Note: Groups are not necessarily in the same order from provocation to provocation. Also, see the post below for complete provocations. 

Provocation 1: Providence is the hub a regional economy that includes 3 states

Confirm, challenge or build on. Six minutes of small group discussion.

Group 1: Theory or reality? Current practices don't align with that statement. Why does Providence need to be the hub? Is hub the right word? Endup: Challenge of word "hub"? (offered alternative: node and links AOT hub and spokes) How do you establish the power to define "healthy mix."

Group 2:  Challenge: 'easily replaces imports with regionally made options' - sometimes, others can do things better than we can.

Group 3: Because of geography, our hub is off-center, our wheel is incomplete. /separate thread/ Economy is 3-dimensional with car-based mega-economy intersecting with smaller, local economies. 

Provocation 2: Some sectors are more important to a regional economy than others 

Group 1:  Challenge example of IT: cluster develops because region is supportive of that kind of creativity. Like minded people drawn to a region, artist or IT developer. Also challenge argiculture as central: so many fewer farmers, so much less local agriculture. Concept seems outdated. 

Group 2: Challenges agriculture as central: is it really about the hinterlands, or is ag moving to a more urban approach? Is ag really so place-based? Farm workers are mostly mobile. Capital can cross borders, but workers can't? Also challenges IT as placeless: our IT sector is all about community. Why does a place need to draw these "special" people? Why do economies have to 'compete' with each other? 

Group 3: Challenges example of IT: those workers want to be with similar people, go to where they congregate. On agriculture: to strengthen a place define 'what speaks to whom' in terms of stationary and mobile resources. Displacement of farms by other resources - major institutions are built on old farms.

Group 4: Challenges whole thing: too black-and-white. If not for IT cluster (web developers), who would know about the farmers market? 

Provocation 3: “Buy Local” programs are essential for a healthy regional economy 

Group 1: Challenge: should create a strong buy local vibe, not put ads on TV telling people what to do. Put the positive vibe out, don't bang people on the head. Why in Providence in the 90's? It has one of everything I want.

Group 2: Add to: Another logo isn't the answer, needs to be informational. Also, program should provide platform to support (shared website for farms, like FFRI). Providence is lucky without a major strip mall neighborhood, and a maker culture. Buy local tends to focus on foods, what about other sectors. People's Power & Light stresses local/regional distributed generation. Centralized generation is far less secure. In food, CA central valley will have/is entering a major water shortage. That will effect us. Will we be ready? Will one region be able to make up for another region's failure?

Group 3: Observation: Talked more about the buy local experience, not the 'ad campaign. 

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