The Renewal Series

The Renewal Awards: Celebrating America's Local Innovators

January 26, 2016
Des Moines, IA



Amer­ica is wit­ness­ing a surge of civic in­nov­a­tion where loc­al en­tre­pren­eurs are tak­ing the lead in find­ing cre­at­ive solu­tions to the coun­try’s most press­ing so­cial and eco­nom­ic chal­lenges. For the past year, At­lantic Me­dia has been en­gaged in a na­tion­wide search to identi­fy these prag­mat­ic prob­lem solv­ers from among loc­al gov­ern­ment, non­profit groups, small busi­nesses and or­din­ary cit­izens.

That search con­cluded with an event in Des Moines, Iowa re­cog­nizing and honoring out­stand­ing grass­roots in­nov­at­ors who are im­prov­ing their com­munit­ies from the ground up.

At­lantic Me­dia, underwritten by All­state, presented “The Re­new­al Awards: Cel­eb­rat­ing Amer­ica’s Loc­al In­nov­at­ors.” With the 2016 pres­id­en­tial elec­tions as a back­drop, this sum­mit en­gaged with na­tion­al and loc­al lead­ers, show­cased in­nov­at­ors and asked how op­por­tun­it­ies can be cre­ated for even great­er in­nov­a­tion across Amer­ica.

Presented by

Atlantic Live

Speakers

  • Rob Barron
    Rob Barron Chair Des Moines School Board
  • Ron Brownstein
    Ron Brownstein Editorial Director Atlantic Media
  • T.M. Franklin Cownie
    T.M. Franklin Cownie Mayor Des Moines, IA
  • Robert Doar
    Robert Doar Morgridge Fellow in Poverty Studies American Enterprise Institute
  • Zachary Mannheimer
    Zachary Mannheimer Vice President, Creative Placemaking Iowa Business Growth Company
  • Henny Ohr
    Henny Ohr Executive Director Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center
  • Neera Tanden
    Neera Tanden President Center for American Progress and Center for American Progress Action Fund
  • Matt Vasilogambros
    Matt Vasilogambros Staff Correspondent National Journal

Agenda

Note: All times are CST

  • Tuesday, January 26
  • 9:30 a.m.Opening RemarksMargaret Low Smith, President, AtlanticLIVE
  • 9:35 a.m.Keynote Remarks & Interview: Talking National Agenda and Local Problem-SolvingNeera Tanden, President, Center for American Progress and Center for American Progress Action Fund
    Robert Doar, Morgridge Fellow in Poverty Studies, American Enterprise Institute
    With Ron Brownstein, Editorial Director, Atlantic Media
  • 10:35 a.m.Innovation in Action: The Iowa Case StudyRob Barron, Chair, Des Moines School Board
    The Honorable T.M. Franklin Cownie, Mayor, City of Des Moines, Iowa
    Zachary Mannheimer, Vice President, Creative Placemaking, Iowa Business Growth Company
    Henny Ohr, Executive Director, Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center
    Neera Tanden, President, Center for American Progress and Center for American Progress Action Fund
    With  Matt Vasilogambros, Staff Correspondent, National Journal
  • 11:00 a.m.Unveiling the WinnersPresented by: Ron Brownstein & Tom Wilson
  • 12:00 p.m.Closing RemarksMargaret Low Smith, President, AtlanticLIVE

Underwriter

Also in This Series

More in This Series

Upcoming Events

  • Economy/Business

    Future Economy Summit
    • May 4, 2021
    • Virtual Event

    The path to the new economy is being charted today. The Atlantic will explore what the future might hold for Americans across the socioeconomic spectrum.

  • In Pursuit of Happiness
    • May 2021
    • Virtual Event

    The Atlantic will host a live event that explores the human hold on happiness—and aims to find ways to build a more meaningful life.

  • Health Care

    The Atlantic's Health Equity Summit
    • June 22, 2021
    • Virtual Event

    The Atlantic will explore what the health-care system is doing to combat inequities across race, age, and gender and to improve health outcomes for all Americans.

See All Upcoming Events