If he did it in Pittsburgh, somebody should be able to do it in Princeton — and Trenton.
Social entrepreneur Bill Strickland speaks at Princeton University on “Make the Impossible Possible” on Tuesday, October 12, 4:30, in the Friend Center on Olden Avenue. It is free and a reception, co-sponsored by the Keller Center and the Center for African American Studies, follows. For information, contact Jennifer Loessy at jloessy@princeton.edu or 609-258-3216.
A MacArthur fellowship winner, Strickland is president and CEO of Manchester Craftsmen Guild and Bidwell Training Center in Pittsburgh. His book “Make the Impossible Possible” sells for from $10 to $14.
From the press release: Manchester Craftsmen Guild offers programs in ceramics, photography, digital arts and painting to more than 500 children a year, as well as 3,400 students in the Pittsburgh inner-city school district. Ninety percent of the students receive high school diplomas, and 85 percent go on to enroll in college or secondary education. Bidwell Training Center trains more than 600 adults each semester for professional careers in the culinary arts, pharmacology and horticultural technology. Through partnerships with major corporations in the area, Bidwell Training Center has helped 73 percent of its graduates land meaningful full-time employment. Manchester Bidwell now includes a 350-seat jazz auditorium, a 40,000-square-foot greenhouse covering half a city block, a state-of-the-art chemistry lab, a full-scale ceramics department and a culinary institute.
Also of interest: Eric Foner and Cornel West speak at Labyrinth Books on Monday, October 18, at 6:30 p.m. on “Lincoln and Slavery in America.”
Robert Moses and Imani Perry dialogue on Monday, October 19, at 4:30 p.m. in McCormick Hall 101 on “Quality Education as a Constitutional Right.”
Other events from the Center for African American Studies.
Events focused on civil rights at the Princeton Public Library include a series on Bayard Rustin starting October 27.
Princeton Comment 
I like the upcoming event with Bill Strickland. I was born and raised in Pittsburgh area. My father was instrumental in a downtown Renaissance, and his father was a Master Craftsman (plasterer) in the restoration of older buildings. To turn around a city that has lost its main industry requires a positive community response. Trenton had to do deal with that many years ago. Today it needs to find "a new outlook". It looks like Mr. Strickland's skill at creating new perspectives is the way to go!- Hide quoted text – All the best! Victor B. Murray, CPMSenior Vice PresidentCresaPartnersThe Tenant's AdvantagePrinceton Forrestal Center501 Forrestal Road, Suite 208 | Princeton, New Jersey 08540609.452.8200 main | 609.658.0851 mobile | 609.452.8388 faxwww.cresapartners.com
Thank you, Barbara.We need Mr. Strickland badly in Trenton.Property taxes went up this Spring in Trenton effectively 50%.The City is laying off the most of the staff of the City planning department and inspections are grinding to a halt. So those who are trying to build are having to wait and wait.It is very, very, very tough times in our capital city.Sheldon S