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 …
Nothing truly worthwhile is ever easy. This is especially true if you’re a rural community leader. Community issues are complex. Sometimes it’s hard to see the “whole” or what it all adds up to. Great leaders know that change starts small and builds from the ground up. It takes local leaders digging in, planting seeds …
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 …
By Linda Gibeau
More than 60 years ago, Charles Blandin gave two students – both women – scholarships to continue their education. A self-taught man, he knew education was one key to these students’ strong futures. We are honored to stand again this year with 344 Itasca students, each dedicated to their educational dream – at community, technical …
Deer River Implements Full Service Community Schools Model to Improve Student Outcomes Up to two-thirds of a student’s ability to succeed in school is determined by what happens out of school. A child who is hungry or cold, in pain due to untreated medical needs, or exposed to traumatic stresses can have trouble with memory, …
Forums on Race Spark Conversations that Matter to the Future of Rural Minnesota Rural Minnesota communities are facing changes and pressures today that test long-held assumptions and challenge local leaders to forge new relationships. In fact, between 2010 and 2015, Minnesota has added four times as many people of color as white residents, according to …
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 …