the
SHOOTING FOR THE STARS: INGENIUM AEROSPACE
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PAGE 7 September 2022 | Volume 35 | No. 9
of the rockford business community
Wonder-full
REGISTER NOW FOR THE 2022 ACADEMY EXPO
How stories can help change the world
Local businesses are invited to showcase their careers to high school freshmen to help them make an informed decision on their College and Career Academy selection for their sophomore year at Rockford Public Schools. Participate as an industry expert or hospitality ambassador at the annual Academy Expo on Oct. 19, 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., at the Indoor Sports Center, MercyHealth Sportscore 2, 8800 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park. Visit www.rps205.com/community/ volunteer/academy-expo.
By Andrew Wright, Rockford Chamber of Commerce Harris III (“the third”) has been crossing the globe sharing his magic for 30 years, helping people look at the world differently through stories filled with wonder. “Magic teaches us that seeing shouldn’t always be believing, but it also reveals that believing is seeing,” Harris explained. “I’m interested in working in the language of belief. A story is the operating system of the brain. We think in stories, we tell stories to define ourselves. We do this all day, and even after we fall asleep. We wake up in the morning carrying a catalog of stories, and they form the narratives we have about ourselves.” “What I’ve come to realize over time is that we can’t experience a shift in narrative
without experiencing a positive awe state — what we call wonder,” he said. Businesses are taking notice of his message. Harris has performed for companies such as IBM and Apple. He also has delivered a TEDx talk and authored a book — The Wonder Switch. “I was on tour in Southeast Asia, in countries like India and Sri Lanka, and at one of my performances, an audience member asked me about a table I use in my act. This person asked me if I had borrowed my table from a leader in his village, who had claimed to have the power to commune with spirits,” Harris recounted. “People in his village saw the same tricks I performed and believed he had real power.” Harris has had his own experiences with people who use magic to deceive others and make themselves feel
M A R K YO U R C A L E N D A R ! ROCKFORD CHAMBER
Photo courtesy of harrisiii.com
powerful. He was a millionaire at 21 but lost everything by the time he was 22. He still marvels at how he got tricked into making such bad financial decisions. (continued on page 3)
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ROCKFORD PARK DISTRICT OPENS ALPINE HILLS ADVENTURE PARK MULTI-USE TRAILS
205 has a serious impact on the business community—now and in the future. As such, the Business Policy Council of GRGP wants to encourage candidates from the business community with the following attributes: ■ Engaged with the business community.
ROCKFORD PROMISE SEEKS MENTORS
Consider running for RPS 205 School Board
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Tebala Event Center | 7910 Newburg Rd. For more information, see page 29
On Aug. 6, the Rockford Park District opened phase one of the Alpine Hills Adventure Park Trails. The roughly 1.2 miles of natural surface with three trail loops (The Rock, Freestyle Skills Loop and Magic Carpet) was designed for beginner users to hike, bike, run or walk. The trails are open daily from daybreak to 10 p.m. Users should note that bike traffic travels in a clockwise direction, and foot traffic moves counterclockwise. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources provided $68,600 to help cover the $105,000 in construction costs.
SUB-DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS APRIL 4, 2023
The Greater Rockford Growth Partnership (GRGP), the umbrella organization for the Rockford Chamber of Commerce and the Rockford Area Economic Development Council, is focused on big picture issues that enhance the business community through strategic alignments and work. Currently, the areas of interest are divided among three councils – business policy, branding and imaging, and talent. As part of the work of the Business Policy Council, the GRGP is interested in the upcoming Rockford Public Schools, District 205 School Board elections. With all sub-district board positions up for election in April, 2023, it’s imperative that business-friendly, workforcefocused individuals with strong ties to the business community and a love for Rockford consider candidacy. As one of the largest employers in the region, as well as the largest pipeline of talent for our future workforce, RPS
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■ Effective communicator. ■ Proactive collaborator. ■ Understands complex issues. e.g. how improving school outcomes will attract new residents and new businesses to the area. ■ Seeks feedback from the business community when appropriate. ■ Willing to build partnerships with the business community to advance the outcomes of RPS 205. ■ Prioritizes workforce development when making decisions. (continued on page 3)
Rockford Promise seeks mentors from different professions for its Rockford Promise Scholars—graduates of Rockford Public Schools attending Rockford University, Northern Illinois University or Rock Valley College on full scholarship. The new mentoring model, Mentoring Circles, groups five to 10 students by academic interest. Each group is assigned one or two co-lead mentor volunteers who meet with them three times a month. One-onone mentoring opportunities are also are available. Contact Alondra Torres, 779-770-5274 or alondra. torres@rockfordpromise.org.