Community Engagement and Leadership in Rural Minnesota

Catie Rasmussin, University of Minnesota Extension, Center for Community Vitality
Becky Adams, Blandin Foundation, Rural Leadership Program
Ben Winchester, University of Minnesota Extension, Center for Community Vitality

Presented by UMM's Center for Small Towns and UM Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships.

Description

This panel of community engagement experts explored the critical questions of whether we have enough people to lead our rural small towns into the future. The speakers focused on the changing patterns of social involvement, particularly generational differences in engagement, the impact of these current trends on the health of our community groups, and what can be done to help increase small town leadership. Given UMM's mission to foster community engagement and civic leadership among our students, the presentation raises important questions and issues for our campus to consider.