How One US City Is Greatly Impacting The World
Seattle is one city that is greatly impacting the world in a positive way because of its commitment to sustainable environmental initiatives and its propensity to attract the world's best and brightest entrepreneurs and forward thinkers.
Whether you’re a native, an entrepreneur, or a social activist, it’s apparent that Seattle is a city where anything is possible and where change is always in the air. Nestled in the United States’ Pacific Northwest region, Seattle is widely regarded as the home of the technological revolution, Starbucks, Pikes Place, the grunge scene, and the iconic Space Needle. It also serves as the headquarters of several IT companies (including Amazon and Microsoft) as well as one of the aviation giants, Boeing.
While it’s known for its technical innovation, Seattle’s creative approach to sustainability is another of the many ways it is altering the world. The city has a long history of encouraging ecologically friendly activities and decreasing its carbon footprint. For example, Seattle is the first big city in the United States to commit to a 100% renewable energy transition by 2025.
This aim is being met through a combination of energy-efficient buildings, renewable energy sources, and public transit investment. Leonard Garfield, executive director of Seattle’s MOHAI (Museum of History and Industry), in a recent interview with CNN, echoed this sentiment of innovation by stating that “there’s always someone in Seattle who can do it a little bit better.”
Seattle continues to change the world by encouraging entrepreneurship. There is a sturdy startup scene in the city, with various accelerators, incubators, and co-working spaces committed to helping new enterprises achieve success. Its supportive environment for innovative individuals includes access to funding, mentorship, and a community of like-minded people. Indeed, the city’s IT firms are frequently at the forefront of innovation, pioneering new and developing technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.
While it is undeniable that Seattle is famous for its popular Starbucks’ brew and tech giant Bill Gates, it is also acclaimed for its advocacy for social justice and equality. This emerald city has a long history of activism, which is an important element of the city’s culture today. From the Civil Rights Movement to the contemporary racial justice movement, Seattle has been a pioneer in the battle for equal rights and social justice. Currently, there is a growing trend in the city toward affordable housing, which has led to more money being spent on building economic housing and new programs to help keep people from becoming homeless.
Such cultural and musical icons as Nirvana, Jimi Hendrix, and Pearl Jam have all called this city home. Even today, creative types like dancers, painters, musicians, and authors present their work in novel and unexpected ways here in Seattle. With its strong cultural identity, it is reinvigorating the world with its vibrant arts and culture scene, world-class museums, theaters, and music venues. This rich cultural identity contributes significantly to the city’s vibrant and diverse culture, as well as to the creation of a strong sense of community and belonging.
The prolific American novelist, Tom Robbins, once quoted: “To some extent, Seattle remains a frontier metropolis, a place where people can experiment with their lives, change and grow, and make things happen.” His words still ring true today.
