Posts Tagged ‘groundbreaking’

Citi Foundation Invests in Rural America

September 10th, 2009

The pomp and circumstance of last week’s groundbreaking at the Rural Learning Center has officially passed.  The last of the cake is eaten, and the office is looking a bit more orderly.  What we’ve failed to communicate, I think, is what the day really represented for the Rural Learning Center as an organization, for Howard as a community, and for rural people as a whole.  It wasn’t just an event to celebrate a new building; it was the beginning of something entirely new.   

Just a month or so ago, we received a call from Jerry Nachtigal with Citibank, SD.  We had applied for a Citi Foundation grant just two months prior that would help the Rural Learning Center jump start a renewable energy jobs and education program in our new facility.  Jerry was calling to let us know that our grant application had been approved, and that we would soon be receiving $250,000 from Citi Foundation.  Remarkable.

To top it off we learned that Pam Flaherty, President and CEO of Citi Foundation (NY), would be traveling to Howard to present a check to the Rural Learning Center during our groundbreaking celebration.  Citi Foundation decided to invest in the future of Howard, Miner County, and South Dakota as a whole, helping us create a more sustainable future for the entire nation.  Watch the video below to hear to what Pam and Citibank, SD had to say at the groundbreaking.

 We are extremely excited about what this investment means.  For the Rural Learning Center, it means that we have the resources to launch an innovative renewable energy jobs training program and a “science to the sidewalk” community education program around rural sustainability.  For the community of Howard, it means that economic decline is a thought of the past and that the future is looking bright and green.  For South Dakota, it means that our neighbors and friends will be able to learn new skills in emerging industries where they can earn living wage jobs with benefits to support their families. 

We are excited to share the investment that Citi Foundation has made, whether you attend a renewable energy job training class, visit our facility a year or so from now or simply watch what we’re up to from afar.  We’d like to think we’re all better off.  Thanks, Citi Foundation!

 Photo Credit:  Paul Higbee.  More photos of the groundbreaking can be found on the RLC Flickr Stream. 

 

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Bob Sutton “gets” ReImagine Rural

September 5th, 2009

In our work at the Rural Learning Center, we’ve long recognized the importance of place. It is, after all the root of our work that began with our Howard H.S. students back in the 1990s.

The theme of place emerged several times Wednesday in the speeches presented at the Rural Learning Center groundbreaking ceremony. While all were excellent, I think Bob Sutton, President of the South Dakota Community Foundation best captured the power of place.

Seeking inspiration to write his speech, Bob actually drove to Howard, sat under the trees of the Miner County Courthouse lawn, and absorbed the essence of the place.

The result was incredible. Inspiring and insightful. All in just under 10 minutes. That’s how place can get under your skin. If you don’t believe me, watch his presentation for yourself.

A couple topics stood out for me in Bob’s talk, and I’d like to share them below.

The Ingredients of Success

First, whenever one talks about the future of rural places, the conversation often turns to job creation and financial investment. As Bob eloquently describes, money is not the only ingredient; “Resources such as time and talent, leadership skills, motivational conversation, and a rekindling of the spirit of hope is just as critical in places like Howard.”

How true.

People sometimes think that the recent positive developments in Miner County have occurred because we were lucky enough to receive a sizeable grant from the Northwest Area Foundation. While important, money alone would not have produced the same results.

The Power of ReImagining Rural

Second, there’s a power in reimagining the future of rural communities. Having experienced 50-80 years of economic decline, rural residents in our part of the country have a tendency to look backwards and develop a feeling of hopelessness. That hopelessness causes us to doubt the success of projects like the Maroney Rural Learning Center - like one reader of the Argus Leader’s story wrote in their forum - even before the project has gets off the ground.

And that’s why celebrations like this groundbreaking were so important.

Why Groundbreakings?

Yesterday, I had an opportunity to interview Dan Scott, a lawyer from St. Paul, MN. Dan grew up in Howard where his dad was the long-time superintendent. (His dad is the guy who hired me to come to Howard back in 1996.)

Even though Dan lives 6 hours away from Howard, he made the trip back to Howard for the groundbreaking ceremony. This prompted me to ask “Why?” His response is below.

That’s right. We do need to pause, reflect, and celebrate. And through this reflection and celebration we can begin to dream of the possibilities for our future.

A big thanks to Bob Sutton for his remarkable remarks on Wednesday. He is someone who is helping communities in South Dakota to “reimagine rural.”

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Photos of Rural Learning Center Groundbreaking

September 5th, 2009

It’s a clique, but it is true that a picture is worth a thousand words.  For that reason, we want to share photos from the Maroney Rural Learning Center Groundbreaking celebration.  I’ve uploaded some of the photos to this blog post, but you can find more at our Flickr stream. (go here to view all pictures) .

 

We’ve also created a Flickr group called “Maroney Rural Learning Center Groundbreaking” so that others who took pictures at the event can share them with us.  If would like to add your photos to this group, but need a little help, feel free to shoot me a message (mike@ruraltransformations.com) and I’ll help you do so.   

 

 

    

   

 

 

 

 

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South Dakota at its Best

September 4th, 2009

At the Maroney Rural Learning Center groundbreaking ceremony, Kevin Walker, President of the Northwest Area Foundation, quoted late 18th Century visionary William Blake saying “What is now proved was once only imagined.” Walker also noted that although brilliant, Blake was considered insane by his contemporaries for his unusual ideas and idiosyncrasies.

That quote resonated with me.  When the idea of building the Rural Learning Center was first proposed seven to eight years ago, many people thought it was insane.

That’s why the Citi Foundation grant to the project was so affirming.  And now, the Sioux Falls Argus Leader published an editorial titled “Howard learning center is S.D. at its best.”

Who knows maybe we are not so crazy after all. 

     

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What do famous people have to say about ReImaging Rural?

September 3rd, 2009

Well the Rural Learning Center created quite a stir yesterday with the groundbreaking ceremony.  Enough so, that the story has been featured in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, the Mitchell Daily Republic, and on KSFY television.  I expect to see more stories popping up throughout the day.

In all, we listened to twelve individuals at the ceremony and not one of them was a “dud.”  All were engaging, thoughtful and to the point.

Anyone who could not attend will be happy to know that we captured much of the celebration, including speakers and interviews, on video.  I’ve been busy ever since converting the video and taking notes.  Hopefully, I’ll finish up early this afternoon.

Besides being “quoatable,” many of the speakers used quotes from famous individuals to draw emphasis and interest.  Although the quotes originated with people from all walks of life, each offered guidance for what we need to do as we work to “reimagine rural” America. 

Until all of the video is ready to view, I want to share a few of those quotes.  I’d also invite you to reflect on the words, and see how they speak to you.  Perhaps you will find new meaning for them in addition to what our speakers had to share. 

 

John Mengenhausen, President of Howard Industries quoted  John F. Kennedy  
“One man can make a difference, but every man should try.”

Kevin Walker, President/CEO of the Northwest Area Foundation quoted William Blake   
“What is now proved was once only imaged.”

Mike McDowell, General Manager of Heartland Consumer Power District quoted Vince Lombardi 
“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.”

Mike McDowell also quoted Mark Twain 
“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than the ones you did do.”

Jeff Duff, President/COO of Airstreams Renewable, Inc. quoted Wayne Gretzky
“You know I don’t skate to where the puck is, I skate to where the puck is going to be.”

 

Update: The Madison Daily Leader ran this story Thursday (Sept.3) in the afternoon.

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Why does “Rural” matter?

September 2nd, 2009

In our part of the country, most rural communities have experienced 50-80 years of economic decline.  This decline often leads to feelings of despair and hopelessness. 

A Sense of Hope

At the Rural Learning Center (RLC), however, we have a sense of empowerment and hopefulness.  We base that optimism in part on the progress being made in Howard, South Dakota and surrounding Miner County, where our work began.

Two of the most compelling signs of that progress include the Howard municipal sales tax revenues and the construction of the second phase to the Rural Learning Center.

 

How did you get started in Miner County?

As Randy Parry, President of the RLC, indicates in the video below titled “How did you get started in Miner County?” our work began with high school students studying local sales tax trends. Seeking to make an impact, these students shared their learning with the citizens of Howard.  Their efforts as well as the innovative community development work that followed sparked an “invest in local” movement  resulting in significant business investment that translated into  record sales tax revenues.   (see image above)

Today, we are celebrating the groundbreaking for Phase II of the Rural Learning Center in Howard.  Dignitaries from around the country will be in attendance to help us celebrate and “reimagine” the possibilities for our rural places.

Why does Rural Matter?

But as we do, I think it is important that we reflect on why rural communities matter and why the Rural Learning Center is important to their futures. 

To help initiate that conversation, I’ve produced a short video in which I asked Rural Learning Center employees those very questions.  I hope it spurs you to reflect and share your thoughts on the subject.

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