The latest version of the “Shark Tank” to hit Roanoke arrives on February 26th with something called “Big Lick Soup,” at 16 West Marketplace on Church Avenue. Wherein, four finalists will spend up to 4 minutes pitching their civic-minded ideas; something designed to make Roanoke a better, more interesting place to live. It could be a public art mural, or a community-based social project.
Those gathered from 6 to 8pm on the 26th at 16 West Marketplace will pay a suggested $10 donation at the door (or whatever they wish). After watching the finalists lay out their plan they will dine on donated soup – hence the event’s name – and dessert. Then they’ll vote on which of the concepts they like best, and award the money collected at the door to that project.
Sound interesting? Until February 9 at the Big Lick Soup Facebook page people can apply, outlining their plans for a project that has a community impact. No Power Point or other multimedia tools can be used for those final presentations at the end of February.
Brad Stephens heads up the planning committee that will sift through those submissions for the Top Four. “This is modeled on an idea that came out of Detroit,” said Stephens, an Old Southwest resident finishing up a graduate degree at Virginia Tech. The biggest difference when compared to a Shark Tank? “This is very grass roots… all of the funding is coming from attendees at the event.” Anything that has a community focus is a welcome entry by February 9th on the Facebook page.
Come for a “restaurant quality meal” on the 26th and hear people make their best pitch for the “micro-grant” that one will be awarded, said Stephens. “Even if you don’t win we’re going to encourage people to [find] connections that will help …to make this happen. We’re hoping that each of these worthy projects happen down the road.”
While many of the ideas coming out of similar competitions have been arts-related, or even oral histories, others are more business-like; like paying for internships or vocational training, said Stephens. “Any innovative idea that can help the community – we’re welcoming people to [apply], if they can benefit from the little bit of money we’re talking about.”
Stephens also created the ThrivingPlacesProject.com blog, where he highlights innovative ideas from around the country. Roanoke is front and center. “Every place has its own identity – its strengths and weaknesses.”
Even within the Roanoke Valley there are people following through with good ideas that others aren’t aware of – rather than reinvent the wheel, Stephens said the intent of the ThrivingPlacesProject is to publicize those good ideas and inspire others to make similar changes. “Learn from their successes, learn from their failures and move forward together,” is how he puts it.
Stephens hopes the website content can bring about positive changes in communities everywhere, with people borrowing good ideas that have already worked. “Every community is working to some degree – we want to help them work better than they are now.”
Stephens, who moved here from Charlottesville, also said it’s “popular in Roanoke to talk about its problems,” and while the valley has its fair share, “Roanoke has a lot of assets. [My wife and I] have really just come to enjoy it here. Roanoke has a great diversity of different types of people. There’s great strength in that diversity.”
Stephens posts at least five new stories every week, scouring newspapers and community sites for good ideas. Big Lick Soup is featured on the blog these days ahead of its debut on February 26th.
– Gene Marrano
