The Urban ReThink Signature Series of events is a monthly rotation of topical discussions, active projects, and interactive presentations meant to connect and empower Orlando residents. Many Signature Series events are live streamed through YouTube, with videos available post-production online at www.urbanrethink.com. All events are free to the public, with a suggested $5 per person donation to The Urban Think Foundation.
The Hive: A Think/Do Tank
Wednesday, June 5 @ 6:45pm
The Hive: A Think/Do Tank is a monthly gathering to address global environmental challenges by crowdsourcing audience members for solutions. An expert working to advance sustainability presents on a community issue, then challenges the group to work with peers to develop solutions to the challenge. Projects developed and executed by The Hive include community garden development, natural habitat clean up, and more.
The Hive is a community initiative of IDEAS For Us, a 501c3 nonprofit organization comprised of strategic thinkers, innovative communicators, and creative minds working to develop sustainability solutions for campuses and communities. Visit ideasforus.org for more information.
Parcels: MFAs in Progress
Sunday, June 9 @ 7pm
Parcels: MFAs in Progress is an Urban ReThink Signature Series event showcasing the fiction, nonfiction, and poetry of the University of Central Florida’s Creative Writing MFA program members. Students, faculty, and alums read works in progress, and attendees are offered the chance to respond to a number of writing prompts. Parcels readers are current students, alumni, and faculty of the University of Central Florida’s Masters of the Fine Arts in Creative Writing program. The audience is open to anyone interested.
There Will Be Words
Tuesday, June 11 @ 7pm
There Will Be Words brings Central Florida’s best writers of literary fiction and creative nonfiction to the Urban ReThink stage for monthly readings. Presented by Burrow Press and hosted by J. Bradley, There Will Be Words was named “The Best Revival of Live Storytelling” by the Orlando Weekly.
Host J. Bradley invites 4 writers to perform pieces of literary fiction or creative nonfiction; June’s readers are Whitney Hamrick, Stephanie R. Johnson, Susan Lilley, and Rachel Leona Kapitan. Videos of past performances can be found at therewillbewords.com
Urban Thought: Hosted by Craig Ustler, featuring Kathy Ramsberger, President, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
Thursday, June 13 @ 7:30am | tickets at urbanthinkfoundation.org/urbanthought
Enjoy new ideas and fresh inspiration during a casual community conversation with great city leaders in the Urban Think Foundation’s new series, “Urban Thought: Community-minded Conversations with Orlando’s Biggest Thinkers.” Host Craig Ustler, currently serving as the Foundation’s Co-Chairman, discusses life and the state of Orlando’s arts and cultural scene with June’s Urban Thought guest, Kathy Ramsberger, President of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
The conversation will take place Thursday, June 13 at Urban ReThink, at 625 E. Central Blvd., Orlando, FL 32801. Breakfast and networking begins at 7:45 a.m. with the program itself starting at 8 a.m.
Converse: A Community Talk Show
Sunday June 16 @ 6:25pm
An Urban ReThink Signature Series event, Converse: A Spontaneous Talk Show sets out to prove that everyone has a story worth telling. Host Mary Thompson Hunt leads the audience through a series of questions, and talk show guests are pulled from the audience, as interesting stories surface.
Converse was conceived by Mary Thompson Hunt and Alexander Whittenberg and originally previewed at The Studio @ 620 Theatre in St Pete, Florida. This interactive project is an adaptation of Spalding Gray’s ‘Interviewing The Audience’.
ReThinking the City
Tuesday June 25 @ 6:25pm
Each month, ReThinking the City features a variety of local and national thought leaders to present their thoughts on what makes a city livable. Each presenter gives a talk, then opens the floor to discussion. ReThinking the City’s blog, rethinkingthecity.com, and The ReThinking the City Radio Show, Thursdays at 9:00am on WPRK 91.5 FM, are the continued dialogues on these innovative projects.
Featuring local presenters on site at Urban ReThink, and using live video streaming to bring in remote speakers, Rethinking the City brings urban planning professionals, students, artists, engineers, city dwellers, and those doing work to better a city, directly to the stage. Presenting this month is Orlando local Pauline Eaton, the coordinator for Orlando’s Main Street USA program, as well as Hesse McGraw, the innovative curator for The Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, joining us by video stream from Omaha, Nebraska.