by Christine Goodman
Nationwide Insurance
On October 6, 2017, the Scottsdale Leadership Class 32 had a busy day learning about Scottsdale’s history. Wow! It was an amazing experience. We started our morning at the Scottsdale Museum of the West learning about the roles key individuals played in shaping the wonderful city of Scottsdale. We later toured the downtown area of Scottsdale with our phenomenal historian tour guide, Joan Fudala, who shared insightful history about establishments along Main Street and the surrounding area. What I appreciate the most about this experience was the pride and effort Scottsdale has taken to preserve the city’s history and authentic feel of the West.
With our water bottles in hand and bus driver leading the way, we spent much of the day visiting important businesses who left a profound legacy on Scottsdale. Our class was blown away by the Cattle Track, an unassuming place from the street that surprisingly opens to a visual wonderland of authentic arts. Aside from the remarkable contribution Janie Ellis and her family had in Scottsdale’s housing development and art, this place continues to influence art by providing opportunities for artists, craftsmen and students, to encourage and enhance their art forms and to further the preservation of Scottsdale’s genuine past.
To add to our incredible day, we spent time learning the history of McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. We even met the granddaughter of this legacy family! Our last, and the most impressionable stop, was a visit to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, or SRP-MIC. On this tour, we learned about the advancements this community is making on their government, education, health-wellness, and ecosystem. We heard from the elected President of the SRP community about the mission, vision, and challenges their community face. The passion and cultural pride of this community has forever been bestowed on our class. I can’t express enough gratitude to the Scottsdale Leadership program in offering this experience to Class 32.
The Scottsdale Leader 