139. Tangazo!: Arts Culture in St. Louis

It was a star studded panel that we assembled for last evening's taping of the KDHX podcast Tangazo. ------ Judith Arnold, an urban planner joined panelist Joe Hanrahan, artistic director and co founder of the Midnight Theatrical Company, along with Brian McKinley, former actor and educator now serving as Director of Education and Community Engagement , for the much celebrated  StLouis Black Repertory Theatre Company. ------ Eric Dundon, Director of Public Relations for the world renowned StLouis Symphony and popular local entertainer Laka Pronounced Lay-ka, rounded out an excellent panel.  Our discussion focused on the important role our arts and cultural institutions play in the effort to make StLouis a "World Class City." A CNN poll ranking the top 20 midsize cities in the US, finds Kansas City ranked 10th, while StLouis went unranked, although it features many of the same lifestyle attractions, as the cities that were ranked. ------ Inclusiveness was the issue we focused on,  while acknowledging governance as being one of the main reasons ,that StLouis is not viewed, as a top tier city.  Urban planner Judith Arnold, lays a foundation for our conversation,she has been working with groups creating Greenways,  through out the city, with the goal of revitalizing declining neighborhoods and changing the dynamics of the" Delmar Divide". ------