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DowntownDesignandInnovationCenterTheDowntownDesignInnovationCenterisapartnershipbetweentheWDDCandtheCityofWichitatoassistdeveloperswithgainingaccesstotheresourcesnecessarytomakedowntownredevelopmentprojectshappen.TheDesignInnovationCenterwillalsohelpdetermineifaprojectisconsistentwithProjectDowntownsdesignguidelinesandassessesitseligibilityforincentiveprogramsandpublicinvestmentthroughapublic-privatepartnership.AsaphysicalspaceitisaplacetoshowcaseDowntownsdevelopmentactivityandfosterqualityurbandesign.ThecenterwasfundedbytheJohnS.andJamesL.KnightFoundationWichitaCommunityFoundationandtheprivatesector.CommunityEngagementThroughgrantfundingfromtheKnightFoundationtheWDDCwasabletobringtwooutstandingspeakerstoWichitaaspartofourannuallectureseries.InApril2012PeterKageyamaauthorofFortheLoveofCitieshostedaworkshopthatconnectedaudiencememberswhomaynothavebeenengagedpreviously.Thisinteractiveworkshopignitedthecommunitytoidentifyandexecutemoregrass-rootsinitiativeswhichbuildsthecreativecoreofanycity.ThecommunitywaschallengedtoturntheirpersonalengagementwithWichitaintotangibleactionandusethatexcitementandenergyasamuchneededcommunitydevelopmentresource.InNovember2012theWDDCwasalsofortunatetohostMayorKirkHumphreyswhowaswellreceivedattheWDDCLuncheonevent.HumphreysisanativeofOklahomaCityOKandwastwiceelectedMayorofOklahomaCityservingfrom1998through2003.UnderhisleadershipthecitycompletedthehistoricMAPSProjectswhichdramaticallyrevitalizedthedowntownarea.In2001MayorHumphreysledtheMAPSforKidseffortasweeping690millionrevitalizationofthecityspublicschools.MayorHumphreysdiscussedtheinitiativesidentiedthroughVisioneeringsCommunityPriorityProjectandprovidedanotheroutsideperspectiveonhowtoaccomplishthesegoals.4EducationalEngagementAspartofacontinuedmissionofengagingthecommunitytheWDDChaspartneredwiththeJohnS.JamesL.KnightFoundationandalsoWestarEnergytoengagedesignstudentsintheinitiativestorevitalizeDowntown.In2013WestarhassponsoredasummerinternshipprogramforthesecondyearinwhichastudentfromKansasStatesCollegeofArchitecturePlanningDesignhasjoinedtheWDDCstaffforthesummertoworkonvariousprojects.ThisstudenthastheopportunitytoworkdirectlywithdevelopersCityofcialsandotherbusinessprofessionalsonactualprojectswheretheyassistwithdesignconceptsforspecicprojects.AlsowiththehelpofKnightFoundationfundingtheWDDChasengagedstudioclassesfromKansasStateandtheUniversityofKansasdesignprogramstolookatnewpossibilitiesforDowntown.LastlytheWDDCemploysalocalcollegestudentinternonitsstaffpart-time.Theinternhelpsmaintaintheinformationonthewebsiteandassistswithongoingspecialprojects.ThisinternshipopportunityallowsWDDCtopartnerwithlocaluniversitiesinameaningfulway.WDDCINITIATIVES