Rich Florida 'Clarifies' His Message

Richard Florida was back in Phoenix this week (he was a star attraction at a New Times downtown forum last year) speaking to a group at the Rodel Foundation.

His new book, The Flight of the Creative Class, is due in March. But this was also a time to clear up misconceptions about Rise that even Florida groupies may hold. He has neither an arts agenda nor a diversity agenda, he says. Rather, he's a self-described student of how we generate wealth and economies.

It so happens that the cities best at generating wealth also have abundant cultural assets and are welcoming of all kinds of people, including gays and minorities.The Creative Class? "It's not about artsy-fartsy, everybody's a poet," Florida says. And it's not just tech jobs. "It's about the nature of your involvement in work."

Hum. Sounds like you're setting the stage for your new book, Rich. And of course, the next generation of speeches.

More here.