Smart Cities: Fred Rogers exemplified Pittsburgh’s innovative mindset

The City of Pittsburgh will celebrate its 200th year anniversary in March. An article on the Smart Cities blog argues that the city’s “special sauce,” the thing that makes it unique, is its people.

In the post, Justin Aglio, Director of Innovation at Montour School District writes that people like Andy Warhol, August Wilson, Rachel Carson and Roberto Clemente are all examples of the blend of hard work, intelligence and resilience that makes up a Pittsburgher.  One Pittsburgher, the late Fred Rogers, really represented our city well, Agilo writes:

This educator captured Pittsburghers’ strength to change and adapt while also capturing hearts. He was the person who invited us into his home from 1968 – 2001. Fred Rogers, creator and star of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, first came into our living rooms in 1968. In the very first episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood on February 19, 1968, Mister Rogers asked a question that is at the center of innovation, “How do you feel about new things?” His response to that question a few minutes later was, “Change is good”.

Fred Rogers used an innovative technology, television, to disrupt the way that knowledge was transferred to students. This innovation spirit continues to flow throughout Pittsburgh and disrupt education through its ecosystem of organizations and people. In 2014, Pittsburgh became the first U.S. city to win the Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Award. A pivotal force behind this award was the Kids+Creativity initiative – now called the Remake Learning Network – a collaborative ecosystem of people, projects and organizations working together to reinvent learning in schools, libraries, museums, after school programs, community centers and online.

Read the full article on the Smart Cities blog here: What is the Secret to Pittsburgh’s Innovative Mindset?

Featured image by David Fulmer/Wikimedia