You’re not the only one wondering, what’s going on with Mansfield Rising? The short answer is, we’re working on it. The long answer is there are meetings upon meetings discussing the nitty-gritty details not found in the 68-page plan.

The Mansfield Rising Plan needs community support. Notice what stands out to you, what projects get you excited and identify where you could lend your expertise. Do you see an idea that you would be willing to be a financial supporter for?

In Austin, among leaders from communities all over the world, we heard the stories of struggles and triumph, strategies and actions. As easy as it was to identify the stark differences between places like Kansas City, London and Mansfield, what became clear to me were the similarities.   

Over the course of the last 12 months, as the Mansfield Rising plan kicked off and took shape, I was introduced to many high-impact city development tools, which profoundly shifted my view on what is possible for our little city.

A lot has happened in the last year in the rust belt city of Mansfield, Ohio. Not all of it has been good. There’s still crime, there’s still an opioid problem, and the schools still struggle to compete in the rigged game that is state test scores. The city government continues to operate with a shrunken tax base, and there are large parts of our neighborhoods that have seen better days. There’s no point in looking away, because this is the canvas on to which we’ll paint our future.

The hope is that every individual, group, and organization can read the Mansfield Rising plan, find what they are passionate about and how they fit into the plan. This will be a collaborative effort fueled by all of us.

In just a few weeks it will be one year since I joined fourteen other Mansfielders on the journey of a lifetime to the South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive Festival in Austin, Texas.

The work that’s done to revitalize downtown Mansfield is economic development in its own right. It’s also important and worthy of our time, efforts and investment.

Downtown Mansfield is in the midst of a transformation. It already has many big city amenities such as places for kids, entertainment venues, food and drink options, and a selection of unique retail stores. And we know that more changes are on the horizon.

The goal with empathy interviews is to identify extreme users of downtown. These are people who live, work and play in downtown Mansfield.

I hope you made it out to the Renaissance Theatre last Thursday for the public forum. If not, you missed a spectacular event.

The #SXSW419 team hosted a public forum at the Renaissance Theatre on Thursday with more than 100 members of the public engaging in breakout sessions.

- The #SXSW419 group will host a public forum at the Renaissance Theatre Thursday, May 31 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Cheslie Thompson shares thoughts after attending a design thinking workshop at Idea Works.

SXSW blogger Jennifer Kime addresses a problem that she's noticed. She knows it'll be "hard and "uncomfortable" to address the area's self image, but she's up for the challenge.

This blog is written by one of 15 individuals attending the South By Southwest Conference in Austin with the intention to bring back ideas and to reimagine Richland County.

This blog is written by one of 15 individuals attending the South By Southwest Conference in Austin with the intention to bring back ideas and to reimagine Richland County.

This blog is written by one of 15 individuals attending the South By Southwest Conference in Austin with the intention to bring back ideas and to reimagine Richland County.

Chelsie Thompson reflects on what she's learned at the SXSW conference in Austin, TX. 

This blog is written by one of 15 individuals attending the South By Southwest Conference in Austin with the intention to bring back ideas and to reimagine Richland County.

This blog is written by one of 15 individuals attending the South By Southwest Conference in Austin with the intention to bring back ideas and to reimagine Richland County.

This blog is written by one of 15 individuals attending the South By Southwest Conference in Austin with the intention to bring back ideas and to reimagine Richland County.

This blog is written by one of 15 individuals attending the South By Southwest Conference in Austin with the intention to bring back ideas and to reimagine Richland County.

This blog is written by one of 15 individuals attending the South By Southwest Conference in Austin with the intention to bring back ideas and to reimagine Richland County.

This blog is written by one of 15 individuals attending the South By Southwest Conference in Austin with the intention to bring back ideas and to reimagine Richland County.

This blog is written by one of 15 individuals attending the South By Southwest Conference in Austin with the intention to bring back ideas and to reimagine Richland County.

This blog is written by one of 15 individuals attending the South By Southwest Conference in Austin with the intention to bring back ideas and to reimagine Richland County.

This blog is written by one of 15 individuals attending the South By Southwest Conference in Austin with the intention to bring back ideas and to reimagine Richland County.

This blog is written by one of 15 individuals attending the South By Southwest Conference in Austin with the intention to bring back ideas and to reimagine Richland County.

This blog is written by one of 15 individuals attending the South By Southwest Conference in Austin with the intention to bring back ideas and to reimagine Richland County.

Nikki Lewis explains what a "hackathon" is and how they can help Richland County.

SXSW blogger Allie Watson wonders if Silicon Valley professionals could fall in love with the Midwest, specifically Mansfield.

Maura Teynor ponders how Mansfield can be marketed after seeing cities like Akron showcased at SXSW. 

Aurelio Diaz recounts how he spent an evening with a homeless man while attending the South by Southwest Conference in Austin, TX and explains how it impacted him. 

This blog is written by one of 15 individuals attending the South By Southwest Conference in Austin with the intention to bring back ideas and to reimagine Richland County.

This blog is written by one of 15 individuals attending the South By Southwest Conference in Austin with the intention to bring back ideas and to reimagine Richland County. 

This blog is written by one of 15 individuals attending the South By Southwest Conference in Austin with the intention to bring back ideas and to reimagine Richland County. 

This blog is written by one of 15 individuals attending the South By Southwest Conference in Austin with the intention to bring back ideas and to reimagine Richland County. 

This blog is written by one of 15 individuals attending the South By Southwest Conference in Austin with the intention to bring back ideas and to reimagine Richland County.

This blog is written by one of 15 individuals attending the South By Southwest Conference in Austin with the intention to bring back ideas and to reimagine Richland County.

This blog is written by one of 15 individuals attending the South By Southwest Conference in Austin with the intention to bring back ideas and to reimagine Richland County.

This blog is written by one of 15 individuals attending the South By Southwest Conference in Austin with the intention to bring back ideas and to reimagine Richland County.

This blog is written by one of 15 individuals attending the South By Southwest Conference in Austin with the intention to bring back ideas and to reimagine Richland County.

This blog is written by one of 15 individuals attending the South By Southwest Conference in Austin with the intention to bring back ideas and to reimagine Richland County.

This blog is written by one of 15 individuals attending the South By Southwest Conference in Austin with the intention to bring back ideas and to reimagine Richland County.

How can companies large and small use what they are the best at to solve problems in the world?

Ben Davis explains how SXSW taught him to turn apples and oranges into a smoothie. 

Leona Smith ponders what the housing solution for Mansfield might be. 

Aurelio Diaz talks about the connections he's making at SXSW. He's determined to make ten connections every day.

Maura Teynor met her "fitness guru" at the SXSW conference Friday in Austin, Texas.