Recently I have heard some individuals describe Roanoke as lacking in diversity. The city does host multicultural events, but such activity has yet to spill over into the fabric of the downtown (and city) atmosphere. Asheville and Charlottesville have been cited as models for exciting cultural hubs; however, both cities are strongly tied to large universities. Greenville, SC has, in the past decade, developed a thriving downtown social life and culture. It is a smaller city than Roanoke and has no college constituency, yet it has become a popular place for young professionals. I don't think it would be a bad idea to look into Greenville's city revitalization strategies for help in enhancing Roanoke's social scene.
While engaging the surrounding college communities could certainly aid in developing a more thriving cultural scene in downtown Roanoke, we should also try to involve our current youth; namely, high school kids. High schoolers tend to be the most excited about music, and the teenage years are when kids are developing their artistic and personal talents. I don't think it is a group we should focus whole-heartedly on, but I do think that by engaging ambitious and enthusiastic high school kids can help develop a downtown atmosphere.
Just some thoughts.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment