Metro Atlanta Fifty Forward
Last modified Wednesday, February 20, 2008 10:56
What will metro Atlanta be like in 50 years? What are the key issues, trends and opportunities to consider in helping to make our region thrive in the future?
The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) recently launched an ambitious initiative, called “Fifty Forward: A Metro Atlanta Futures Forum,” to explore possible future scenarios for metro Atlanta and an action plan to insure future livability, prosperity and sustainability. The initiative was introduced at ARC’s State of the Region breakfast, where keynote speaker and Seattle futurist, Glen Hiemstra, challenged some 1,000 attendees to determine their preferred future and build short and long-term action steps to reach for their highest goals.
“Fifty Forward is a two-year visioning and planning effort that will convene forums around critical topics to shed light on what’s coming down the pike,” says Sam Olens, ARC Chairman. “We want our region to be well-positioned for global success, as we travel through the 21st century. We’ve thrived on bold decisions made by our past leaders, and now we want to do our part for the next generation of metro Atlantans.”
Each forum will consist of a nationally or globally recognized authority on a specific trend, issue or policy area. The speaker will be followed by a response panel of local experts and an open house-style discussion session. The forums are anticipated to be a series of quarterly, one-day events over the course of 2008 and 2009.
The first forum will explore sustainability and highlight various initiatives that are balancing the needs of today with the needs of future generations. Some of the more promising sustainability efforts include green-friendly building, using renewable and alternative fuels and conservation of land and water – all topics that are vital to Atlanta’s present and future.
The goal of the forums is to explore and frame new ideas, foster a regional dialogue and bring the community together to develop plans of action. Other Futures Forums may focus on energy and alternative fuels, health issues and advances, population and employment shifts, technological innovations and future development patterns.
“For 60 years, ARC and its predecessor agencies have carefully considered options and planned for the future. Now more than ever we need to look beyond our more short-term planning horizons and our geographic boundaries to develop a fresh vision for the Atlanta region’s place on the global stage for the next 50 years,” said ARC Chairman Sam Olens. “With these forums, we hope to spur discussion and spark creative thinking about a future Atlanta that few have contemplated.”
For more information, please visit the ARC Fifty Forward website
