Lesson 10: Share The Stories
"As rural communities, we can't afford to compete with each other, and we can't afford for communities to start from scratch every time they begin planning for the future," says Joe Bartmann, the Rural Learning Center 's associate director.
But because communities have histories of competing, it can be harder for them to share information and resources than outsiders would guess. Often small town rivalries are thought of as quaint and somehow heart-warming—proud communities turning out in full force to back high school athletic teams, for example, because everyone knows every player's family. But in fact, that form of town loyalty has done real damage across the rural landscape.
"When two neighboring communities can't see working together, it's usually because of a football game that happened 20 years ago," says Joe. "Often it's easier for communities to let down their guard and communicate with a town that isn't their neighbor."
And it's more than just sports. "In the past," notes Joe, "most rural economic development emphasized recruiting outside industries. And then neighboring communities were competing for dollars and jobs."
When it comes to sharing success stories, Joe says, "city councils and development corporations want hard numbers. But when the Rural Learning Center staff goes into communities, we find we're really talking to the local champions—those who work the hardest—and they want to hear about process and behavior, what those who make things happen do every day."
As community members initially sit down to discuss revitalization, often the room is equally divided between those who want to jump in and do everything immediately and skeptics who doubt anything will happen. It's important, Joe says, to understand what's behind the skepticism.
"It's there," he says, "because lots of small towns started to decline decades ago, and it hasn't been up and down, but pretty much a steady decline."
While there are no templates or five-step programs to recommend, Joe says, no one should underestimate how stories of rural renewal and sustainability can inspire hope. "Hope is so significant," he observes, "because when a town gets beaten up over and over, the residents forget how to dream. Just about the worst thing that can happen to a town is when everyone thinks they've seen everything, and everything has failed. But when people have some reason to hope, it becomes infectious."
- Value All People
- Help Residents Improve Their Hometown Economy
- Build Leadership, Strategic Thinking, And Alliances
- Base Decisions On Facts
- Be Sure Local People Lead
- Use Grassroots Discussion To Create Commitment
- Continually Foster Relationships And Resources
- Seek Broad-Based, Informed And Dedicated Leadership
- Commit To The Long-Term
- Share The Stories