Revving Up Collaboration:
Highlights from the Inaugural Fast Friends Forum
A New Collaboration for A New Era
The inaugural Fast Friends Forum was anything but your typical gathering. Instead, it was a lively meeting of minds, a fusion of passionate advocates and innovators from all across Salt Lake City and the broader region. They came together under one roof, ready to trade stories, share insights, and ignite the flame of future collaborations.
Inspiring Friendship and Ownership
Setting the stage was Michael Parker, who invoked the spirit of the famed Valter Nassi. With hands waving about as if guiding a plane to a landing, he echoed Valter's proclamation, “It is not Salt Lake City; it is Salt Lake My City. Do you understand? Salt Lake My City. Wow!”
This sentiment reminded us that friendship and a sense of ownership are the propelling forces that will catapult our region, a top-20 metro by population and a Megaregion, according to the Brookings Institution, into a brighter future.
Breaking Down Silos
Next, Mayor Erin Mendenhall took us through grand plans and initiatives, like a 5-mile green loop and a significant investment in affordable housing. Her rallying cry? Leveraging growth for good and elevating our expectations. She also highlighted the unique nature of Friends of Salt Lake, describing it as a cross-sector collaborative space that enables us to harness the power of our institutions rather than be constrained by them.
The Spark of Innovation
Aimee Edwards from BioHive captured our attention next with a riveting perspective on the tech and life sciences sector. For Aimee, friendship and collaboration aren't just social niceties but sparks that ignite Salt Lake's entrepreneurial engine.
Rising to the Challenge
Derek Miller of the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance threw down the gauntlet, daring us not to let Friends of Salt Lake be just another meeting. Challenge accepted, Derek. We're ready to channel Utah's robust economic strength into significant social change.
Fast Friend Forums
It's a space where passionate individuals come together to spark new ideas, learn from each other, and ignite fresh collaborations.
United We Stand
Jennifer Mayer-Glenn demonstrated how friendships and collaborations on the west side of our city could be absolute game-changers, driving lasting change. Collaborations take work, patience, listening, and, most importantly, trust.
Affiliation, Affection, and Aspiration
Natalie Gochnour from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute shared her insights about being a friend to your city. Her conclusion? Salt Lake is a great American city that has earned our affiliation, affection, and aspiration.
Symbols of Unity
State Senator Dan McCay took us deep into the power of shared symbols in fostering community unity. The new state and city flag? They're not just symbols but our rallying points, fostering unity even when we disagree. Did you know that 70% of Texans own something with their flag on it, and the other 30% just moved there? It’s high time we had two great flags to unify us!
People Power
Finally, Beth Martial closed with a powerful call to action: reach out to a friend, new or old. After all, it's people who ground us and propel us forward.
What's on the Horizon?
The Fast Friends Forum was just the starting point for shaping the future of Salt Lake City and beyond. It's a space where passionate individuals come together to spark new ideas, learn from each other, and ignite fresh collaborations.
Stay tuned for more updates, events, and thought leadership from us. We're excited to see what we can achieve together. Thanks to everyone who joined us on this thrilling journey; we can't wait to see you at the next forum. With the power of friendship on our side, we're ready to keep shaping the future of our beloved city.
