James Chung didn’t find Greater Des Moines – Greater Des Moines found him.

Chung, the president of Reach Advisors, a strategy, research and predictive analytics firm, will speak in Des Moines on Thursday, October 4 at 11:30 am as part of the Tomorrow Plan Speaker Series. Among Chung's clients are U.S. cities wanting to peer deep into his datasets – he says he extracts data even the U.S. government doesn’t have – to flush out weaknesses, identify opportunities and gain competitive advantages over other cities.

And among those “other cities”? Greater Des Moines, the statistical overachiever.

Invariably, when Chung compares client cities to others around the country, Greater Des Moines jumps out of the data as outperforming its peers. So much so, Chung said, that Greater Des Moines could break out as a city known nationally for talent and opportunity, following the pattern of Nashville, Tenn.; Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; or Boulder, Colo.

But that’s far from a foregone conclusion. For all the growth in recent years, Chung says, it is showing early signs of leveling off – still growing, just not at the same breakneck pace. Chung’s research raises several challenging questions.

Can Greater Des Moines protect its recent growth from another recession? Should future growth be slow and steady? Or does Greater Des Moines want to turbocharge its growth and seek out new frontiers to pioneer, even if new challenges emerge?

Chung's visit is made possible by Capital Crossroads, the Des Moines Area MPO, the Greater Des Moines Partnership, Polk County and the Science Center of Iowa. The event is free, but registration is encouraged here.

Join the Capital Crossroads Wellness Capital as they convene a series of conversations on our community’s mental health and collective resilience. These sharing and learning sessions will help inform and encourage discussion.

The next session in the series, Encouraging Healthier Habits with 5-2-1-0, will take place on Tuesday, September 25 from 7:30 – 9:00 am at the Greater Des Moines Partnership, 700 Locust Street, Des Moines. Panelists include Erin Drinnin, Community Impact Officer for the United Way of Central Iowa; Rev. Sarai Schnucker Rice, executive director of DMARC; and Jennifer Groos, MD FAAP at Blank Children’s Pediatric Clinic. The session will be moderated by Capital Crossroads Wellness Capital Tri-Chair and Iowa Healthiest State Initiative executive director Jami Haberl. Panelists will share regional efforts underway, early results and how every Iowan can get involved in 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count.

5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count is a statewide initiative that encourages children to eat five fruits and vegetables a day, have two hours or less of screen time, engage in at least one hour of physical activity and drink zero sugary drinks. The scientific method keeps kids physically and mentally healthy by focusing on the importance of good habits. The program is sponsored by the Iowa Department of Public Health, the Healthiest State Initiative and the United Way of Central Iowa.

The event is free, but registration is encouraged here. Coffee and light refreshments will be provided.