If you’re new to The Vine and wondering what it’s all about, it begins, as all things do, with a story.
A story in which we meet:
—A violinist who captures people’s hearts
—An actress who captures people’s souls
—A doctor who thinks our neighborhoods are killing us
—An architect who loves people more than buildings
—An author extolling the virtues of slow sex
—And two brothers selling optimism
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The Vine began in 2006 as an annual, three-day conference designed to explore the nature, and the future, of community.
Our inaugural meeting was held in Santa Barbara, and it was quickly apparent that this was not the usual cast of characters. A group of development industry leaders (builders, investors, architects, urban planners) found themselves engaging with artists, anthropologists, teachers, scientists, social entrepreneurs, even the founder of Greenpeace. They were, quite by design, at the intersection of previously unconnected planes of thought.
Some of our guest speakers that year included:
—Violinist Rebecca Jackson, who shared the story of her grandfather, a man who showed her the power of music to transform lives. When her grandpa suffered a debilitating stroke, Rebecca raced to his bedside, where she prayed for him…and played for him. And when she played for us, she rent open our hearts and filled us with beauty.
—Actress and playwright Anna Deavere Smith, whose profound character monologues provoked us, captivated us, and made us confront social and racial dynamics we’d probably rather avoid. (Like who’s in and who’s out.)
—Physician Richard Jackson, who jarred us with the societal ramifications of childhood obesity, exacerbated by neighborhoods designed for cars, not people.
—Architect Kevin Kelley, who urged us to create communities not for who our customers are, but who they want to become.
—Author Carl Honoré, who helped us see the toll exacted by our frenetic, over-stimulated lives, and encouraged us to embrace a slower, more balanced approach—not just individually, but throughout our community design.
—Entrepreneurs Bert and John Jacobs, whose Life is good ethos demonstrates the powerful allure of optimism and proves that altruism can indeed be profitable.
Subsequent conferences have been held in Napa (2007) and San Diego (2008), each one bringing together a unique and unusual blend of disciplines, vantage points and traditions. Our guest speakers continue to be eclectic and category-defiant—because we believe that fresh insights into community can come from anywhere, and anyone.
Other presenters have included: award-winning author Dave Eggers; inventor and activist Stewart Brand; documentary filmmaker Ric Burns; Worldchanging founder Alex Steffen; organizational behaviorist Margaret Wheatley; collaborative innovation guru Charles Leadbeater; creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson; and Harvard psychologist Dan Gilbert.
The Vine was created from a simple premise: Inspired people create inspired places. And vice versa.
The purpose of The Vine, then, is to rethink the underlying principles of community—physical, social, economic and environmental—and how we can do a better job of fostering them in the places we create. Part conversation, part theater, The Vine is an instigator and propagator of ideas. We’re here to surprise, energize and mobilize our industry. To bring people together in unexpected and highly productive collaborations (see below). To expand the realm of the possible.
The format of The Vine’s gatherings may shift with the times*, but our goal remains unchanged: to tap new wellsprings of creativity that fill us with a renewed sense of purpose—and inspire us to make extraordinary places where we may live in health, dignity and prosperity.
[ *UPDATE: it did, to one-day salons in 2009 and 2010, a shorter, more accessible option for our members. ]
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OFFSHOOTS OF THE VINE
A measure of The Vine’s success is its capacity for fostering unusual and highly productive collaborations.
♦ At the inaugural meeting in 2006, Bert and John Jacobs, cofounders of the Life is good® clothing company, met LaDonna Monsees, CEO of Newland Communities. As a result of the relationship sparked there, the two companies are partnering to stage Pumpkin Festivals across the country, and have raised over $1 million for kids in need.
♦ The following year, Chris Waugh, a lead designer at IDEO, connected with award-winning author Dave Eggers. The two collaborated on a project for the Centers for Disease Control, and the innovative approaches developed by Eggers’ nationwide tutoring organization, 826 Valencia, are being incorporated into the CDC’s campaign to battle childhood obesity.
♦ Claire de Briere of The Ratkovich Company, moved by Eggers’ unforgettable talk, is mobilizing the resources to build the new 826 Los Angeles tutoring center in Echo Park.
♦ Actress/playwright Claytie Mason and musician/performer Rebecca Jackson—whose performances have contributed some of The Vine’s most memorable, soul-stirring moments—are now joining forces to create what’s sure to be a stunning new theatre piece.