Welcome to RichmondBrainstorm.com!

This site is for collecting ideas about how we can make Richmond, Indiana a better place to live, work and play. Users like you submit ideas that everyone else can read, discuss and vote on. A random selection of ideas is below, and you can use the menu at the top to see other ideas on the site. Enjoy!

4 votes

Fruit for Everyone Fundraising Event: Edible Cityscapes

Submitted by iowa_connection in Food and Agriculture
Create an Annual Richmond, IN  Edible Cityscape Event:  Plant Apple, Peach or other fruit trees!!!
Have a local non-profit such as Trees Forever or Sierra Club host a one hour workshop on "How to Plant and Care for Fruit Trees."   Have the non-profit purchase Fruit Trees at wholesale (approximately $7 each for good sized trees).  Sell the trees as a fundraiser in conjunction with the planting workshop for $15 each.
 
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8 votes

Use Freecycling to find treasures and save money

Submitted by Chris Hardie in Neighborhoods and Families

Freecycling is a tool that allows us to make better use of the items we don't need any more - instead of throwing them away or worrying about how best to donate them, we can "freecycle them:" offer them up to the folks who might want or need them most.  You can learn more about Freecycling in general, or visit the local group that's already been started.

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6 votes

Establish a local speakers bureau

Submitted by Chris Hardie in Education

Businesses, schools, social clubs, non-profits and communities of faith are always on the lookout for people who can come speak to their group knowledgably about a given topic or theme.  Richmond has a rich and diverse collection of people who are experts on a wide variety of topics - between our educational institutions, consultants, hobbyists and others, there's surely a great wealth of knowledge that we can help each other share more effectively.

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6 votes

Have a community conversation about teen pregnancy

Submitted by Chris Hardie in Health and Healthcare

As local author and educator Jean Harper notes well in a recent blog post, the issue of young people becoming parents before they're ready is a serious one that needs critical attention in our community.  Teen pregnancies have a direct impact on the health and well being of our young citizens, on the ability of our education system to be effective, and on many other aspects of community life.

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8 votes

Gas Works Community Center

Submitted by jim hair in Historic Preservation

A place for the community to gather, not associated with any existing group.  Veterans Museum.  The Cardinal Greenway trail public bathrooms, a Gorge Interpretive Center, and bike rental.  Read more »

9 votes

New Media Summit

Submitted by Chris Hardie in Technology

There are so many new technologies available to us to share information, collaborate on projects, and build connections.  Many people don't have time to explore these fully, while others may be intimidated by them.  We should have a "new media summit" with presentations, workshops, panel discussions and networking events to let interested local residents explore and understand these technologies and opportunities better.  From blogging to Facebook, Twitter to YouTube, there's a lot to learn and share!

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6 votes

Create a guide to edible plant life in the area

Submitted by Chris Hardie in Food and Agriculture

For some, foraging for edible plants is an exercise in wilderness survival.  For others, its an interesting way to get to know the makeup of our wonderful outdoor resources, get kids excited about being outside, and have a great excuse to tour local parks, woods, and waterways.   A guide to edible plant life in the area could be a great tool for education, tourism, and food buffs.

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4 votes

Create walking/biking history tours of Richmond

Submitted by Chris Hardie in Tourism and Marketing

Many cities offer a regularly scheduled walking tour of their historic landmarks and other curious locations.  Richmond has many interesting destinations and historic structures located within a few miles of each other in and around the center city.  We could easily create a tour that showcases the past and present life of the town while also offering something unique for tourists (and residents) to do.   

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16 votes

Start Community Gardens

Submitted by Chris Hardie in Food and Agriculture

When we know more about where our food comes from, we can begin to have more control over our diet so that we eat healthier and in ways that reduce our impact on the land.  Community gardens are a great balance between everyone needing to go out and learn how to grow their food, and everyone just depending on imported foods or non-local growers.  By teaching ourselves and each other how to grow food, and sharing that knowledge (as well as the fruits of our labor) with each other, we build community and eat better.

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10 votes

Create a community pride campaign

Submitted by Chris Hardie

Sometimes, Richmond suffers from a lack of self-esteem that is self-perpetuating.  By showing each other that we are proud to live here and do business here, we can help counter the effects of that esteem problem.

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