Downtown Academy

About


APPLICATIONS FOR 2010-2011 ARE NO LONGER BEING ACCEPTED! PLEASE APPLY AGAIN IN 2011!

Creating a Vibrant Downtown.

Press Release!

Fresno’s Leading Young Professionals (FLYP), in partnership with the City of Fresno, is launching its inaugural 2010-2011 class of the Downtown Academy. This project will connect senior-level business, government and community leaders with a group of 15-24 forward-thinking professionals to explore the following question:

“How can we transform Downtown Fresno into a vibrant place where people can live, work and play?”

Those who apply and are selected will meet once a month – for ten months – to learn about the changes taking place in Downtown Fresno.  In addition, participants will learn about Downtown Fresno’s history, discuss the values of good urban planning and practice entrepreneurial thinking and behaviors.

Urban environments have their own special planning, psychology, economics, design and politics.  For this project, we will use Downtown Fresno as our space to analyze and recognize new opportunities.  Opportunities are plentiful, but require a different skill set for the upcoming urban leader.  Participants will take what they learn at the end of the class to create an event or enterprise that attracts people to Downtown Fresno.

If you are curious about Downtown Fresno, have never been there, try to avoid it at any cost, or love it and want to know more, apply today.  Applications are currently being accepted online and must be completed by Wednesday, May 12 at 5pm.  Click the “Application” tab above to submit your application for admission.

Goals

Developing an Urban Mindset.

The vision driving the Downtown Academy is to give people choices. When people think about Fresno, they should feel that they have options to live somewhere that fits their lifestyle.  The following quote by the former grassroots leader for urban planning and livable cities, Jane Jacobs, sums it up well:

“The point of cities is multiplicity of choice.”

In addition, this project is also about the people who participate in the Downtown Fresno experience everyday.  There are over 1.5 million square feet of unused building space downtown and over 40 acres of parking lots that go unused.  But that isn’t stopping people from making a choice to be downtown before and after hours, especially young professionals.  On the contrary, the Downtown Academy’s aim is to bring people downtown who will give meaning and renewed vision to the buildings and infrastructural changes that are happening.  When you hear the words “Downtown Fresno” what comes to mind?

Do you think about the people who live downtown? Do you think about young startup entrepreneurs who work in shared spaces and are on the brink of innovation each day? Or maybe you think about the new lofts that mirror something similar to what you might find in Silicon Valley?  How about the people that run restaurants or other entertainment venues?  If these images don’t come to mind  yet, they probably will soon.

The class will use a hands-on, discussion-driven learning approach.  Those selected to participate in the Downtown Academy will develop skills that will prepare them to succeed as urban leaders.  Downtown Academy participants will learn how to do each of the following once they complete the class:

•Learn how to “read” elements of a downtown area.

•Understand urban trends and how best to capture their potential.

•Learn how to gather information from a variety of resources, including business, government, financial and community leaders.

•Develop an understanding of the values of good urban planning, historic preservation, social issues and economics.

•Create pathways for ongoing civic engagement in downtown Fresno.

•Engage in entrepreneurial behaviors that include recognizing opportunities and creating events and/or enterprises to attract people downtown.

Ready to sign up?  Click the “Application” tab above to submit your application for admission.

Modules

A Backstage Tour of Downtown Fresno.

The curriculum for this project was developed in close partnership with Craig Scharton, who has studied and participated in urban planning for over 20 years.  Craig currently serves as the Director of the City of Fresno’s Downtown & Community Revitalization Department and is a professor of Urban Entrepreneurship at CSU Fresno.

When we outlined the curriculum for this project, we wanted to highlight the things you might not see from an outsider’s point-of-view.  The idea is to take a behind-the-scenes look at a handful of areas in Downtown Fresno, meet with people who own businesses or live downtown, and learn as much as we can about what makes for a vibrant downtown in the company of fun, like-minded people.

The Downtown Academy will take place over a period of ten months, with July or August and December being months without any meetings.  Participants will meet once a month from 4:00pm – 7:30pm.  There will also be an out-of-town field trip scheduled to Southern California.  Dates for each class are listed below:


  • Fulton Mall Tour & Historic Buildings Tour. (May 18, 2010.)
    Behind-the-scenes: Pacific Southwest Building, Gottschalks Building, Security Bank Building
    Discussion: Learning how to “read” elements that contribute to a vibrant downtown.


  • Sports, Entertainment & Events. (June 16, 2010.)
    Attend a Fresno Grizzlies baseball game.
    Other topics of interest: Chukchansi Park.  Fresno Convention Center.
    Discussion: Regional marketing strategies – Successes, failures and opportunities?


  • Field Trip to Southern California. (July or August TBD.)
    Day 1: Downtown Pasadena. Guest speakers & discussion. Class tour. Dinner & Nightlife.
    Day 2: Santa Monica – Third Street Promenade. Guest speakers & discussion. Return home.


  • Historic Theaters & Urban Planning. (September 14, 2010.)
    Behind-the-scenes: Warnor’s, Crest, Liberty-Hardy, Wilson, Club One Casino.
    Discussion: Entertainment venues & tenets of good urban planning.


  • Art & Arthop. (October 7, 2010.)
    Arthop: Bus Barn, Mono and Van Ness District, Broadway Studios
    Discussion: Local art & artists. Building murals. Guest speakers.


  • Commercial Development. (November 9, 2010.)
    Behind-the-scenes: Penstar Group, Downtown Club, Virginia Hotel.
    Discussion: Redevelopment, commercial development, banks & private financing, incentive zones.
    Guest speakers.


  • Residential Living. (January 11, 2011.)
    Residential lofts: Iron Bird Lofts, H St. Lofts, Vagabond Lofts.
    Guest speakers. Dinner at Iron Bird Cafe.


  • Downtown Fresno’s Surrounding Neighborhoods.  (February 8, 2011.)
    Kearney, Huntington Blvd., Lowell/Jefferson.
    Discussion: Current efforts for revitalization.


  • Government Panel. (March 8, 2011.)
    Guest speakers and Q&A session.
    Downtown & Community Revitalization Department. Redevelopment Agency.
    Fresno Housing Authority.


  • Graduation & Final Project. (April 19, 2011.)
    Location and speakers TBD.


Do you like what you see?  Click the “Application” tab above to submit your application for admission.

Final Project

Showcasing Downtown Fresno’s Opportunities.

Participants will complete a final project, which will be organized throughout the duration of the Downtown Academy.  The project will be organized around an opportunity unique to downtown Fresno. The only criterion is that it should attract a number of people downtown for a day/evening/night. It can be an event, a business that’s planned and implemented, etc.  The possibilities are endless. The scope and parameters of the project will be left to participants to decide.  All participants will work together to select roles as appropriate.

The project must demonstrate that the participants (1) know how to read an urban environment, particularly the area surrounding the site chosen for the final project, (2) can create an enterprise that would be successful in attracting people downtown, and (3) can illustrate how Fresno could look with a vibrant downtown.

Special Considerations

Special Considerations.

Each class session will be held in a different part of Downtown Fresno in order to expose participants to various parts of downtown. Participants must be able to provide their own transportation to and from each class. The parking expense will also be the responsibility of each participant. A prepaid parking meter “Smartcard” can be purchased at City Hall on the fourth floor where Parking Services is located (Room 4064). For more information about parking downtown, please visit the City of Fresno’s Parking Services Department online by clicking here.

Application

Thank you for taking the time to fill out the application below.  Please tell your friends to apply as well – it always makes it that much more fun.

The 2010 Downtown Academy is already in session. Your application will be considered for the following 2011 year.

  • Contact Information

  • Phone format: (###)###-####

  • Personal Information

  • (e.g. athletic events, live performances, art showings, farmer's market)

  • Short Response

    Answer the following in a short paragraph or two.

  • References

    Please list 1 reference that FLYP can contact to assess your candidacy.

  • Reference 1
  • Phone format: (###)###-####

  • Participant Agreement, Terms & Conditions

    Agreement
    I understand by submitting an application to participate in the Downtown Academy, I give my permission to representatives of Fresno’s Leading Young Professionals’ to contact the references listed. I understand that any misrepresentation or omission of material facts herein will cause disqualification of my application. I understand that selection of applicants is the sole responsibility of Fresno’s Leading Young Professionals.

    Commitment to Participate
    Upon being accepted by Fresno’s Leading Young Professionals (FLYP) to participate in the Downtown Academy, I understand that I am expected to attend the all class sessions and participate in the field trip to Pasadena and Santa Monica. Knowing that emergencies can arise, I am allowed up to two absences (for any reason) before being dropped from the enrollment roster in the Downtown Academy. I know that an absence is defined as the following:

    • Missing a full session
    • Tardiness to class 30 minutes or more after the class start time
    • Leaving class 30 minutes or more before the class ending time

    I understand that I will not graduate or participate in any ceremonies related to the Downtown Academy if I am absent for any period of time beyond 2 class days. There will be no refunds of the registration fee. I understand that my commitment includes a $175 registration fee ($100 for FLYP members) payable by the first class session. The field trip and other costs will be covered by the Downtown Academy. Once the Downtown Academy starts and I have attended the orientation or first class session, there will be no refunds of the participant fee.



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