Posts Tagged ‘community dialogue’

Get outa town, exchange ideas, and build dialogue

June 23rd, 2011

A couple days ago, I caught some good advice on the Ruraltopia blog. In an article titled “Get Outa Town...,” Trent McKnight highlighted his participation in the recent Texas Rural Challenge conference. McKnight explained that he was personally inspired by Bob Dixson, the mayor of Greensburg, KS, which was almost completely wiped out by a F5 tornado in 2007. He also highlighted the great networking opportunities that took place in the conference hallways; people from rural communities throughout Texas shared ideas about their challenges and solutions. It was his conclusion, however, that caught my attention:

If you want to do something great for your hometown, begin the dialogue. Share your challenges on this blog and get outa town to attend a regional forum on rural development. Only when we come together as a community of rural innovators will we be able to address and overcome our challenges and achieve Ruraltopia.” (source: "Get outa town..." Trent McKnight, Ruraltopia, June 20, 2011)

Get outa town, exchange ideas, and bring ‘em back for some dialogue. Good advice for kick-starting the innovation process. Ten years ago, dialogue of this nature had to take place in face-to-face settings, like conferences. With the rise of social media, however, more of this conversation can take place online, thereby breaking the confines of our rural geography.

Be sure to talk locally

In addition to talking online with rural innovators from around the country, I would also encourage everyone to begin the dialogue locally -- within their own community. I’m often reminded of how the process for change began in Miner County. During our community vision meetings, residents sat down in small groups at the kitchen tables of their neighbors, talked about innovative activities in other rural communities, and tried to figure out how these innovative activities applied to our own community. That process of dialogue is key. Not only is there Wisdom in Crowds, but conversation helps build stronger social capital, making it easier to bring about the changes we need in our communities. And we could all stand a little of that.

Tags: community dialogue, community vision meetings, miner county sd, Texas, Wisdome of Crowds
Posted in Community Development, Community Engagement, Leadership, Rural | Comments (0)

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November 6th, 2009

Lately we've been calling on rural communities to "reimagine" their futures by focusing on transformational strategies rather than those of revitalization. In a recent post on the Daily Yonder Buy Vasaka Without Prescription, , Timothy Collins reminded me that this can't take place without "reimaging" the future of education in our rural communities.

Collins, ordering Vasaka online, Vasaka in uk, the assistant director of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University, wrote his post titled "Speak your peace: Longer School Year, where to buy Vasaka, Vasaka from canadian pharmacy, and Better," in response to President Obama's call for lengthening the number of days in the school year. While recognizing that lengthening the school year should improve education, buy cheap Vasaka, Order Vasaka no prescription, Collins sees a bigger opportunity:

If we're going to lengthen the school year, let's talk about real changes that will not only improve student achievement, buy Vasaka online cod, Where can i buy Vasaka online, but also build rural communities capable of participating effectively in the new green economy.

Schools and communities getting better together? Yes, Vasaka gel, ointment, cream, pill, spray, continuous-release, extended-release. Vasaka in india,

The Roots of the Miner County story are in education

In Miner County, SD we view the Miner County Cash Flow Study, purchase Vasaka online, Where can i find Vasaka online, conducted in 1996 by high school students, as the start of our transformational activities. In this project, where can i buy cheapest Vasaka online, Saturday delivery Vasaka, the students sought to reverse a decline in local purchasing by (1) studying local spending habits through a community survey, (2) sharing what they learned with community residents, sale Vasaka, Order Vasaka online overnight delivery no prescription, and (3) challenging everyone to spend 10% more of their income locally in the upcoming year.

It was the type of learning that doesn't come from a textbook and definitely can't be measured on a standardized test. But equally important, it met two of the community needs: it helped strengthen local businesses and increased tax revenues for the City of Howard. In following year, order Vasaka from United States pharmacy, Vasaka in us, residents increased local spending by approximately 40%.

These and other place-based learning activities conducted in the school over the next few years strengthened the connection between the school and community. The work also played a key role in the Northwest Area Foundation selecting Miner County as their first partner in the Community Ventures program, order Vasaka no prescription. Purchase Vasaka online no prescription,

How can this be done?

Collins answers his call for change by producing a litany of outstanding ideas for connecting schools and communities. It's good stuff! Not only do his ideas provide value to rural communities, but they also help build a bridge to the green economy and youth entrepreneurship.

But how does one initiate the types of changes Collins advocates, Vasaka in canada. Vasaka in japan, The following are a few thoughts I'd like to share.

First, realize that no single person is going to accomplish change on this level by him or herself. A superintendent or mayor can help lead the change. But I think it requires deep conversation with the entire community.

Second, next day Vasaka, Where to buy Vasaka, find ways to prime the pump for conversation by making sure people are exposed to new ideas. A good place to start would be with Collin's ideas. Ask people to read and react to them.

Third, Vasaka medication, Vasaka in australia, make sure young people are a part of the process. Young people's voices can produce powerful insights when adults treat them as partners.

Whatever process is used, however, Vasaka gel, ointment, cream, pill, spray, continuous-release, extended-release, Vasaka in mexico, I think it's important to remember that the essential question to focus on is "How do rural schools and communities get better together?"

That's Reimagining Rural Education.

Note: The RLC is currently in the process of developing some free resources that help explain the Miner County Cash Flow Study. Anyone interested in receiving the first one, titled the Miner County Cash Flow Study Resource Guide should sign up for it at the top of the sidebar. Individuals who sign up will be notified as other resources are developed., buy cheap Vasaka. Vasaka from international pharmacy. Vasaka over the counter. Where can i order Vasaka without prescription. Over the counter Vasaka. Vasaka in india. Order Vasaka online c.o.d. Vasaka san diego. Vasaka overseas. Buy Vasaka without prescription. Vasaka to buy. Where can i buy cheapest Vasaka online. Where to buy Vasaka. Vasaka prices. Purchase Vasaka online. Buy Vasaka online without prescription. Vasaka paypal. Rx free Vasaka. Vasaka in usa. Where can i buy Vasaka online. Vasaka to buy online. Vasaka tablets. Buy Vasaka no prescription. Vasaka buy. Free Vasaka samples. Online buying Vasaka hcl. Buy no prescription Vasaka online. Buying Vasaka online over the counter. Buy Vasaka without a prescription. Buy generic Vasaka. Vasaka from canadian pharmacy. Vasaka in uk. Buy Vasaka online without a prescription. Order Vasaka from mexican pharmacy. Ordering Vasaka online. Vasaka trusted pharmacy reviews. Sale Vasaka.

Tags: community dialogue, education, Howard SD, Miner County Cash Flow Study, place based education, Timothy Collins
Posted in Community Development, Rural, Youth | Comments (0)

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October 30th, 2009

Buy Lovaza Without Prescription, I recently stumbled on an idea that won't let go of me. I love those kind of ideas-something I can't ignore, even if the Swedish side of my brain is telling me ‘no, not another project.' So, here it is.

The town of Harrisonburg, VA has started something called the Harrisonburg Summits to create intentional opportunities for public conversation around important issues facing the community. The idea in and of itself isn't new. What puts it over the top, in my mind, is the use of Open Space Technology.

What's Open Space Technology?

I first learned about Open Space Technology at an Art of Hosting training sponsored, in part, by the Rural Learning Center. The RLC understands that conversation, and the ability to host conversation, is a critical need in our rural communities. Open Space is one tool we use to do that. At its most basic, Open Space is a facilitation process that allows meeting participants to create the agenda around a specified topic based on what's most important to the people in the room. Several conversations are hosted at one time, and people can choose to participate in whichever is most interesting to them. There is a lot more to it, but the premise that it genuinely allows the voices of those in the room to influence the outcome is most important here. This is vital if your goal is to engage people both in conversation, and then in the work that follows.

See what Harrisonburg residents think of the process in the video below.

The importance of involvement from the start.

Why is it so important to engage people in the process of creating the agenda? I think the answer begins and ends with one principle: people care more about ideas and projects that they feel a part of. Gone are the days when a city leader can come to a group of people with a project identified and execution planned, and simply ask for their help in doing the work. People want to feel more a part of the process, and their ownership is fundamental to getting the project completed. That ownership is one of the reasons why the community building work in Miner County has been so successful; people's individual ideas and passions became the community's ideas and passions. And they were willing to work hard to make things happen.

The Harrisonburg Summit webpage indicates that the summit started as a one-time project, next day Lovaza. Where can i find Lovaza online, They indicate that it continued because "the event was so successful." What I would surmise is that the summits have continued because it has created a renewed sense of ownership and contribution for residents. They have become a part of something that matters.

If your community is looking for a meaningful way to engage residents, I think the Harrisonburg model is something to consider, order Lovaza online c.o.d. Fast shipping Lovaza. Where to buy Lovaza. Lovaza discount. Order Lovaza online overnight delivery no prescription. Lovaza pills. Online buy Lovaza without a prescription. Purchase Lovaza online no prescription. Buying Lovaza online over the counter. Buy Lovaza online without prescription. Cod online Lovaza. Buy Lovaza without a prescription. Where can i order Lovaza without prescription. Order Lovaza from United States pharmacy. Delivered overnight Lovaza. Online buying Lovaza hcl. Lovaza prescriptions. Buy Lovaza online without a prescription. Free Lovaza samples. Where can i buy Lovaza online. Lovaza gel, ointment, cream, pill, spray, continuous-release, extended-release. Lovaza price, coupon. Order Lovaza from mexican pharmacy. Buy Lovaza online with no prescription. Online buying Lovaza hcl. Lovaza paypal. Lovaza to buy online. Rx free Lovaza. Lovaza in us. Lovaza in australia. Purchase Lovaza online. Buy generic Lovaza. Lovaza trusted pharmacy reviews. Lovaza medication. Buy no prescription Lovaza online. Lovaza pills. Lovaza craiglist. Order Lovaza no prescription. Lovaza price, coupon. Delivered overnight Lovaza. Lovaza tablets. Order Lovaza online c.o.d. Saturday delivery Lovaza. Purchase Lovaza. Lovaza from canadian pharmacy. Order Lovaza from United States pharmacy. Next day Lovaza. Buy Lovaza online cod. Buy Lovaza without prescription. Lovaza for sale. Lovaza in usa. Buying Lovaza online over the counter. Lovaza in canada. Over the counter Lovaza. Purchase Lovaza online no prescription. Free Lovaza samples. Lovaza prescriptions. Cod online Lovaza. Lovaza in india. Ordering Lovaza online. Where to buy Lovaza. Lovaza from international pharmacy. Where can i find Lovaza online.

Tags: art of hosting, community dialogue, conversation, Harrisonburg VA, open space, Virgina
Posted in Community Engagement, Rural | Comments (4)

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October 21st, 2009

Buy Indometacin Without Prescription, Lately, I've held up the Miller, SD Facebook Fan Page as a good example of how rural communities can use Facebook. Because of the spiffy photos, engaging questions, and interesting responses that have been posted on the page, I feel like I've gotten to know Miller a lot better. And you know what? I like it! I think it is safe to say, the community of Miller should be proud of how community leaders are using Facebook.

But a recent article in the Everyday Democracy newsletter has caused me to wonder if Facebook (and other social media tools) could also be used to develop deeper conversations around the more complex, challenging issues. You know, buy no prescription Indometacin online, Indometacin san diego, the type of questions that make the mayor's job tough.

That's what residents of York, free Indometacin samples, Sale Indometacin, Maine (pop. 12, buy cheap Indometacin no rx, Buy Indometacin online cod, 854) are attempting to do on a Facebook Fan Page titled "York Community Dialogue."

York Community Dialogue - What's important to you?

"Have you ever wondered," the group asks on their page, Indometacin in canada, Indometacin overseas, "what sort of conversations communities might have if public meeting agendas were set by citizens rather than by governments?"

With that in mind, one of the first questions they asked was "What about York matters to you?"

That question, Indometacin prices, Indometacin pills, in and of itself, is a deeper question than anything I've seen on the Miller page. And it points to the desire of some community members to dig in and shape the future of the community.

Interestingly, where can i buy Indometacin online, Indometacin tablets, residents in Howard, SD sought the same outcome back in 1997 when they developed a community dialogue process they termed "Community Vision Meetings." As Lindsey explained last week to the folks in Pepin, cod online Indometacin, Order Indometacin from United States pharmacy, WI, this process revolved around high school students leading small group discussions, buy Indometacin without a prescription, Indometacin trusted pharmacy reviews, which took place in individuals' homes.

While I feel the York model is commendable, I haven't made up my mind whether or not I think Facebook is a good place for the type of conversation the group seeks. I suspect two shortcomings, Indometacin in india. Indometacin over the counter, First, the way Facebook is structured makes it difficult for complex thoughts to be expressed. Experience suggests to me that a blog is a better medium, buy Indometacin from canada. Buy Indometacin online with no prescription, (Perhaps this is why leaders intend to create "study circles" in the future.)

Second, the biggest challenge in holding this type of conversation on-line is that it often degenerates into baseless name calling. (One advantage of Facebook is that residents have to own up their comments with their name, where can i order Indometacin without prescription, Order Indometacin no prescription, unlike many blogs and newspaper forums.)

Those questions aside, however, order Indometacin online overnight delivery no prescription, Indometacin price, coupon, I applaud community leaders for taking on this challenge. Rural communities need dialogue of this nature, and I look forward to watching the York model in action.

(And if you are aware of other communities holding conversations like this on-line, Indometacin in uk, Ordering Indometacin online, I hope you will share.)

Photo credit - Bucklava - Flickr (the Nubble Light House is just up the Maine coast at York Beach)

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Tags: community dialogue, conversation, Facebook, Miller SD, social media, York ME
Posted in Community Engagement, In the News, Rural | Comments (0)

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