In this week's episode, Ellen talks with Tony Pipa senior fellow at the Brookings Institution about the significance of rural policy and its outdated approaches. Tony discusses the essential role rural areas play in providing energy, food, and manufacturing for urban centers, emphasizing the need for a cohesive national rural strategy. Tony also highlights the Reimagining Rural Initiative at Brookings, which seeks to modernize rural policy. He underscores the importance of understanding rural-urban interconnectivity in policy-making and shares experiences from international settings where rural-urban ties are better integrated. The episode also explores how regional coalitions and economic projects can foster collaboration between rural and urban areas to ensure sustainable growth and economic vitality.

Episode Highlights:

02:51 Reimagining Rural Policy

05:07 Challenges and Opportunities in Rural Policy

11:59 Building Rural-Urban Connections

25:17 International Perspectives on Rural-Urban Interdependence

31:30 Changing the Narrative: Rural and Urban Interdependence

35:57 Tony's Podcast: Reimagine Rural

More Information:
Tony Pipa Bio, https://www.brookings.edu/people/anthony-f-pipa/
Reimagine Rural Policy Initiative, https://www.brookings.edu/collection/reimagining-rural-policy/
Tony's Reimagine Rural Podcast Series, https://www.brookings.edu/tags/reimagine-rural/

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In this episode, Ellen talks with Brian Dabson, a rural policy researcher, and one of the few analysts exploring rural-urban interdependence in the United States. Brian explains the significance of rural-urban interdependence as being essential for economic and social development. He shares the limitations of current definitions for rural and urban and the need for refined metrics, research, and policies to truly capture the value of rural spaces, particularly in the face of climate change. Insights about economic development, environmental preservation, and cultural approaches to land use highlight the complex dilemmas of rural-urban policy. Brian also shares insights from international models and suggests that America's policy can learn from such frameworks to address rural-urban connections more effectively.

Episode Highlights:

05:53 What is Rural-Urban Interdependence? 

07:52 Alternative Rural Metrics 

10:53 Valuing Rural Contributions

23:01 Economic Priorities vs. Environmental Values

25:22 Rural Protection Zones: A Global Perspective

29:04 Challenges in Rural-Urban Research

34:06 Exploring New Regionalism

More Information:
https://www.briandabson.com/about/

Select Articles by Brian Dabson
Regional Solutions for Rural and Urban Challenges
 
Collaborative Rural Development and Regional Economic Activity
 
Our Shared Fate, Aspen Institute

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In this episode, Ellen talks with Nadine Bill, Executive Director of Red Lake Nation College's new site in downtown Minneapolis. Nadine shares the college's history, its commitment to language and cultural preservation, and the new Minneapolis site's objectives to expand education access to urban Indigenous communities. Nadine talks about Red Lake Nation College's goal to create a 'tribal college without borders,' addressing accessibility, and engaging both rural and urban Native students. She describes what many fail to understand about the relationship between rural and urban spaces as it relates to Native communities--including the impact of assimilation, Native American boarding schools, and the Indian Relocation Act of 1956. Moving forward, Nadine shares her hopes for the new Minneapolis site to serve as a hub for both Native and non-Native communities to learn and collaborate.

Episode Highlights:

04:29 History and Evolution of Red Lake Nation College

08:06 Expansion to Minneapolis: Vision and Execution

22:47 Connecting Rural and Urban Native Communities

29:33 Using Technology To Increase Access

36:09 Misconceptions About Rural and Urban Native Communities in Dominant Narratives

40:19 Opportunities at the New Minneapolis Site

More Information:

Red Lake Nation College, https://www.rlnc.edu/

Red Lake Nation College-Minneapolis, https://www.rlnc.edu/minneapolis

Minnesota Compass Native American Profile https://www.mncompass.org/topics/demographics/cultural-communities/native-american

The TRUTH Project: Towards Recognition and University-Tribal Healing, https://sites.google.com/view/truthproject/about?authuser=0

Uprooted: The 1950s plan to erase Indian Country (American Public Media Reports), https://www.apmreports.org/episode/2019/11/01/uprooted-the-1950s-plan-to-erase-indian-country

Questions, comments, want to get in touch?  Email us at [email protected]. We share your feedback with funders and stakeholders about the value of this podcast and how you engage with the insights and information.

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In this episode, Ellen connects with Jane Leonard, former president of Growth & Justice. Jane has worked across various sectors in Minnesota since 1979, including journalism, rural and economic development, and technology advancement. Jane shares her experiences from her early days as a journalist in a small town to leading statewide initiatives focused on rural development and rural-urban interdependence. She discusses the changing dynamics between rural and urban areas over the decades, highlighting both the connections and disconnections. Jane talks about previous initiatives like the Thriving by Design Minnesota Equity Blueprint that aims to foster intentional understanding of rural-urban interdependence in Minnesota and the need to foster relationships across different geographies to address common challenges such as housing and child care.

Episode Highlights:

02:05 Jane Leonard's Early Career

05:31 Rural and Urban Connections and Disconnections

12:00 Thriving by Design Network

19:48 Historical Perspectives on Rural-Urban Dynamics

22:27 Promoting Rural-Urban Connectedness

More Information:
Jane Leonard Bio, https://www.trilliumfamilyfoundation.org/bios/jane-leonard#:~:text=Jane%20Leonard%20is%20a%20nationally,thrive%2C%20rural%20and%20urban%20together.

Minnesota Equity Blueprint, Thriving by Design-Minnesota Rural and Urban Together, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TWlUB1J9ODbQl_fXOIobg4_znWhFb0mX/view?usp=sharing

Questions, comments, want to get in touch?  Email us at [email protected]. We share your feedback with funders and stakeholders about the value of this podcast and how you engage with the insights and information.

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In this episode, artist and rapper Che "Rhymfest" Smith discusses his experiences growing up in Chicago and his transformative experiences in Cody, Wyoming. Che reflects on how art can foster cultural communion and play a key role in bridging differences. 

Episode Highlights:

02:15 Che's Chicago Roots and Early Influences

06:45 Founding the Art of Culture

12:42 Cultural Communion and Rural Connections

14:22 Experiences in Cody, Wyoming

18:59 Bridging Rural and Urban Spaces

30:10 Running for Chicago School Board

38:58 Final Thoughts

More Information:
Art of Culture, https://www.artofculture.org/

Che "Rhymefest" Smith, https://www.cheworldwide.com/bio/

Che "Rhymefest" Smith Bridging the Divide Conference Transforming Narratives Session, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIPdHhZV0w8&list=PLkFZB_XMYMJYmQoyhE9_XLAS1PD1vZlEK&index=2

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In this episode, Ellen talks with Julie Tesch from the Center for Rural Policy and Development and Jake Loesch from Citizens League. Julie and Jake discuss their "Interconnected" conversation series, which explores shared challenges between rural and urban communities and opportunities for designing effective statewide systems. Since 2020, the Interconnected series has covered topics such as childcare, workforce development, housing, and most recently, youth mental health. Julie and Jake share insights they have gained from the series including the importance of collaborating between rural and urban communities, breaking down stereotypes, and fostering nuanced conversations.

Episode Highlights:

05:24 Exploring the Interconnected Series

10:09 Addressing Misconceptions and Stereotypes

14:43 Impact and Surprises from the Interconnected Series

31:49 The Importance of Nuance

More Information:
Center for Rural Policy and Development, https://www.ruralmn.org/

Citizens League, https://citizensleague.org/

Interconnected Series, https://mailchi.mp/ruralmn/inteconnected-conversation-series

Questions, comments, want to get in touch?  Email us at [email protected]. We share your feedback with funders and stakeholders about the value of this podcast and how you engage with the insights and information.

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R. T. Rybak and Tuleah Palmer lead the most urban and rural Minnesota foundations. They both wrote editorials in the Star Tribune in 2023 about the importance of rural-urban interdependence in Minnesota. In this conversation, Ellen Wolter moderates a discussion between Tuleah and R.T. about the intricate interdependence between rural and urban Minnesota. They delve into personal stories, economic insights, historical context, and the shared commitments needed to foster cohesive policy developments that encompass all of Minnesota.

Episode Highlights:

01:33 Meet Tuleah and R.T. and Where They Call Home

07:48 Economic Interdependence

09:50 Historical Context and Philanthropy

12:51 Challenges and Opportunities in Rural-Urban Relations

29:59 The Role of Media and Perception

43:13 Future Directions and Collaborative Efforts

 
More Information:
Tuleah Palmer Bio, https://blandinfoundation.org/about/our-people/staff-members/tuleah-palmer/#:~:text=Born%20in%20Deer%20River%2C%20Minn,rich%20soil%20of%20Aitkin%20County.

R.T. Rybak Bio, https://www.minneapolisfoundation.org/team/

Tuleah Palmer's editorial can be found here:
https://web.archive.org/web/20230627130358/https://www.startribune.com/minnesotas-future-urban-and-rural-minnesota-need-each-other-more-than-ever/600285459/

R.T. Rybak’s editorial can be found here:
https://web.archive.org/web/20230801164203/https://www.startribune.com/minnesotas-future-rugged-togetherness-has-always-been-states-secret/600293810/

Questions, comments, want to get in touch?  Email us at [email protected]. We share your feedback with funders and stakeholders about the value of this podcast and how you engage with the insights and information.

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In this episode, Ellen interviews Nick Jacobs, co-author of "The Rural Voter," about the nuances of rural America and how they are often overlooked when we consider the complex relationship between rural and urban spaces. They discuss the methodology behind Nick’s research and the challenges of surveying rural populations. They also delve into "rural resentment" and the persistent misconceptions about rural and urban communities, despite examples of shared commonalities.

Episode Highlights:

01:00 The Beginnings of "The Rural Voter"

04:50 Challenges in Surveying Rural America

09:56 The Gap Effect

19:07 Rural Resentment vs. Rural Rage

29:00 Economic Integration in Rural Communities

33:42 Shared Sense of Fate

More Information:
Nick Jacobs bio, https://web.colby.edu/nfjacobs/

The Rural Voter, https://cup.columbia.edu/book/the-rural-voter/9780231211581

New Book on Rural America Started with a False Conclusion, Then Looked For Evidence-The Daily Yonder, https://dailyyonder.com/commentary-white-rural-rage-which-came-first-the-title-or-the-research/2024/03/06/

How ‘Rural Studies’ Is Thinking About the Heartland - The New York Times (nytimes.com), https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/29/business/rural-studies-american-politics.html

UMN Extension Rural-Urban Interdependence, https://extension.umn.edu/community-development/rural-urban-interdependence

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In our first episode, former U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, now Director of University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics (IOP), discusses the vital connections between rural and urban America. She shares her experiences growing up in a small town and explains the goals behind IOPs recent Bridging the Divide conference to bring rural and urban Americans together. The conversation touches on the importance of authentic storytelling and the ways in which rural and urban spaces need each other.

Episode Highlights:
00:26 Sen. Heitkamp on Rural-Urban Connections

01:42 Growing Up in North Dakota

04:37 The One Country Project

08:13 Sen. Heitkamp's Seminar, "Policies and Politics to Heal America's Regional Divide"

09:06 Economic and Cultural Contributions of Rural America

13:11 Institute of Politics Bridging the Divide Conference Reflections

22:45 Future Initiatives and Hometown Internships

23:49 Challenges and Misconceptions of Rural America

30:43 Sen. Heitkamp's Love of Extension

More Information:
Heidi Heitkamp, Institute of Politics, https://politics.uchicago.edu/fellows/former-fellows/heidi-heitkamp

Institute of Politics, Bridging the Divide Conference, https://politics.uchicago.edu/get-involved/bridging-the-divide

Sarah Smarsh and Rhymefest: Transforming Narratives, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIPdHhZV0w8

UMN Extension, How to shift the rural-urban discussion toward an appreciation for interdependence, https://extension.umn.edu/community-news-and-insights/how-shift-rural-urban-discussion-toward-appreciation-interdependence

UMN Extension, Rural-urban interdependence resources, https://extension.umn.edu/community-development/rural-urban-interdependence

Benya Kraus, mentioned during this conversation, served on the planning committee for IOP's Bridging the Divide conference. Benya is the co-founder of Lead for America, https://www.leadforamerica.org/ and is now President & CEO at the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation.

Questions, comments, want to get in touch?  Email us at [email protected]. We share your feedback with funders and stakeholders about the value of this podcast and how you engage with the insights and information.

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Side-by-Side definition: 

1. beside one another 

2. in the same place, time, or circumstance. 

What does it mean for rural and urban communities to live side by side? Rural sociologists have described urban and rural fates as being shared. Yet, we too often focus on rural and urban spaces as separate and divided entities.

The rural-urban conversation is much more complex than we are led to believe. To prosper together, we will need to better understand how rural and urban communities are connected, to be each other’s allies, to learn from each other, and to work together to meet today’s biggest challenges.

Join University of Minnesota Extension host Ellen Wolter as she explores the interdependent relationship between rural and urban spaces and talks with guests including Heidi Heitkamp, Tuleah Palmer, RT Rybak, Julie Tesch, Jake Loesch, Nadine Bill, Rhymefest, Tony Pipa, Brian Dabson, and Brigid Tuck about why this complex and necessary relationship matters.

Season 1 episodes coming soon! Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to hear the first episode when it releases on August 28th!

For more information or to reach our team, connect with us at [email protected].