Innovation forum brings community together, improves the world

TWO-DAY FORUM BRINGS TOGETHER COMMUNITY, STARTS CONVERSATIONS, IMPROVES THE WORLD Businesses, policy leaders and engaged citizens are invited to share ideas about improving the community at the Regional Innovation Forum, which runs next-door to the Better Living Show, March 27-28

Portland, Ore. – March 11, 2009 – The Regional Innovation Forum is a two-day collaborative effort, March 27-28, where community leaders from every sector will meet to explore challenges facing our region. The Forum is designed to further the conversation with major stakeholders on the topics of climate change, smart cars and smart grid, regional energy planning, the inspired futures campaign/youth leadership development, and social innovation.

Designing local, practical solutions to these sustainability topics requires a coordinated effort between individuals, communities, organizations and local, regional and national policymakers. An additional key element of the Forum is youth engagement. Therefore, the Forum is pleased to partner with the Multnomah Youth Commission, Lewis & Clark College, Portland Community College, Portland State University and Oregon State University Extension.

Overall, the Forum aspires to:
· Build leadership in the region's sustainability effort
· Facilitate work across sectors to collaborate on problems that cannot be solved by just one sector
· Find ways to work more effectively and take projects to scale
· Launch an ongoing Social Learning Program: A community-based, inter-generational and project driven Sustainability Literacy & Leadership Development Campaign

The opening night keynote speaker will be Dr. Stephen Schneider, a 2007 Nobel Peace Prize winner, renowned climatologist and professor from Stanford University, who will be speaking about our impact on the climate and what we can do to reduce that impact.

In addition, attendees of the Forum are encouraged to attend the Energy Trust Better Living Show, which also takes place in the Expo Center March 27-29. Admission to the show is free, allowing Forum attendees to stop in before, during or after the Forum to take a look at sustainable home, garden, fashion and lifestyle products.

Community members who wish to participate in the Forum, or attend Schneider's keynote, should register prior to the event here: http://www.blueoceanevents.org/bo/registration.asp. Attendance at the Regional Innovation Forum costs $100 for the entire two-day session, plus evening activities, or $50 to participate in one day.

Involved companies and organizations include: Blue Ocean Events, Bonneville Environmental Foundation, City of Portland Bureau of Planning & Sustainability, Youth Planner Program, Clean Edge, Clean Tech Alliance, Climate Solutions, Office of Congressman Earl Blumenauer, Energy Trust, Federal Department of Energy - Pacific NW Laboratory, Focus the Nation, Formos, Inspired Futures Campaign, Lewis & Clark College, Metro, Multnomah County, Multnomah Youth Commission Oregon Business Council, Oregon Department of Energy Oregon Global Warming Commission, Oregon State University Extension Service, PCC, PGE, Portfolio 21 Portland + Oregon Sustainability Institute, Portland Spaces, PSU, Center for Sustainable Processes and Practices, Rocky Mountain Institute, SE Uplift, Shorebank, Pacific Springboard Innovation, Sustainable Oregon Schools Initiative, The Epiphany Projects, The Performance Center, US Partnership - Education for Sustainable Development.