specifically what I want to talk today about is the identity of the city of
about is the identity of the city of
about is the identity of the city of Denham Springs it’s the way we present
Denham Springs it’s the way we present
Denham Springs it’s the way we present ourselves the way we are perceived as a
ourselves the way we are perceived as a
ourselves the way we are perceived as a community at large so the three
community at large so the three
community at large so the three questions that I want to focus on are
questions that I want to focus on are
questions that I want to focus on are how do we present ourselves how are we
how do we present ourselves how are we
how do we present ourselves how are we perceived and what is our community’s
perceived and what is our community’s
perceived and what is our community’s identity or if you want to think of it
identity or if you want to think of it
identity or if you want to think of it kind of in a marketing sense you can you
kind of in a marketing sense you can you
kind of in a marketing sense you can you can kind of you can kind of say what you
can kind of you can kind of say what you
can kind of you can kind of say what you can kind of define what would our brand
can kind of define what would our brand
can kind of define what would our brand be what would be our tagline and what is
be what would be our tagline and what is
be what would be our tagline and what is our look I’m curious to know of anybody
our look I’m curious to know of anybody
our look I’m curious to know of anybody who think of anything at all because I
who think of anything at all because I
who think of anything at all because I personally can I can think of different
personally can I can think of different
personally can I can think of different aspects of our identity but I can’t
aspects of our identity but I can’t
aspects of our identity but I can’t think of anything that is that comes
think of anything that is that comes
think of anything that is that comes together as a holistic identity I can
together as a holistic identity I can
together as a holistic identity I can think of our history I can think of the
think of our history I can think of the
think of our history I can think of the Amite River people moving next to the
Amite River people moving next to the
Amite River people moving next to the Springs of resources built some families
Springs of resources built some families
Springs of resources built some families get married the name Denham Springs
get married the name Denham Springs
get married the name Denham Springs comes into existence railroad comes
comes into existence railroad comes
comes into existence railroad comes through there’s loving cities
through there’s loving cities
through there’s loving cities incorporated in 1903 there’s an ore
incorporated in 1903 there’s an ore
incorporated in 1903 there’s an ore factory somewhere in the mix interstate
factory somewhere in the mix interstate
factory somewhere in the mix interstate 12 was built and then of course we have
12 was built and then of course we have
12 was built and then of course we have the Great Flood just last year I can
the Great Flood just last year I can
the Great Flood just last year I can think of our economic identity keep our
think of our economic identity keep our
think of our economic identity keep our tax dollars in the city I can keep I can
tax dollars in the city I can keep I can
tax dollars in the city I can keep I can think of our demographic identity over
think of our demographic identity over
think of our demographic identity over the largest state in one of the fastest
the largest state in one of the fastest
the largest state in one of the fastest growing parishes in the state I think of
growing parishes in the state I think of
growing parishes in the state I think of all of our institutions all of our
all of our institutions all of our
all of our institutions all of our churches I can think of our
churches I can think of our
churches I can think of our neighborhoods and our infrastructure but
neighborhoods and our infrastructure but
neighborhoods and our infrastructure but I can’t put my finger on anything in
I can’t put my finger on anything in
I can’t put my finger on anything in particular that I would count as Denham
particular that I would count as Denham
particular that I would count as Denham Springs holistic identity to give you
Springs holistic identity to give you
Springs holistic identity to give you guys an idea of what I’m talking about
guys an idea of what I’m talking about
guys an idea of what I’m talking about when I say of identity all you have to
when I say of identity all you have to
when I say of identity all you have to do is kind of
do is kind of
do is kind of around the state you can kind of see
around the state you can kind of see
around the state you can kind of see some other examples there are some some
some other examples there are some some
some other examples there are some some they’re pretty big and obvious banks
they’re pretty big and obvious banks
they’re pretty big and obvious banks with us we have Baton Rouge the red
with us we have Baton Rouge the red
with us we have Baton Rouge the red stick to capital city New Orleans is an
stick to capital city New Orleans is an
stick to capital city New Orleans is an easy one it’s the Big Easy with blaze
easy one it’s the Big Easy with blaze
easy one it’s the Big Easy with blaze they live on Tom brulee there are some
they live on Tom brulee there are some
they live on Tom brulee there are some cities that have a great era of
cities that have a great era of
cities that have a great era of Romanticism invested in their identity
Romanticism invested in their identity
Romanticism invested in their identity Slidell is the chameleon city st. Martin
Slidell is the chameleon city st. Martin
Slidell is the chameleon city st. Martin Hill is the birthplace of Acadiana there
Hill is the birthplace of Acadiana there
Hill is the birthplace of Acadiana there are tons of world capitals throughout
are tons of world capitals throughout
are tons of world capitals throughout Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana paka tool is the strawberry capital
paka tool is the strawberry capital
paka tool is the strawberry capital world rover age the crawfish capital of
world rover age the crawfish capital of
world rover age the crawfish capital of the world goons out so the jambalaya
the world goons out so the jambalaya
the world goons out so the jambalaya capital in the world
capital in the world
capital in the world rainy is the Frog capital of the world
rainy is the Frog capital of the world
rainy is the Frog capital of the world super weird but they work and even a
super weird but they work and even a
super weird but they work and even a beautiful neighborhood Walker bills
beautiful neighborhood Walker bills
beautiful neighborhood Walker bills itself as the pine tree capital of the
itself as the pine tree capital of the
itself as the pine tree capital of the world those are all awesome examples of
world those are all awesome examples of
world those are all awesome examples of cities they own their identity and
cities they own their identity and
cities they own their identity and present themselves into the world in a
present themselves into the world in a
present themselves into the world in a way that is memorable and it gives you
way that is memorable and it gives you
way that is memorable and it gives you insight into who their people are and
insight into who their people are and
insight into who their people are and what they’re all about
so where does that leave Denham Springs
so where does that leave Denham Springs what’s our tagline how are we presented
what’s our tagline how are we presented
what’s our tagline how are we presented and received the only thing I can think
and received the only thing I can think
and received the only thing I can think of is stinky Springs which I think all
of is stinky Springs which I think all
of is stinky Springs which I think all of us would say is pretty inaccurate
of us would say is pretty inaccurate
of us would say is pretty inaccurate I’ve lived here my entire life I’ve gone
I’ve lived here my entire life I’ve gone
I’ve lived here my entire life I’ve gone to school here opened a business here
to school here opened a business here
to school here opened a business here purchased my home here now I’m actually
purchased my home here now I’m actually
purchased my home here now I’m actually the fifth generation of my family to
the fifth generation of my family to
the fifth generation of my family to call them Springs home but even with all
call them Springs home but even with all
call them Springs home but even with all that dinners brings credibility I can’t
that dinners brings credibility I can’t
that dinners brings credibility I can’t put my finger on any one thing that is
put my finger on any one thing that is
put my finger on any one thing that is our cohesive cultural identity I think
our cohesive cultural identity I think
our cohesive cultural identity I think the bottom line is that we just don’t
the bottom line is that we just don’t
the bottom line is that we just don’t have that we just don’t have a cohesive
have that we just don’t have a cohesive
have that we just don’t have a cohesive cultural identity as a city that begs
cultural identity as a city that begs
cultural identity as a city that begs the question how come I think I think
the question how come I think I think
the question how come I think I think that somewhere along the way the process
that somewhere along the way the process
that somewhere along the way the process got hijacked and I think I actually know
got hijacked and I think I actually know
got hijacked and I think I actually know when
when
when I think in the 70s when the interstate
I think in the 70s when the interstate
I think in the 70s when the interstate came through and brought with it so much
came through and brought with it so much
came through and brought with it so much traffic that traffic brought with it
traffic that traffic brought with it
traffic that traffic brought with it need to define and describe new places
need to define and describe new places
need to define and describe new places Denham Springs was just like a lot of
Denham Springs was just like a lot of
Denham Springs was just like a lot of other cities around the country
other cities around the country
other cities around the country I got transformed with a small city
I got transformed with a small city
I got transformed with a small city thing transform buggy interstate sprawl
thing transform buggy interstate sprawl
thing transform buggy interstate sprawl and I think that’s when during that
and I think that’s when during that
and I think that’s when during that transformation and labeling that denims
transformation and labeling that denims
transformation and labeling that denims proximity to Baton Rouge was the first
proximity to Baton Rouge was the first
proximity to Baton Rouge was the first idea of note and it kind of stuck I
idea of note and it kind of stuck I
idea of note and it kind of stuck I think it was around that time we were
think it was around that time we were
think it was around that time we were kind of saddled with a bit of a pseudo
kind of saddled with a bit of a pseudo
kind of saddled with a bit of a pseudo identity and I call it a pseudo identity
identity and I call it a pseudo identity
identity and I call it a pseudo identity because it’s not place specific so it
because it’s not place specific so it
because it’s not place specific so it can be our specific identity there are
can be our specific identity there are
can be our specific identity there are lots of other communities that are
lots of other communities that are
lots of other communities that are described in this way it’s actually more
described in this way it’s actually more
described in this way it’s actually more of a label and the label that gets
of a label and the label that gets
of a label and the label that gets thrown around everywhere you see is that
thrown around everywhere you see is that
thrown around everywhere you see is that community there are a few prominent
community there are a few prominent
community there are a few prominent examples this is the living City anomic
examples this is the living City anomic
examples this is the living City anomic development councils website their
development councils website their
development councils website their description in the city of Denham
description in the city of Denham
description in the city of Denham Springs Denham Springs boasts the best
Springs Denham Springs boasts the best
Springs Denham Springs boasts the best of the veterinarian small-town charm
of the veterinarian small-town charm
of the veterinarian small-town charm with a basic convenience Livingston
with a basic convenience Livingston
with a basic convenience Livingston Parish Council where Denham Springs
Parish Council where Denham Springs
Parish Council where Denham Springs residents are offered the harbor in the
residents are offered the harbor in the
residents are offered the harbor in the bedroom community this is an example of
bedroom community this is an example of
bedroom community this is an example of the national media attention that we’ve
the national media attention that we’ve
the national media attention that we’ve received after the flood in this Wall
received after the flood in this Wall
received after the flood in this Wall Street Journal art is kind of indicative
Street Journal art is kind of indicative
Street Journal art is kind of indicative of a way the way that a lot of news
of a way the way that a lot of news
of a way the way that a lot of news media outlets across the country wrote
media outlets across the country wrote
media outlets across the country wrote about everyone from Fox News CNN Chicago
about everyone from Fox News CNN Chicago
about everyone from Fox News CNN Chicago Tribune tons of other daily papers they
Tribune tons of other daily papers they
Tribune tons of other daily papers they say one month after the flooding
say one month after the flooding
say one month after the flooding devastated this bedroom community of
devastated this bedroom community of
devastated this bedroom community of roughly 10
roughly 10
roughly 10 people outside of that proves you down
people outside of that proves you down
people outside of that proves you down the idiotic and then it gets into it
the idiotic and then it gets into it
the idiotic and then it gets into it also if you’ve ever been anywhere online
also if you’ve ever been anywhere online
also if you’ve ever been anywhere online you’re buying or selling any real estate
you’re buying or selling any real estate
you’re buying or selling any real estate or traveling anywhere or if you’re
or traveling anywhere or if you’re
or traveling anywhere or if you’re looking at some of our local media
looking at some of our local media
looking at some of our local media especially some of the more behind
especially some of the more behind
especially some of the more behind century boys you can’t help but to
century boys you can’t help but to
century boys you can’t help but to absolutely trip over all the times
absolutely trip over all the times
absolutely trip over all the times Denham Springs is described simply as a
Denham Springs is described simply as a
Denham Springs is described simply as a beds in the community so cement beckons
beds in the community so cement beckons
beds in the community so cement beckons me it’s both what we’re putting down and
me it’s both what we’re putting down and
me it’s both what we’re putting down and what everybody else is picking back up
what everybody else is picking back up
what everybody else is picking back up it sounds fine I mean that’s the
it sounds fine I mean that’s the
it sounds fine I mean that’s the community it sounds actually kind of
community it sounds actually kind of
community it sounds actually kind of warm in public when you set up but in a
warm in public when you set up but in a
warm in public when you set up but in a reality I think it’s probably actually a
reality I think it’s probably actually a
reality I think it’s probably actually a pretty mistake pretty big mistake and
pretty mistake pretty big mistake and
pretty mistake pretty big mistake and overall just a very low bar to set for
overall just a very low bar to set for
overall just a very low bar to set for ourselves first
ourselves first
ourselves first what bedroom community technically means
what bedroom community technically means
what bedroom community technically means is a commuter city where the residents
is a commuter city where the residents
is a commuter city where the residents have to commute for either work or to be
have to commute for either work or to be
have to commute for either work or to be in touch with different amenities but on
in touch with different amenities but on
in touch with different amenities but on top of that definition there are
top of that definition there are
top of that definition there are actually a lot of different inferences
actually a lot of different inferences
actually a lot of different inferences that can be made automatically it
that can be made automatically it
that can be made automatically it implies that we’re not self-sufficient
implies that we’re not self-sufficient
implies that we’re not self-sufficient which in turn implies that were
which in turn implies that were
which in turn implies that were dependent on another city in some ways
dependent on another city in some ways
dependent on another city in some ways it’s true in some ways it’s true in that
it’s true in some ways it’s true in that
it’s true in some ways it’s true in that all cities to some extent are very
all cities to some extent are very
all cities to some extent are very dependent on each other but the label
dependent on each other but the label
dependent on each other but the label presents itself is sort of a wone one
presents itself is sort of a wone one
presents itself is sort of a wone one way street that’s not so not so easily
way street that’s not so not so easily
way street that’s not so not so easily reciprocated this label also fails to
reciprocated this label also fails to
reciprocated this label also fails to define us on our own merits and instead
define us on our own merits and instead
define us on our own merits and instead assigns our value as dependent on that
assigns our value as dependent on that
assigns our value as dependent on that of our larger neighbor it overlooks
of our larger neighbor it overlooks
of our larger neighbor it overlooks every aspect of who we are and what
every aspect of who we are and what
every aspect of who we are and what we’re capable of this label discourages
we’re capable of this label discourages
we’re capable of this label discourages community engagement it implies that all
community engagement it implies that all
community engagement it implies that all you ever need is just a car ride away
you ever need is just a car ride away
you ever need is just a car ride away which makes maintaining an active
which makes maintaining an active
which makes maintaining an active citizen ring a difficult proposition if
citizen ring a difficult proposition if
citizen ring a difficult proposition if you’re spending much of their time
you’re spending much of their time
you’re spending much of their time somewhere else or in traffic this light
somewhere else or in traffic this light
somewhere else or in traffic this light will discourage to strong community
will discourage to strong community
will discourage to strong community bonds it presents us as a home base but
bonds it presents us as a home base but
bonds it presents us as a home base but not as a home for opportunities the very
not as a home for opportunities the very
not as a home for opportunities the very nature of the term gives us all an exit
nature of the term gives us all an exit
nature of the term gives us all an exit strategy to seek engagement in
strategy to seek engagement in
strategy to seek engagement in fulfillment somewhere else instead of
fulfillment somewhere else instead of
fulfillment somewhere else instead of cultivating it here at home to further
cultivating it here at home to further
cultivating it here at home to further illustrate these points up kind of give
illustrate these points up kind of give
illustrate these points up kind of give you an example I would introduce all you
you an example I would introduce all you
you an example I would introduce all you guys to my wife Michelle she’s it she
guys to my wife Michelle she’s it she
guys to my wife Michelle she’s it she chick in the back of the top I’ll
chick in the back of the top I’ll
chick in the back of the top I’ll introduce her in two ways and we’ll see
introduce her in two ways and we’ll see
introduce her in two ways and we’ll see how it plays out as to what works and
how it plays out as to what works and
how it plays out as to what works and what doesn’t so this is my wife Michelle
what doesn’t so this is my wife Michelle
what doesn’t so this is my wife Michelle Cavalier she is unbelievably beautiful
Cavalier she is unbelievably beautiful
Cavalier she is unbelievably beautiful kind and funny she has an amazing talent
kind and funny she has an amazing talent
kind and funny she has an amazing talent organization and analytical thinking she
organization and analytical thinking she
organization and analytical thinking she takes care of me she gives amazing scalp
takes care of me she gives amazing scalp
takes care of me she gives amazing scalp massages and she always worries about me
massages and she always worries about me
massages and she always worries about me if I drink too much caffeine she often
if I drink too much caffeine she often
if I drink too much caffeine she often these popcorns and popcorn and residents
these popcorns and popcorn and residents
these popcorns and popcorn and residents for dinner I think she wishes that she
for dinner I think she wishes that she
for dinner I think she wishes that she were a robot so that she didn’t have to
were a robot so that she didn’t have to
were a robot so that she didn’t have to get haircuts
get haircuts
get haircuts Michelle is undoubtedly my favorite
Michelle is undoubtedly my favorite
Michelle is undoubtedly my favorite person on planet Earth and I love her
person on planet Earth and I love her
person on planet Earth and I love her with my entire heart so that’s that’s my
with my entire heart so that’s that’s my
with my entire heart so that’s that’s my wife that’s Michelle that’s her on her
wife that’s Michelle that’s her on her
wife that’s Michelle that’s her on her own terms
own terms
own terms it’s her defined as her own person it’s
it’s her defined as her own person it’s
it’s her defined as her own person it’s a slice of her and using context an
a slice of her and using context an
a slice of her and using context an insight into who she actually is and so
insight into who she actually is and so
insight into who she actually is and so now pretend you’ve never met her I’ll
now pretend you’ve never met her I’ll
now pretend you’ve never met her I’ll introduce her again this way in the
introduce her again this way in the
introduce her again this way in the style of the community bedroom label
style of the community bedroom label
style of the community bedroom label this is my wife Michelle she’s Jenny and
this is my wife Michelle she’s Jenny and
this is my wife Michelle she’s Jenny and Jamie’s sister end of introduction
Jamie’s sister end of introduction
Jamie’s sister end of introduction it doesn’t it doesn’t work so well apart
it doesn’t it doesn’t work so well apart
it doesn’t it doesn’t work so well apart from the
from the
from the having the potential would cause marital
having the potential would cause marital
having the potential would cause marital problems it gives you zero info as to
problems it gives you zero info as to
problems it gives you zero info as to who Michelle actually is and defines her
who Michelle actually is and defines her
who Michelle actually is and defines her only in the context of others and it
only in the context of others and it
only in the context of others and it doesn’t promote any sort of engagement
doesn’t promote any sort of engagement
doesn’t promote any sort of engagement with her although it does make you super
with her although it does make you super
with her although it does make you super curious to know from Ginny and Ginny Oh
in short the quick secondhand
in short the quick secondhand introduction would be demoralizing for
introduction would be demoralizing for
introduction would be demoralizing for Michelle just as the bedroom community
Michelle just as the bedroom community
Michelle just as the bedroom community level is disheartening for our community
level is disheartening for our community
level is disheartening for our community and our community has been described
and our community has been described
and our community has been described this way for decades and toward end why
this way for decades and toward end why
this way for decades and toward end why have we not bothered to update our
have we not bothered to update our
have we not bothered to update our narrative or to claim our identity I
narrative or to claim our identity I
narrative or to claim our identity I think that’s another talk for another
think that’s another talk for another
think that’s another talk for another day I think we could probably spend a
day I think we could probably spend a
day I think we could probably spend a couple more these TED talks discussing
couple more these TED talks discussing
couple more these TED talks discussing that but it’s a little bit of what I
that but it’s a little bit of what I
that but it’s a little bit of what I hope that will take away to discuss and
hope that will take away to discuss and
hope that will take away to discuss and kind of expound on more so we can figure
kind of expound on more so we can figure
kind of expound on more so we can figure the whole thing out but if you cut to
the whole thing out but if you cut to
the whole thing out but if you cut to the president I don’t think it can be
the president I don’t think it can be
the president I don’t think it can be denied that we have a city that can
denied that we have a city that can
denied that we have a city that can provide for our basic necessities but we
provide for our basic necessities but we
provide for our basic necessities but we can’t provide for ourselves
can’t provide for ourselves
can’t provide for ourselves intellectually creatively or culturally
intellectually creatively or culturally
intellectually creatively or culturally so and oh and then in that respect we
so and oh and then in that respect we
so and oh and then in that respect we ought to sell event in a minute so where
ought to sell event in a minute so where
ought to sell event in a minute so where does that leave us
does that leave us
does that leave us I believe I believe the label is holding
I believe I believe the label is holding
I believe I believe the label is holding us back
us back
us back it prevents us from fully engaging with
it prevents us from fully engaging with
it prevents us from fully engaging with our city and it gives us only the most
our city and it gives us only the most
our city and it gives us only the most basic community bond if we could all I
basic community bond if we could all I
basic community bond if we could all I think if we could all just agree to be a
think if we could all just agree to be a
think if we could all just agree to be a little more creative in describing
little more creative in describing
little more creative in describing ourselves and abandon this old label and
ourselves and abandon this old label and
ourselves and abandon this old label and if we each try to think about what we
if we each try to think about what we
if we each try to think about what we have to offer to our flood recovery
have to offer to our flood recovery
have to offer to our flood recovery efforts and then volunteer them up and
efforts and then volunteer them up and
efforts and then volunteer them up and if we realize that our lives have been
if we realize that our lives have been
if we realize that our lives have been established the ways that support other
established the ways that support other
established the ways that support other people’s communities instead of our own
people’s communities instead of our own
people’s communities instead of our own I think
I think
I think we can start to talk about our own
we can start to talk about our own
we can start to talk about our own citywide identity and start shaping it
citywide identity and start shaping it
citywide identity and start shaping it in forming and I think then we can
in forming and I think then we can
in forming and I think then we can figure out but we’re the world capital
figure out but we’re the world capital
figure out but we’re the world capital up and we can be thought of as more than
up and we can be thought of as more than
up and we can be thought of as more than just another interstate exit on the way
just another interstate exit on the way
just another interstate exit on the way to somewhere else
[Music]
[Music] you
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