Week 4 Reading Reflection

One thing about the reading that surprised me is that creativity can be developed and improved. I thought creativity was something that individuals either have or didn’t have. I was also surprised that there were four phases to the creative process. My belief was that creative thinking just popped into people’s minds like a light bulb lighting up.

One part of the reading that was confusing to me was that unexpected occurrences lead to innovation. I thought that innovation is more useful before the disaster strikes.

One question I would ask the author would be if he was a manager of a company which arena of creativity would he wish his employees used the most of? The second question

Is Creativity vs. innovation, which is better for an entrepreneur to be developed at? Both highly creative and highly innovative people seem to be the most successful.

I disagree when the author said that for creativity to occur, chaos is necessary. I don’t think a structured and focus chaos is necessary to creativity. I believe that using the word chaos is a bit extreme.

Top 5 World Problems

Problems

1. Rapid Increase in the Global Population

2. Nuclear Warfare

3. Climate Change

4. Poverty

5. Gender Discrimination

For this list, I believe the rapid increase in the global population is the biggest problem. An increase in global population has several effects on all of the other problems in my list. For example, a rising world population plays a significant role in climate change. Also, a rising global population could cause tension between countries fighting over natural resources.

Solutions

1. In order to solve the problem of climate change, we need to ensure world leaders believe and actively care about climate change. Once everyone recognizes there is a problem, then we can take measures to reverse the trend of global warming.

2. Many countries around the world struggle with educated its young people. In order to solve this problem, one solution could be to create more organizations that raise money for the whole communities, not just to build schools but also community libraries.

3. Climate change and an increase in global population has started to make water supplies dwindle. In order to reverse this trend, first world countries must start reusing the water they have available. The water from your morning shower shouldn’t disappear, it can be used to feed crops or produce electricity.

4. To prevent some species from going extinct, more accountability could be put on federal agencies to protect the animals. Providing the right laws to protect the animals and punishing those who break them, is a small step to solving the problem of extinction. Also, more money can be raised to protect the habitats the animals live in.

5. Although it stirs quite controversy, a one child policy could be put into place in some countries to help solve the problem of a rising global population.

I believe the best solution is creating awareness on the issue of climate change. Climate change is real and it is hurting our planet. There are powerful world leaders who refute that climate change is a threat. We need to ensure that these people understand the impacts that global warming can have on our planet.

Identifying Local Opportunities

1. Pine View Changes Restroom Policy

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A852FB7B827770?p=AWNB

Nate Quinn, a seventeen-year-old high school senior who identifies himself as a transgender male requested to use the men’s bathroom. The principle denied his request twice, and after the second time, thousands of people called Pine View to flood their phone lines in protest. Eventually, Pine View changed its bathroom policy, the first Sarasota County School to do so. Now, any middle school or high school student can use whichever bathroom they identify with.

The problem presented in this story was that Nate Quinn who identifies himself has a transgender, had no place to go to the bathroom. He didn’t feel comfortable in the women’s bathroom and was unable to use the men’s restroom. Pine View had the problem to change its policy and deal with what some would call a “thorny issue”.

The transgender students who were being bullied and not allowed access to the bathroom were the ones with the problem.

2. Paradise Disrupted on Siesta

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A7FEE4AF741240?p=AWNB

In the early hours of January 17^th a large tornado ripped through Siesta Key, doing thousands of dollars of damage and injuring two. Siesta Key is a hot spot for tourist during the winter months so many were unprepared for the storm. Almost al of the condominiums in the area have hurricane and storm protection but not any precaution was taken before the storm hit.

The problem was that many of the residents staying on Siesta Key were tourists that had no experience in dealing with these types of storms. The condominium owners also were unable to put up the adequate protection for these types of storms.

The condominium owners on Siesta Key have the problem. Repairing damages, ensuring safe measures will be taken the next time the storm hits, and assuring new tourists that they condominiums are safe are all problems the owners now face.

3. Nonprofit Forming to Focus on Housing

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A7AAFF568DBE20?p=AWNB

Sarasota County has over 300 homeless people. Doug Logan, Homelessness Initiatives Director and three other unnamed members are set to fix the problem of homelessness in Sarasota County. Logan wants to run a Housing First approach, which would place 250 homeless individuals in a shelter downtown. This is costly however, by 2020 Logan needs to raise over thirty million dollars in order to fully solve the problem of homelessness.

The problem is that Sarasota County has a large population of homeless individuals, especially in the downtown area. The city has not given these individuals a place to stay and each attempt seems to fail.

 Take Me Home the name of the new non-profit agency now has the problem of successfully ending homelessness in Sarasota County.

4. Fewer Sales are Distressed

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A755AF80FAB3B0?p=AWNB

Distressed homes are accounting for a smaller share of overall home sales in Southwest Florida. However, Florida still leads the U.S. in the number of foreclosed properties over the past year. The state accounted for 17.1 percent of all the foreclosures nationwide in the past year. Even though the state’s foreclosure inventory is down from 4.1 percent over the year, it remains double the U.S. rate of 1.2 percent 

The problem presented in the story is that Florida still leads the U.S. in the number of foreclosures. In fact, Florida accounts for 17% of all foreclosures nationwide.

The homeowners who purchased homes during the real estate boom now face the problem of ensuring their home does not get foreclosed on.

5. Mental health high on agenda

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A604AA2ABF0DE0?p=AWNB

Enhancing Florida's mental health and substance abuse treatments are rising to the top of State Legislator this year. Two bills were passed that require more coordination between law enforcement and treatment centers. However, funding continues to be an issue. Also, questions have been raised about how efficient and effective each city's substance abuse centers are operating. A major focus if the House bills is coordinating the treatment of patients, both the patients who come to the care centers voluntarily or involuntarily. 

The problem is that there is a weak source of funding for care centers in each community. Another problem is that house members are resisting to merger of the Baker Act and the Marchman Act. 

The individuals who suffer from addiction and mental illness are the ones who have the problems. Lack of funding and disagreement in the House has created issues in regards to putting the people who need help on the right path.