had lived here five
of our residents had lived here five years or less today only about a third
years or less today only about a third
years or less today only about a third are newbies and a quarter of our
are newbies and a quarter of our
are newbies and a quarter of our residents have lived here 15 years or
residents have lived here 15 years or
residents have lived here 15 years or longer as people stay they start to put
longer as people stay they start to put
longer as people stay they start to put down roots and they get interested in
down roots and they get interested in
down roots and they get interested in the history of a city and Plano now has
the history of a city and Plano now has
the history of a city and Plano now has an enthusiastic group of citizens who
an enthusiastic group of citizens who
an enthusiastic group of citizens who are weaving our history into the life of
are weaving our history into the life of
are weaving our history into the life of our city people like Russ he’s the one
our city people like Russ he’s the one
our city people like Russ he’s the one in blue Russ realized that kids here had
in blue Russ realized that kids here had
in blue Russ realized that kids here had no sense of history no rootedness so he
no sense of history no rootedness so he
no sense of history no rootedness so he started he helped start a museum now
started he helped start a museum now
started he helped start a museum now Russ is telling school kids about planos
Russ is telling school kids about planos
Russ is telling school kids about planos history
history
history every day another reason why growing
every day another reason why growing
every day another reason why growing fast growing suburbs may seem solace is
fast growing suburbs may seem solace is
fast growing suburbs may seem solace is because they lack those shared
because they lack those shared
because they lack those shared conversations busy cities are full of
conversations busy cities are full of
conversations busy cities are full of busy people and it’s easy for us to stay
busy people and it’s easy for us to stay
busy people and it’s easy for us to stay siloed in our jobs and our homes and our
siloed in our jobs and our homes and our
siloed in our jobs and our homes and our own groups now remember in New Orleans
own groups now remember in New Orleans
own groups now remember in New Orleans the place that brought this unique mix
the place that brought this unique mix
the place that brought this unique mix of people together into shared
of people together into shared
of people together into shared conversation and the result was John
conversation and the result was John
conversation and the result was John balaiah and jazz fast-growing suburbs
balaiah and jazz fast-growing suburbs
balaiah and jazz fast-growing suburbs have half of that equation
have half of that equation
have half of that equation they attract educated ambitious people
they attract educated ambitious people
they attract educated ambitious people from different cultures around the world
from different cultures around the world
from different cultures around the world as these suburbs mature they become
as these suburbs mature they become
as these suburbs mature they become incredibly diverse and eventually those
incredibly diverse and eventually those
incredibly diverse and eventually those shared conversations start to emerge so
shared conversations start to emerge so
shared conversations start to emerge so people come out to festivals that draw
people come out to festivals that draw
people come out to festivals that draw different cultures together or they’ll
different cultures together or they’ll
different cultures together or they’ll come out to bustling new developments to
come out to bustling new developments to
come out to bustling new developments to walk around outside and have some food
walk around outside and have some food
walk around outside and have some food and some fun and family time or they
and some fun and family time or they
and some fun and family time or they might join a shared conversation like
might join a shared conversation like
might join a shared conversation like the one started by Nick he’s a young
the one started by Nick he’s a young
the one started by Nick he’s a young Plano resident this group meets in
Plano resident this group meets in
Plano resident this group meets in ethnic restaurants and they hear from
ethnic restaurants and they hear from
ethnic restaurants and they hear from people who grew up in that culture
people who grew up in that culture
people who grew up in that culture shared conversation happens when people
shared conversation happens when people
shared conversation happens when people start moving past tolerance and start
start moving past tolerance and start
start moving past tolerance and start talking to each other and then there’s
talking to each other and then there’s
talking to each other and then there’s the shared conversation right here
the shared conversation right here
the shared conversation right here TEDx Plano where we we’ve got a variety
TEDx Plano where we we’ve got a variety
TEDx Plano where we we’ve got a variety of people who’ve come together with no
of people who’ve come together with no
of people who’ve come together with no agenda except to share ideas how cool is
agenda except to share ideas how cool is
agenda except to share ideas how cool is that
that
that finally fast-growing suburbs can feel
finally fast-growing suburbs can feel
finally fast-growing suburbs can feel soulless because they lack that shared
soulless because they lack that shared
soulless because they lack that shared story
story
story they’re just suburbs they don’t seem to
they’re just suburbs they don’t seem to
they’re just suburbs they don’t seem to have unique identities I’ve started to
have unique identities I’ve started to
have unique identities I’ve started to think about that a little differently
think about that a little differently
think about that a little differently these are newer cities their stories are
these are newer cities their stories are
these are newer cities their stories are still being written
still being written
still being written places like Plano don’t lack souls they
places like Plano don’t lack souls they
places like Plano don’t lack souls they are empty canvases
are empty canvases
are empty canvases if you’re creative you love the idea of
if you’re creative you love the idea of
if you’re creative you love the idea of an empty canvas it’s an opportunity to
an empty canvas it’s an opportunity to
an empty canvas it’s an opportunity to imagine and invent that’s why creative
imagine and invent that’s why creative
imagine and invent that’s why creative people are migrating to Detroit they
people are migrating to Detroit they
people are migrating to Detroit they love the idea of building a new city out
love the idea of building a new city out
love the idea of building a new city out of ruins the good news is that
of ruins the good news is that
of ruins the good news is that fast-growing suburbs are not that
fast-growing suburbs are not that
fast-growing suburbs are not that entrenched it’s relatively easy to start
entrenched it’s relatively easy to start
entrenched it’s relatively easy to start a museum or a dinner group or TEDx and
a museum or a dinner group or TEDx and
a museum or a dinner group or TEDx and that’s the soil where the shared story
that’s the soil where the shared story
that’s the soil where the shared story will eventually blossom so what’s your
will eventually blossom so what’s your
will eventually blossom so what’s your community story and who will write it
community story and who will write it
community story and who will write it find your creatives they may be artists
find your creatives they may be artists
find your creatives they may be artists they may be talented people who work in
they may be talented people who work in
they may be talented people who work in marketing or technology or design that’s
marketing or technology or design that’s
marketing or technology or design that’s the raw material for a soulful city
the raw material for a soulful city
the raw material for a soulful city smart creative people diversity ambition
smart creative people diversity ambition
smart creative people diversity ambition imagination so if you live in a city
imagination so if you live in a city
imagination so if you live in a city that you think feels like it has no soul
that you think feels like it has no soul
that you think feels like it has no soul I leave you today with three challenges
I leave you today with three challenges
I leave you today with three challenges get to know a little about your city’s
get to know a little about your city’s
get to know a little about your city’s history its origin story find a way to
history its origin story find a way to
history its origin story find a way to get out of your silo and join one of
get out of your silo and join one of
get out of your silo and join one of those shared conversations or start one
those shared conversations or start one
those shared conversations or start one hang out downtown read the local paper
hang out downtown read the local paper
hang out downtown read the local paper and finally get inspired by then empty
and finally get inspired by then empty
and finally get inspired by then empty canvas ask yourself what would make my
canvas ask yourself what would make my
canvas ask yourself what would make my community a place that truly connects to
community a place that truly connects to
community a place that truly connects to my soul and if that’s missing don’t
my soul and if that’s missing don’t
my soul and if that’s missing don’t write off the community make it happen
write off the community make it happen
write off the community make it happen what could be more exciting than helping
what could be more exciting than helping
what could be more exciting than helping to shape the soul of a city you might
to shape the soul of a city you might
to shape the soul of a city you might just transform it from the place that
just transform it from the place that
just transform it from the place that you live to a place that you love a
you live to a place that you love a
you live to a place that you love a place
place
place that truly hold your heart thank you
”
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