Vital Connections On Air

Today, the dial is moving; businesses are opening.  What do communities do to support business now?  Look deeper to figure out who's affected.  Double down on supporting local businesses.  Be reliable customers.  Join our conversation with Brigid Tuck and Neil Linscheid as they share these thoughts and more.

In this special series we are looking back on webinars and articles shared early during the pandemic and how that information needs to shift for our current reality.  

Minnesota has a problem that doesn’t exist in many states; a diverse economy that has grown during challenging times.  This economy requires workers in both rural and urban areas. Kelly Asche, Research Associate with the Center for Rural Policy Development joins us to discuss the current challenges and opportunities that exist in the area of workforce across the state.

Many people assume that the economies of rural and urban communities look very different.  Surprisingly, there are many similarities. Brigid Tuck joins us to discuss what economics look like in both rural and urban Minnesota, and how they actually support each others’ success.

Evaluation doesn’t have to be a  paper survey. In this episode Scott Chazdon and Pam Bishop share how Ripple Effects Mapping has allowed Rural Entrepreneurial Ventures evaluate their efforts in a unique way and better understand their communities along the way.

Guests:

Scott Chazdon, Evaluation Specialist, University of Minnesota Extension, Center for Community Vitality

Pam Bishop, Vice President of Economic Development, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation

Entrepreneurship is not a new concept, but it’s a piece of economic development that is often overlooked.  In this episode, Don Macke and Pam Bishop describe how the Energizing Entrepreneurial Communities Framework is being used with six southern Minnesota communities involved in the Rural Entrepreneurial Ventures program.  

Guests:

Don Macke, Entrepreneurial Ecosystems

Pam Bishop, Vice President of Economic Development, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation

Bringing your community together for conversations can be an intimidating task.  DeAnn Loll and Shana Klindt, members of the community of Campbell, share their experience leading four conversations in their community.  Hear how they led their community through a series of conversations that led to big change; both in community appearance and community pride.

People are looking for ways to come together.  Many times, one of the best ways to get people together and talking is around an issue or idea to better a community.  Jody Horntvedt, leadership and civic engagement educator for University of Minnesota Extension’s Center for Community Vitality joins us to talk about strategies to start and support healthy conversations in your community.

Involved citizens are not always those that are running for office; sometimes they are hunting out invasive weeds.  That is the case for Dana Boyle, Stephanie Wong, and John Woodworth who have used their common bond of caring about the Tamarack Nature Preserve.  Hear their story of engaging public entities and other citizens to protect and promote this hidden gem located in Woodbury, MN.

Guests:

Dana Boyle

Stephanie Wong

John Woodworth

Civic engagement is a phrase that we hear from time to time, but what does it really mean?  Lisa Hinz and Beth Kallestad, Extension educators with University of Minnesota Extension’s Center for Community Vitality discuss the meaning of civic engagement, best practices in working with others, and resources to help you become involved.

Guests:

Lisa Hinz, Extension educator, leadership and civic engagement

Beth Kallestad, Extension educator, leadership and civic engagement

University of Minnesota Extension’s Center for Community Vitality hosted a workforce symposium to bring together researchers and practitioners across Extension and the University.  This symposium encouraged those in attendance to explore the topic of workforce and consider how we might come together to better learn about and serve the people of Minnesota. In this episode you will hear from a variety of speakers who shared insights on specific issues that are directly impacting Minnesota’s workforce.

Guests:

Dr. Elizabeth (Liz) Davis, Professor, Department of Applied Economics

Dr. Yingling Fan, Associate Professor, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs

Dr. Jennifer Schultz, Co-directory, health Care Management Program and Professor of Economics, Labovitz School of Business and Economics

Dr. Ann Ziebarth, Professor, Housing Studies