Reading: Imagine our City
We recently heard that although among the favourites, Reading failed to officially gain ‘City Status’ in celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee. Reading is really a city in all but name, and has received a European Award as a micro city of the future. I wrote a piece to coincide with ‘gaining city status’ and then thought it pointless. In reading it again, the imaginations described apply regardless. So here it is:
Imagine our city as an environment of endless possibilities and dreams.
A place where success is applauded and a key measure is individual personal development - whatever and wherever the starting place.
Imagine a culture where encouragement and affirmation are the norm, without agenda or control, and where kindness can be found in all walks of life and activity.
To be specific;
Imagine a city whose citizens:
- Look out for the interests of their neighbours, and demonstrate genuine care and compassion to one another
- Treat one another as they themselves would like to be treated
- Live in peace and harmony together - showing mutual respect and tolerance
- Leave environments and situations better than they found them
- Ensure that, in so far as they are able, every place is safe and secure
- Encourage and affirm their children and young people whenever the opportunities arise
- Are reliable, trustworthy and hard working
- Care for those who are vulnerable, particularly the elderly, disabled or infirm
- Value one another for who they are, as well as for what they contribute to their communities
Imagine a city whose leaders:
- Exercise their roles without the need for personal gain and approval
- Model integrity and live by example in attitude, action and word
- Place their politics and interests as secondary in pursuit of the well-being of the city and its citizens
- Take every opportunity to inspire and encourage people to visualise the possibilities, and to embrace fresh imagination and vision
- Encourage the elimination of systemic poverty and facilitate this by actively enabling and encouraging the business, faith and voluntary sectors
Imagine a city whose companies and businesses:
- Incorporate values that encourage employees to love working for them
- Are always ready to partner with local charities and organisations who are best placed to improve quality of life for those who suffer
- Contribute towards the care and enjoyment of the environment they are located in
- Have a vision and purpose which includes ongoing transformation and sustainability of the region their workers live in
- Measure achievement and goals by more than financial profits and statistics
- Honour and respect marriage and family life by recognizing the need for a stable and strong home, and not creating demands which threaten family relationships
- Reward workers not only for measured economic success but for individual character, perseverance and reputation among peers and partners
Imagine a city:
- Whose citizens health improves every year because the environment (in its widest sense) is continually improving
- Where healthy living and exercise is encouraged and accessible for everyone
- Where people resist passivity and embrace a fresh passion for the well-being, identity and reputation of Reading
- Where creativity and innovation are esteemed and celebrated, and architecture and visual expressions of creativity continue to grow in stimulating the population to a stronger sense of belonging and identity
- Where the success of its sporting teams, artists, actors, writers, creators, media contributors, designers and entrepreneurs are celebrated and proud of their heritage and home
- Where members of the population are afforded every encouragement to achieve amazing things and then willingly re-invest back into the city of Reading
We can help each other to fully play our part in an on-going transformation of our city as we imagine what can be, and then change our mind-sets and prayers to help birth what will be. How we think of our city and speak about it will become a marker for a positive attitude and experience in the future |
