Classes at many college campuses, including our area’s Minnesota North schools, are getting started. The cost of college makes headlines a lot these days – as it should. Students have shouldered an incredible amount of debt in recent years as they pursued their dreams of school after high school, and Minnesota students and families have …
Homogenous. That pretty much summed up Preeti Yonjon’s impression of her new hometown, Alexandria, when she arrived in 2016. She wondered where the black and brown people were in town. (In a community of a little over 14,000, of whom 94 percent are white, it’s a fair question.) She knows where, now. And she’s working …
Census 2020 will impact all communities. Representation in Congress, business site selection and distribution of federal and state funds are all informed by census numbers. Some might dismiss the consequences that come with a low count – underfunded schools, limited money for road improvements, etc. For low-income families, however, the census has significant and immediate …
As we’ve mentioned before, rural Minnesota has a lot at stake in the 2020 Census. As a leader in community, you can – and should! – take action now to boost your community’s participation in the 2020 census. Here’s how: Check your community’s anticipated response rates – The U.S. Census Bureau posts a map showing …
By Jaci David
Among the celebrations of March Madness, Mardi Gras and Make-Up-Your-Own-Holiday Day (yes, that’s really a thing), March hosts another important day that impacts all Americans – the start of Census 2020. Is your community ready? As a rural leader, you are passionate about the health and vibrancy of your community. In your community work, you’ve …
Mild-mannered, courteous and reserved. Minnesotans are famously known for their “Minnesota nice,” passive aggressive personalities. But restraint only goes so far, according to data from the Rural Pulse that found a whopping 82 percent of rural Minnesotans say people in their community are able to stand up to hatred and discrimination when they see it …
Across Minnesota, the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) tests are one measure of how students and schools are performing. But what’s happening beyond school walls? How are communities doing to help students succeed? It depends on where you live. Rural Pulse 2019 results show a contrast between how rural and urban residents believe their communities are …
A good job and a balanced life. It’s something we all strive for. But are we more likely to achieve one or the other depending on where we live? Yes – according to more than 1,600 Minnesota residents whose perceptions were captured in the Rural Pulse survey released last week. Quality of Life and In-migration …
Minnesota is often simplistically framed as “the metro” and “Greater Minnesota” — two distinct, sometimes divided, districts. Dig deeper, though, and that picture becomes a mosaic. People and places, environments and economies are intertwined. We are a rich tapestry, each component critical to completing the whole. For a snapshot of that complexity – and a …
Blandin Foundation has been in the hope business for more than 75 years. Hope is believing that a different future is possible – for ourselves, our people, our communities. Wise community leaders know that creating a shared vision for the future, a vision arising from and embraced by the community, is the engine that powers …