Mindful Metropolis May 2009 : Page 10
publisher’s notes The Dawning of the Age of Mindful Metropolis love to do regardless of the remote corporate decision to cease operation? What if those people got fired and didn’t quit? What if those same people took their passion and created a new, more vibrant version of what they knew best? What if they were all dressed up and had somewhere to go? And, what if that somewhere was the spot in which they were standing? On March 24th, 2009, at 2pm, Chicago’s Conscious Choice magazine W and its four affiliate magazines in New York, Los Angeles, Seattle and San Francisco became a financial write-off. The corporate owner, far re- moved from the community, grassroots foundation of the original in- dependent publications, found the businesses more valuable dead than alive — after just over a year of ownership. Plummeting stock prices and a non-relevant product mix were, no doubt, largely to blame. Conscious Choice, in its 21st year of publishing a community-engaged, eco-lifestyle, environmentally-active monthly magazine, was terminated. With a sum of over 60 years of experience with the publication, all hat if a handful of people’s jobs were suddenly terminated and their company shut down — surprisingly — in just a matter of hours? What if those people refused to stop doing what they of the now former employees knew we had too much to say and do. In under a week, we formed a new company, Mindful Metropolis, a new free monthly print publication, a new way to connect Chicago’s conscious community. The magazine you’re holding in your hands is the premier issue of Mindful Metropolis and follows immediately in the wake of the final issue of Conscious Choice in April. We are now un-corporatized, independent, local, employee-owned and solely community supported. We will bring our readers and advertisers a true local, community vehicle of relevant information, conscious camaraderie, provocative challenges and a future bright with promise for a long, long time. Personally speaking, I am living proof that true human fulfillment rests in being part of something greater than oneself. My mission, The Mindful Metropolis crew working on the first issue. From left to right: Carrie Fitzsimmons, Tim Winkler, James Faber, Richard McGinnis and Sondra Brigandi. my happiness, my love, cannot be truly experienced solely inside my immediate space. The proudest and most humbling moment of my life was the day we put our statement of purpose on our new website: We strive to bring together communities throughout the Chicago metropolitan and surrounding areas with like-minded concepts and fresh ideas. We explore green culture, art and design. We investigate sustainable ways to live in an urban community. We bring conscious living concepts from the kitchen table to the boardroom table and all places in between. We promote businesses, non-profits, local orga- nizations and educational institutions that inspire individuals and communities to personally act responsibly, for their inner circles and for their outer spheres. We think outside the box, yet are practical in our approach to what is maintainable. We attract readers who are actively engaged and who are committed to continually grow and educate themselves. We are low impact and high concept. We never forget that kindness is an environmental mission. We are eco-active, enviro-sensitive and socially involved. We are connecting Chicago’s conscious community. We are Mindful Metropolis. Since I first began penning the publisher’s notes for Conscious Choice until now, writing for this new, vibrant passion of our own, Mindful Metropolis, I have found that I have much more to say than space allows. In the spirit of a true community forum, I invite you to email me with any questions, requests, concerns, story ideas, etc. You can reach me at richard@mindfulmetropolis.com or by sending correspondence to the mailing address on our masthead. Carrie, James, Sondra, Tim, all of our valued advertisers and contributors and I thank you again for picking up Mindful Metropolis, sharing it with your community and helping us grow. Richard McGinnis Publisher 10 may 2009
Publisher's Notes
Richard McGinnis
The Dawning of the Age of Mindful Metropolis
W hat if a handful of people’s jobs were suddenly terminated and their company shut down — surprisingly — in just a matter of hours? What if those people refused to stop doing what they love to do regardless of the remote corporate decision to cease operation?
What if those people got fired and didn’t quit? What if those same people took their passion and created a new, more vibrant version of what they knew best? What if they were all dressed up and had somewhere to go?
And, what if that somewhere was the spot in which they were standing?
On March 24th, 2009, at 2pm, Chicago’s Conscious Choice magazine and its four affiliate magazines in New York, Los Angeles, Seattle and San Francisco became a financial write-off. The corporate owner, far removed from the community, grassroots foundation of the original independent publications, found the businesses more valuable dead than alive — after just over a year of ownership. Plummeting stock prices and a non-relevant product mix were, no doubt, largely to blame. Conscious Choice, in its 21st year of publishing a community-engaged, eco-lifestyle, environmentally-active monthly magazine, was terminated.
With a sum of over 60 years of experience with the publication, all of the now former employees knew we had too much to say and do.
In under a week, we formed a new company, Mindful Metropolis, a new free monthly print publication, a new way to connect Chicago’s conscious community. The magazine you’re holding in your hands is the premier issue of Mindful Metropolis and follows immediately in the wake of the final issue of Conscious Choice in April. We are now un-corporatized, independent, local, employee-owned and solely community supported. We will bring our readers and advertisers a true local, community vehicle of relevant information, conscious camaraderie, provocative challenges and a future bright with promise for a long, long time.
Personally speaking, I am living proof that true human fulfillment rests in being part of something greater than oneself. My mission, my happiness, my love, cannot be truly experienced solely inside my immediate space. The proudest and most humbling moment of my life was the day we put our statement of purpose on our new website: We strive to bring together communities throughout the Chicago metropolitan and surrounding areas with like-minded concepts and fresh ideas. We explore green culture, art and design. We investigate sustainable ways to live in an urban community. We bring conscious living concepts from the kitchen table to the boardroom table and all places in between. We promote businesses, non-profits, local organizations and educational institutions that inspire individuals and communities to personally act responsibly, for their inner circles and for their outer spheres. We think outside the box, yet are practical in our approach to what is maintainable. We attract readers who are actively engaged and who are committed to continually grow and educate themselves. We are low impact and high concept. We never forget that kindness is an environmental mission. We are eco-active, enviro-sensitive and socially involved. We are connecting Chicago’s conscious community. We are Mindful Metropolis.
Since I first began penning the publisher’s notes for Conscious Choice until now, writing for this new, vibrant passion of our own, Mindful Metropolis, I have found that I have much more to say than space allows. In the spirit of a true community forum, I invite you to email me with any questions, requests, concerns, story ideas, etc. You can reach me at richard@mindfulmetropolis.com or by sending correspondence to the mailing address on our masthead.
Carrie, James, Sondra, Tim, all of our valued advertisers and contributors and I thank you again for picking up Mindful Metropolis, sharing it with your community and helping us grow.
Publication List
