Marion Connects: Activating Tower Square Plaza with Third Thursday, Rock the Plaza, and Fall FestHosts Jennifer Olson (City of Marion) and Russell Williams (Ethos) interview Marion Connects president Amy Eckert about the group’s origins and growth activating downtown Marion’s Tower Square Plaza. The conversation traces how citizen feedback from a “Reversing the Exodus” event led to organizing Marion Connects, launching family-friendly Third Thursday programming, and formalizing as a 501(c)(3) to accept donations and run events. Eckert describes signature Third Thursday themes (line dancing with Cowboy Kyle, patriotic “Red, White, and Boots,” “Star Spangled Splash Bash,” and a back-to-school pep rally night), the Neighbor Spotlight series, a local history series with John Musgrave, and partnerships supporting Shine & Show and Rock the Plaza concerts. They discuss the group’s moderated Facebook presence as a community resource and economic development tool, and preview the first Fall Fest at the Williamson County Fairgrounds on Saturday, October 17, with vendors, daytime kids activities, and evening beer garden and live music.Recorded at EThOs Small Business Incubator and Co-working Spaces in Marion, Illinois.https://members.ethosmarion.org/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTOur guest: https://marionconnects.org/