Make Mighty Memories on the Mississippi River

Make Mighty Memories… that was a line I came up with when I started designing print ads a few months into my job here at Grow Clinton. It was early 2021 and I was new in the community and new to tourism, but I knew that what I was advertising wasn’t just our attractions and shops… I was helping people create new memories.

And over the last three and a half years, I’ve managed to make some memories for myself as well.

This newsletter is the last one I’ll be writing for Grow Clinton, as my final day here will be July 22nd. I have built some wonderful connections and I am so proud to have been part of the excitement and growth that continues to build in our region. During my interview process, I recall Rich Phelan tasking me with the charge “Dream audacious dreams,” and I think I’ve done that. Here are a few of the highlights that come to mind.

Regional Bonding

My premise from the start has been that we are all stronger together. I hadn’t been on the job more than a few months the first time I said “I think we should be one tourism unit, the River Cities.” It took a little while to make that happen, but it has. I have been so honored to be the person that crosses the metaphorical and literal bridge, helping Fulton, Illinois and Clinton, Iowa to fuse together as a stronger unit. My hope is that whatever paths are taken in the future, both sides of the river will consistently come together to promote a sense of destination and Place. We are not two cities separated by a river; we are two communities joined by a bridge.

Collaborations

I love helping people find each other. It makes me happy when I can introduce people to others that can help them reach their goals. And it makes no sense to me to have multiple entities duplicating efforts, when they could instead be helping strengthen each other. Some of the collaborations I’ve been in early on include:

• Clinton Herald collab – From working together to create one regional Visitor’s Guide to pitching the idea of a weekly Grow Clinton article (which has morphed into a bigger business section dream from the newspaper), this has been an excellent way to use local resources to do big things
• Bound For the Kingdom Christian music festival – The first time John Dail approached me about a CVB sponsorship for a concert, I told him “Make this a multiple day event that puts people in hotels and I will help you organize.” This August will be the third year for this concert, and Bound For the Kingdom is now an official 501c(3) non-profit organization seeking to minister to the River Cities and beyond.
• Connect Clinton County – At some point, a suggestion was made that the non-profits in the area should get together to see what we can offer each other. Although this was not my dream-baby, I was there when it was birthed, and I’ve loved watching it grow. With United Way of Clinton County leading the way, the quarterly non-profit summits have helped strengthen the charitable and civic organizations throughout the area.
• Family Movie Night – One of the ideas that came out of that very first non-profit summit, was the now monthly Family Movie Night. A collaboration from the Franciscan Peace Center, the Clinton Public Library, the Sawmill Museum, and Grow Clinton, these FREE events are more than just a movie and an activity. Each movie is chosen specifically for the message it provides, to help strengthen the children and individuals who participate. The next one is July 26 in Four Square Park. Go see if you can pick up on the message, and then spread the positivity!
  
  
  
  
   

Emerging Arts Scene

The first time Gabi Torres approached me with an idea for an art installation, I was intrigued and immediately bought in. Statistics show that 45% of Millennials who are moving to an area specifically are drawn to somewhere with an arts & culture scene. Art isn’t only about giving visitors something to see, but also about creating a sense of place and purpose for those who live in the community. What started as a revitalized pocket park has grown into so much more. My department helped fund both the Grove and then Wildness, and we have cheered on Paint It Back from day one. I can’t wait to see what comes next!

There are so many more very cool things that I’ve discovered and been part of, and I encourage you to try a bunch of them yourself. Bundle up and trek through Christmas in Heritage Canyon. Download the River Cities Summer Fun Pass and check in at activities throughout the region. Indulge at the Bacon & Brew Fest. Spend a gorgeous evening on the deck at Wide River Winery. Take your grandkids to the Felix Adler Discovery Center. Take your out of town guests to the Sawmill Museum. Learn something at the Windmill Cultural Center or Martin House edutainment programs. Dance to the music at Finally Friday, Totally Tuesday, Music on the Avenue, Market Music, and the myriad live performances at restaurants and bars. Get an igloo at Legends Bar & Grill. Be a kid in a candy store again at Grandma’s Goody Jar, but this time as an adult so you can buy everything you want. Next time you see an elf parachute into a Holiday Train gathering, imagine the planning meeting when someone made the joke “We should get Santa to jump out of a plane.” And then imagine me saying “…. Hey…. I bet I could get us some elves to do that…”
 

When I started here, the pandemic was still all around us, though beginning to ebb. Now four years away from that, we seem to have found our new normal as both global and local communities. There is tremendous momentum and I truly believe that good begets good. Keep giving to your community and it will give back to you. I will miss all of the relationships I’ve built here in the River Cities, but I will be watching from my new home in Wisconsin, and I can’t wait to see where we grow from here!