Greetings all, and happy World Creativity and Innovation Week! 

First, thank you to Toronto's Mayor David Miller for proclaiming Creativity and Innovation Week for the city April 15 - 21, recognizing that it's important to unleash the creative potential in all of Toronto to keep its innovation leadership engine running.

Second, a giant thank you to our sponsors and supporters for the 2010 celebrations. Many people and organization have donated funds, time, energy, tweets, blogposts, broadcasts and more to spread-the-word about celebrating WCIW Toronto and around the globe. Our Admit it. You're Creative. speakers you too, for volunteering your time to bring the best creativity and innovation-spurring presentations our region has to offer.

Third, a huge thanks to our Toronto all-volunteer organizing team led by Janet Rouss. Everyone's effort exceeded expectations. Their inspiring commitment to put personal agendas on hold to bring WCIW to the streets, over the internet, and to homes, schools and organizations is cannot be praised enough.

What is World Creativity and Innovation Week?

World Creativity and Innovation Week April 15-21 (WCIW) celebrations encourage and engage people to use their creativity to make the world a better place and to make their place in the world better too. Included in that is spreading the word, the passion, and the belief that each one has the capacity to generate new ideas, use imagination and make new decisions that make a difference and that do no harm.

WCIW is totally inclusive. Everyone is welcome to join our growing community: young and old, from every socio-economic bracket, all countries, religions, abilities, and language groups. We firmly know that everyone has the ability to use imagination, get new ideas and make new decisions that count.

Why does it start on Leonardo da Vinci's Birthday?

April 15th is Leonardo da Vinci’s birthday - a paragon of combining science and arts, emotion and logic to create world class standards of performance in science, technology and the visual arts.  His example shows us how we can achieve genius in our everyday life.

What happens during World Creativity and Innovation Week?

During World Creativity and Innovation Week April 15 - 21 we inspire people all over the world to think new thoughts, initiate new actions, and joyfully celebrate their unique contributions for improving conditions for the people, the planet and profits.

I'm already creative - why should I celebrate?

Because you deserve a time to reflect on your success, showcase your accomplishments, gather wisdom from your learnings and plan for even greater discoveries for the following year.

I don't think I'm creative at all - why is this celebration for me?

You might surprise yourself.  In the old days we used to think that creativity belonged in the arts.  That's changed. Now we know that creativity involves using different kinds of thinking.  To access creativity we do these three things:  use new ideas, tap into the imagination, and make a new decision that positively affects your life and/or the lives of others.  People who do this are considered creative. My hunch is that you've done this once or twice this past year. 

Where is World Creativity and Innovation Week?

Many people ask where World Creativity and Innovation Week  April 15 - 21 is held, and we respond, it’s where you are. People in schools, factories, families, businesses, governments, associations, on the streets and in the boardrooms all over the world host activities and programs that welcome, engage and contribute pride in creating and innovating for personal, professional, community, organizational and planetary benefit.

How do people celebrate? 

People in all walks of life use the week, a day, an hour or a meal to celebrate. Each does something new that’s meaningful. Global companies hold creativity and innovation events and activities in each country office worldwide. Families eat dinner backwards. Children brush their teeth with the other hand. Teachers use the week to engage students' curiosity to dig deeper into their schoolwork. People all over the planet, and in Toronto too, spark their brains to access creative thoughts for innovative action. 

What should I do?

We have suggestions and ideas to offer, and the decision is up to you. On a small scale, tweeting, blogging and sending emails about celebrating World Creativity and Innovation Week is something you can do. We've got a downloadable button badge to use for  the week.

On a larger scale, you can host events, bring in a speaker, hold a pot luck where everyone brings a dish they haven't made before, organize a fair for your community, you name it, just make sure it's safe and does no harm. Whatever it is, we'd love to learn from your WCIW stories, so make sure, send it to us.

Can I do this all for free?

Yes, and we appreciate donations too. WCIW is totally volunteer-run. It started as a grassroots community, and we invite your membership and support.  You can choose to become a sponsor, a donor, and/or continue supporting the growth of WCIW by contributing a percentage of your WCIW earnings from sales or admission-charged events.

Please say you will  join in celebrating your creativity for moving innovation forward during World Creativity and Innovation Week April 15 - 21.  You’ll be helping to make a world of difference.

Marci Segal, MS
co-founder, World Creativity and Innovation Week April 15 - 21
president, creativityland inc.