Genna Petrolla is a marketing professional who lives on the west side of Cleveland. She began her career in Cleveland as the Marketing Director of locally owned Progressive Urban Real Estate, where she grew to love the culture and history of each of Cleveland's distinct neighborhoods. Following her work at PURE, Genna helped to launch a program called Greater Circle Living, an employer-assisted housing program that encouraged employees of institutions such as the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, The Cleveland Museum of Art and Case Western Reserve University to live closer to work in the neighborhoods surrounding University Circle. She was also part of the team that founded and produced messy magazine, an online submission-based art, literary and fashion magazine featuring the work of up-and-coming local artists. She was the recipient of the 2010 Judson Smart Living Award for Volunteerism and serves on the Board of Directors of SPACES, a presenting contemporary art venue dedicated to artists who explore and experiment. In addition, Genna serves on the boards of LiveCleveland, a non-profit that promotes the livability of Cleveland neighborhoods and Buzz & Growl, a Cleveland-based sewing and fashion incubator. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

1. Citizens and the Next Evolution of Cities

2. “the key to
truly rebuilding
our central city
on a vital and
sustainable
foundation is
people.”

6. The essential challenge is to transform
the isolation and self-interest within
our communities into connectedness
and caring for the whole.
Peter Block, “Community: The Structure of Belonging”

7. Cities have the capability of
providing something for everybody,
only because, and only when, they
are created by everybody.
Jane Jacobs

10. 13916 Mayfair, 44112

11. Don't wait for something big to occur.
Start where you are, with what you have,
and that will always lead you into
something greater
Mary Manin Morrissey