It has taken years, but the world at large seems to be recognizing what the business community has known all along – the key to economic vitality is entrepreneurship.
That’s why the subject of the cover photograph in this special section on the city of Providence, Christian Rijos, is so important to the city’s future.
Rijos is part of The Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center’s cohort of student entrepreneurs, yet another piece of the innovative institution’s real and continuing contribution to the region’s economic success. He is launching a business that literally can save people, based on a simple idea informed by personal experience and serious research (turn the page and read the story to find out what it is).
The Met school has been running its entrepreneurship program for three years, and not only have its students garnered national accolades for their projects, four of the businesses started through it are up and running. The students’ success is a testament not only to the power of the Met approach, but to the inherent creativity of the students. And it is another sign that great things are possible when institutions support the development of the natural talent of engaged students instead of putting limits on them.
Last year’s City of Providence section looked at the potential for the redevelopment of Kennedy Center to spur further investment in downtown, and as that conversation has continued, it is clear how important vibrant outdoor spaces are to a city’s attractiveness.
Along those lines, Dining Out columnist Bruce Newbury takes a look at al fresco dining as the summer season swings into high gear. From public perches above Waterplace to hidden courtyards in the Knowledge District, patrons of the city’s many high-quality restaurants can enjoy their meal in the fresh air, and contribute to the city’s public life.
Mark S. Murphy
Editor
