Reminder: Let’s Swim Together

February 2nd, 2011 by

Sometimes we need a good reminder about what really makes community and economic development work.  David Campbell recently provided me with that reminder in a blog post about his work in rural Nova Scotia.  He writes: 
Economic development is always about marshaling other related stakeholders - it is rarely about single organizations doing all the work themselves.  There are too many moving parts for it to be fully controlled by one organization.  But the best economic development organizations can bring those moving parts together and have them work in unison." (source:  "Thoughts on rural economic development," David Campbell, It's the Economy Stupid:  A blog about Economic Development in Atlantic Canada. Jan. 28, 2011)
We make this same point using the "let's swim together" analogy at the Rural Learning Center and draw on the movie Finding Nemo for inspiration.  In a scene late in the movie, Nemo and a host of other fish are caught in a fishnet being drug to a boat on the surface.  In an effort to save everyone, Nemo convinces all the other fish that their only means of escape is to unite and swim against the pull of the net.  By swimming together they achieve the unthinkable:  they break the net and overcome their eminent doom on the deck of the fishing boat.  This analogy may not work among the coastal fishing communities of Nova Scotia, but it's one that resonates on the flat cropland of the prairie. Swimming together works.  Recognizing this is an important first step.  And then the real work begins.  How do we make it happen?

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Posted in Community Engagement, Economic Development, Rural | Comments ( 4 )

4 Responses to “Reminder: Let’s Swim Together”

  1. Sheri Booms Holm Says:
    February 2nd, 2011 at 9:57 am

    David Campbell’s definition of economic development is spot on. That’s exactly what we do here at West Central Initiative–we help assemble the moving parts to benefit communities in west central Minnesota. We’re pretty unique as a foundation, because we are contracted by the EDA as an Economic Development District Designee for our region since the RDC had been disbanded (long story). We were able to step in and fill the void to make sure our region didn’t lose out on EDA funding.

    And both David and the RLC are correct that it takes plenty of partners to accomplish this! We love our partners!

  2. Mike Knutson Says:
    February 3rd, 2011 at 4:56 am

    Keep it up Sheri!

  3. Caleb Says:
    February 14th, 2011 at 10:26 am

    Just keep swimming, just keep swimming…thanks Dori!

    Yes, Mike you are correct – we’re cat herders down here in Valley County. We call ourselves economic development catalysts – we don’t create economic growth, we coordinate the parties that do. It makes it both exhilarating and exhausting at the same time.

    Great post, and thanks again for posting some awesome reads lately.

  4. Mike Knutson Says:
    February 14th, 2011 at 10:31 am

    Caleb,
    Thanks for the kind words. Wish I had more time lately to write. And if you have any tips for “herding” those cats, we’d love to hear them.

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