On Wednesday, October 29, the halls of UMass Boston will be flooded with city innovators and distinguished speakers for the annual IDEAS UMass Boston event. Not only will several panelists be dropping knowledge pertaining to a number of subjects ranging from nonprofit food distributing to gamification, but former Mayor of Boston Tom Menino will be honored for his civic contributions over the past two decades.
Menino’s accolade coincides with IDEAS UMass Boston’s 10th anniversary. He’ll be honored as the recipient of the Champion of Innovation Award, surely, in part for his efforts in helping transform the once decrepit South Boston waterfront into the nationwide example-setting Innovation District.
In his recent memoir, Mayor for a New America, in fact, Menino discusses, among plenty of other subjects, the formation of the Innovation District and the sheer tenacity it took “to wield the power he had at his disposal” in order to “get stuff done,” as described by the Boston Business Journal.
Though Menino no longer serves as Boston’s chief executive, his influence on municipal matters is still substantial. In his current capacity as co-director of Boston University’s Initiative on Cities, Menino has already helped formulate Mayoral Policy-Making: Results from the 21st Century Mayors Survey.
@mayortommenino Mr (former) Mayor how will it feel to be honored by your alma mater for the IDEAS UMass Boston Champion of Innovation Award?
— Nick DeLuca (@NickDeLuca1) October 20, 2014
The 40-page report is “Based on interviews with over seventy mayors from cities with over 1 million to those with as few as 50,000 residents” and “offers the first-ever nationally representative review of mayoral priorities,” according to its description. In essence, the report gauges the advantageous opportunities cities could be afforded if they prioritize civic challenges and expenditures correctly.
But more than anything, Menino’s continued altruism in regards to his hometown post-Mayor exemplifies his merit in receiving the award.
Aside from Menino, several prominent speakers from throughout the region will also be present to make remarks and provide insight on several areas of expertise.
Mayor Walsh’s Economic Development Chief John Barros will be kicking things off at which point the likes of fellow former 2013 Boston mayoral contender Charlotte Golar Richie – described by IDEAS UMass Boston as being a “political trailblazer” – former gubernatorial candidate and homeland security expert Juliette Kayyem, violinist and social change advocate Ashleigh Gordon, and gamification expert Naureen Mera, to name a few, will join several panel discussion sessions.
The October 29 event is open to everyone, though tickets are required and for general admission will run you $150 per person. If you wish to attend, you can get an idea of the day’s schedule here, as well as other applicable logistical information such as transportation, parking, and accommodations.
