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During the past months, some of our partners have asked for clarification about our aims. They want to know “What do you mean? What’s different about a Rural-Urban Connections approach compared with our current development frameworks?” Well, we’re glad you asked and we hope that the following helps clarify our goals.
Alongside colleagues with organizations as diverse as the United Nations and the Rural Policy Research Institute, we believe it is time for a new approach to development. Instead of the traditional competing interests of rural VS urban America, we believe it’s time to recognize how interconnected our interests, needs and futures are. Read the rest of this entry »
We had a lively discussion during our video conference on Wednesday, February 24th . We heard several great examples of rural urban renewable energy initiatives that are occurring in this part of the state. We also heard examples of rural urban connections that involved community-based efforts, higher education and the arts.
Our next video conference will be on Thursday, March 4, from 3:30 – 5:00 PM. Featured connections will be local food networks and entrepreneurship in southern Minnesota. For more information click on our video conferences page.
Below are some of the rural urban renewable energy examples that were discussed during the video conference this past Wednesday. Read the rest of this entry »
Minnesotans invited to contribute via video conferences, e-mail, blog, Twitter
As part of a cooperative effort with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development, Minnesota Rural Partners, Inc. is hosting a series of video conferences through May 2010 to encourage conversations across the state about rural and urban connections that impact individual lives, communities, and work. The goal is to foster increased innovation and job growth by leveraging the strengths of rural and urban areas.
“There’s always been an interdependence between rural and urban areas, with our food supply being one important example of that,” said Jane Leonard, president of Minnesota Rural Partners, Inc. “Today, more people are realizing the value of those rural urban connections, and the benefits that come from increasing access to local sources of healthy foods, developing green energy, caring for our water resources and spurring other innovations that can lead to business growth for the entire state. We want to get Minnesotans talking and thinking about the interdependence between rural and urban areas, as well as future opportunities arising from stronger rural urban connections.”
Minnesotans are invited to share ideas and examples of rural urban connections, collaborations and partnerships related to business, workforce, education, arts, food, broadband, health care, energy, and other areas. The video conferences will culminate in the Symposium on Small Towns and Rural urban Gathering at the University of Minnesota, Morris, on June 9 and 10. People who are interested in opportunities developing through rural urban connections are invited to attend the symposium, as well as to help establish the new Minnesota Rural Urban Partnering Council, which will be forming at the Morris symposium.
“Rural and urban areas have always been inextricably tied,” said USDA Rural Development State Director Colleen Landkamer. “As we move ahead, the health of Minnesota’s economy as a whole will be shaped by how well we use our resources to strengthen those rural and urban connections throughout the state.”
Based on input they receive, Minnesota Rural Partners, Inc. will be mapping existing rural urban connections and examining how to expand them. “Through the process, we hope to renew the framework for ongoing rural urban dialogue and build new partnerships,” said Leonard.
Participants are asked to register for video conferences in advance at http://blog.rurb.mn/video conferences/. The next video conferences will be:
- Wed., Feb. 17 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Central Minnesota, and will focus on rural urban connections, collaborations and partnerships related to manufacturing, workforce readiness and renewable energy, with video conference sites at:
- Brainerd – Central Lakes College, 501 West College Drive, ITV Room C224;
- Staples – Central Lakes College – 1830 Airport Road, Main Campus – ITV Room B103;
- Little Falls – Midstate Education District Building, 15738 Highway 27, District Office Conference Room;
- St. Cloud – Small Business Development Center, 616 Roosevelt Road, Suite #100, https://www.stcloudstate.edu/sbdc/contact.asp for directions;
- Saint Paul – TIES, 1667 Snelling Ave. North, Video Conference Room.
- Wed., Feb. 24 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Southwest Minnesota, and will focus on rural urban connections, collaborations and partnerships related to renewable energy, with video conference sites at:
- Montevideo – Montevideo High School, 1501 William Ave., in the Library (check in at the office);
- Marshall – Marshall High School, 400 Tiger Drive, Fine Arts Conference Room, Fine Arts Entrance;
- Willmar – Willmar High School, 2701 30th St. NE, Library (check in at the office);
- Hutchinson – Hutchinson High School, 1200 Roberts Road, Library (check in at the office);
- Morris – University of Minnesota Morris, Humanities / Fine Arts Building, 600 East 4th Street, HFA Room 7, parking in North Lot; and
- Edina – Edina High School, 6754 Valley View Road, Professional Library (check in at the office)
Upcoming video conferences and their locations will be posted online at http://blog.rurb.mn, click on video conferences. Those unable to attend the video conferences can provide input online through e-mail at feedback@rurb.mn, on Twitter at http://twitter.com/rurbmn or comment at http://blog.rurb.mn.
Minnesota Rural Partners, Inc. President Jane Leonard is currently on a long planned, personal sabbatical to Australia. While she is there, she is also talking to colleagues about rural urban issues and opportunities. Here is one of her occasional entries sharing what she is learning in Australia.
We’ve arrived in Hamilton, Victoria, Australia, for the first of three rural development exchanges with colleagues down under. Lots of interest here in regional development strategies and increasing understanding of rural-urban interdependencies. Here’s a shot of the outskirts of town after a summer rainstorm.
Last week we had our first rural urban connections videoconference between SE Minnesota and the Twin Cities. We had 5 sites with presenters in both Adams and Houston, Minnesota. The rural urban connection stories we heard about focused on education – wow are things happening in those areas – online education from rural to metro, higher ed, and more.
We learned a lot from this pilot, not only about some technical difficulties, but that perhaps the videoconferences should have an industry focus because of the synergy it produces. So, stay tuned – we will be posting the next couple videoconference dates on the blog by Feb 1st.
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Our first video conference, held on January 19, was a great success! We heard two innovative stories related to online learning initiatives that are happening in Adams, and Houston, MN.
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Southeast Minnesota Video Conference
WHEN: Tuesday, January 19, from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
(Please arrive at 3:45 p.m.)
This video conference will focus on capturing the stories of rural urban collaborations that are occurring in SE Minnesota. Join us at one of the video conference sites listed below and join in on the discussion!
WHERE:
Adams MN: Southland Senior High – The Media Center
[MAP] 203 2nd Street Northwest, Adams, MN
Byron, MN: Byron Senior High – Room 2205
[MAP] 1887 2nd Ave NW, Byron, MN
Houston, MN: Houston High School – District Office Conference Room
[MAP] 306 East Elm Street, Houston, MN
Owatonna, MN: Riverland College – Room 130
[MAP] 965 Alexander Drive Southwest, Owatonna, MN
St. Paul, MN: TIES – Video Conference Room
[MAP] 1667 Snelling Avenue N. St. Paul, MN
The TIES receptionist at either the Snelling & Hoyt, or Larpenteur entrance will direct you to the videoconference room. Signs will be posted at either entrance. The conference is called RurbMN: Rural Urban Connections.
Winona, MN: Winona State University – Somsen Hall – Room 110
[MAP] 175 West Mark Street, Winona, MN
You have to share ideas to prime the innovation pump. That’s why the Minnesota Rural Partners, Inc. team is putting together the Rural Urban Connections project, now underway in cooperation with USDA Rural Development.
Its simple idea is to share ideas, about rural urban connections in Minnesota – in your life and work – that help rural and urban people, places, and businesses and organizations thrive. There’s always been interdependency between rural and urban resources, producers, markets, but we don’t always deliberately call it out or intentionally build on it.
We really need an integrated approach to rural, urban, and suburban community and economic development and planning in Minnesota, if we want to thrive – not just survive. Innovation and wealth creation in social and economic enterprise in Minnesota depends on a good understanding and application of the rural urban connections we have now and into the future.
Urban (including suburban) people have to face it. Access to and sustainability of the big three –food, energy, and water resources — all depends on having an understanding and support of, and respect for the rural people and places that steward those resources.
This isn’t a new idea. In fact, back in May 1968, former Minnesota Governor and then-U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Orville Freeman gave a speech in Washington, D.C. to the leaders of the nation’s “rural-oriented industries” on the topic: “Rural/Urban Balance – Whose Responsibility?”
Freeman said: “We are met here today to discuss this portion [rural] of America in a period when almost all of the national conscience is focused on yet another segment of the land, the great cities.
“It is almost as if we were two Nations; one rural, one urban, with separate problems, separate solutions, separate destinies. But in fact – as well as rhetoric – we are still one Nation, indivisible, with indivisible problems, indivisible solutions; with but one destiny. And unless we recognize this, we shall never overcome the terrible strains that threaten to rend the social fabric of our land.”
Powerful words. A powerful confrontation of reality, so relevant to our challenges, and opportunities today. We’ll be sharing more of that speech in the months ahead, so stay tuned.
To answer the 2010 question of rural urban balance, we will begin simply, to collect through videoconferences and other online forms of social gatherings – the stories, examples, experiences you have of rural urban connections in businesses, food and agriculture, arts, health care, education, telecom & info technology, workforce development, energy, environment, and other areas that emerge from these conversations and idea-sharing opportunities. Check the schedule (to be posted towards the end of January) and other ways to provide your input at www.rurb.mn.
The first videoconference is in southeast Minnesota on January 19 from 4 to 5 p.m. Sites include Adams, Houston, Owatonna (pending) and the TIES offices in St. Paul. Contact Pam Matchie for specific location directions and to RSVP (pmatchie@decisionresourceassociates.com).
Along the way, with the help of our Graduate Research Assistant at the UM Center for Regional and Urban Affairs, we’ll start physically mapping those connection stories you contribute. We’ll all either be astounded at the number and depth, or worried that not enough connections exist to prime the innovation pump and sustain our state.
And, mark your calendars and please attend the University of Minnesota, Morris, Center for Small Towns’ annual Small Town Symposium, June 9-10 http://www.morris.umn.edu/services/cst/symposium/2010
At the Symposium, we’ll be hosting the Rural Urban Gathering, to share what we’ve collected between January and May 2010 on rural urban connections, and to ask you to consider joining the Rural Urban Partnering Task Force, to keep supporting existing and emerging rural urban connections.
We are co-hosting the Small Town Symposium because we believe deeply in the work of the Center. They are a catalyst for the innovations happening at the University and in and around Morris on sustainable community development. The University of Minnesota Morris was GREEN before it was fashionable. They were GREEN because they knew western Minnesota needed to figure out how to reinvent its economy and what better lab than a university town with experiment and outreach centers.
We are co-hosting the Symposium because it was cancelled last year due to the poor economy. It’s crucial that people gather face-to-face to inspire, cajole, take risks together and go out better prepared to help their own communities do the same. The worst thing we can do these days is to hunker down. We have to go out and help each other reset to a new, better normal.
So –
- add your two cents to this discussion blog – stories, experiences, examples of rural-urban connections in your life and work
- sign up for a videoconference near you (the schedule will be posted later in January)
And please go to our Twitter site to join in the discussion at 140 characters or less! http://twitter.com/rurbmn
Minnesota Community Pride Contest Back for 2010!
We’ll provide more details in May, but start thinking now about entering your community in the 2010 Minnesota Community Pride contest, brought back by popular demand thanks to Minnesota Rural Partners, Inc., the Minnesota State Fair, and MinnPost.com.
A new category will be, you guessed it: Rural Urban Connections!
All communities entered and winners will be recognized at the Minnesota State Fair on Sunday, September 5, in Carousel Park. See www.reinventingminnesota.org to see which communities were award winners last year. Share your ideas, share your pride with your neighbors statewide.
The Rurb.MN team is meeting today to set out the 2010 schedule, which includes co-hosting the 2010 Small Town Symposium and Rural Urban Gathering at the University of Minnesota Morris, June 9 & 10. Watch this space for more details.
After many weeks of meetings, we have gathered a great team of people and organizations to help on the Rural Urban Partnering project, including the good folks at MinnPost.com, the University of Minnesota Morris Center for Small Towns, the K-12 Interactive Television (ITV) regional coordinators, Governor’s Workforce Development Council, Minnesota Workforce Council Association, the Minnesota Learning Commons, the Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships, and the Healthy Foods, Healthy Lives Institute.
Look to this spot for the schedule of videoconferences and webinars starting in January 2010 (and running through May 2010), where YOUR presence and wisdom will be most appreciated to share stories of rural urban connections in your life and in your work. Also be thinking if you would like to be more deeply involved in this project as a member of the advisory group.
We are scheduling 2 videoconferences every other week, interspersed with a webinar on the alternating week, to give as much access as possible across Minnesota.
In the meantime, join in on this blog if you want to help think/write through topics related to rural-urban connections.
Minnesota Rural Partners, Inc, in cooperation with the USDA Rural Development, is in the beginning stages of a national pilot project to document and leverage the power of rural-urban connections and resource sharing to help all Minnesota thrive.
We are seeking people and organizations that care about rural-urban interdependence. We welcome your stories, examples, ideas, and advice. We will be building a robust social networking site on this website, but in the meantime, you can share your input via this blog, or send an email to feedback@rurb.mn
If you want to be more involved and informed, send us your email address and we will keep you on the list to receive regular updates and an invite to scheduled webinars, videoconferences, and the statewide gathering in June 2010.
Thanks!
Jane Leonard
President
Minnesota Rural Partners
email: feedback@rurb.mn
www.minnesotaruralpartners.org
