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 …
“Because with 75 years experience, we know that a truly vibrant community will be one where every member has both options for their life, and the ability to pursue those paths to their fullest end.” Blandin Foundation President and CEO Kathy Annette shared this statement with our partners earlier this year in an email about the work …
Safe streets. Active and diverse leadership. Learning opportunities at all stages of life. Clean air. Active faith communities. Strong job market. Accessible healthcare. Welcoming spaces. Separate, these are all bright spots in a community. Only together, though, do they give a holistic view of what it means to be a healthy community. Each of these pieces represents …
Rolling hills, towering pines and jagged bluffs – just like the unique and varied landscape of Minnesota, the priorities and concerns of its people are equally diverse. Each region has its own story, its own challenges and its own priorities. Rural Pulse 2016 helps tell that story through a series of special reports focusing on …
Released today, Rural Pulse 2016 is a one-of-a-kind survey, conducted every three years, that provides insight into rural Minnesotans’ perceptions about their communities. Raising up the voices of 1,144 rural and 500 urban residents, this data helps Blandin Foundation, its statewide partners and community leaders in starting and informing conversations that strengthen rural communities. Key themes this year …
Earlier this month, Minnesota Council on Foundations (MCF) posted a blog about trends they’re seeing in the philanthropic/nonprofit sectors. That got us thinking about trends we’ve seen in rural Minnesota throughout 2013. This year we took a deep dive into rural Minnesota perspectives with our Rural Pulse study. Some key findings worth note include: The …
Today’s youth are eager to contribute to the vibrancy of their rural community. They are positive about the future and ready to act. But are they being asked to? This summer’s Center for Rural Affairs poll found that youth are more positive than their elder counterparts when it comes to the future of their community. …
By Jane E. Tigan, Minnesota Compass Rural Minnesotans believe that access to high-quality jobs is the most important issue facing their communities, and that not enough is being done to make that happen, according to the Rural Pulse survey. This perception presents major challenges for community and business leaders, especially since Greater Minnesota has more …