The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Dayton to host 10 Fastest Dying Cities Symposium

Ohio has 3 most vacant neighborhoods in U.S.

Man, 68, drowns at Caesar Creek Lake
5/26/12
Water rescues prompt warning from health officials
5/25/12
Beach Waterpark sued for failure to deliver
5/25/12
Raleigh Trammell’s defense opens in felony trial
5/25/12
UD to move satellite campus to Dublin
5/25/12
> More headlines

By Khalid Moss, Staff Writer Updated 1:52 PM Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Daytonians Peter Beckendorf and Michael Elsass say the reports of Dayton’s impending death have been greatly exaggerated.

Unhappy with the Gem City being named by Forbes Magazine as one of the “10 Fastest Dying Cities,” Beckendorf and Elsass are declaring Aug. 7-9 Three Days of Ideas and Inspiration.

Their plan is to invite community leaders from the 10 identified cities to celebrate the achievements of their past and to set goals for the future. Beckendorf, president of Dayton’s Involvement Advocacy Inc., says the symposium is not intended to scoff at Forbes.

“The purpose is to bring people together from these 10 cities to share ideas, to be inspired and to inspire,” Beckendorf said. “Whoever decided to bestow this moniker on these cities didn’t take into account that there are people of all shapes, sizes and colors who are doing great things to make the communities better. I’ve seen amazing things going on here in Dayton. I imagine there are amazing things going on in other cities.”

Beckendorf said the site of the symposium has not been finalized but he expects the Dayton Convention Center will be the hub of the activities.

“By coming together we can all learn from each other,” he said. “We can make new connections, friendships and pick up some ideas that will help us improve our cities.”

Among the other cities named by Forbes, three are in Ohio: Canton, Youngstown and Cleveland. The others are Flint, Mich.; Scranton, Pa; Springfield, Mass.; Buffalo, N.Y.; Detroit, Mich.; and Charlestown, W.Va..

Share this article