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Upcoming events

    • 24 Sep 2024
    • 7:30 AM - 1:00 PM
    • Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts' Lind Pavilion
    Register


    2024 Small Community Forum: Mineral Point

    Tuesday, September 24, 2024 | 7:30 am - 1:00 pm
    Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts
    18 Shake Rag St. Mineral Point, WI 53565

    Join us for conversations about the future of Wisconsin’s small (and mighty) communities. This year's forums will bring together residents, community leaders, elected officials, business leaders, and civic-minded individuals to share best practices and discuss strategies to address our communities' unique opportunities and challenges.

    $20 registration, includes light breakfast and lunch

    Forum Agenda (subject to change)

    7:30 am Registration 

    • Coffee and rolls

    8:00 am Welcome and Introductions

    8:45 am Mineral Point case studies: Stories and examples of the vital work going on in the community

    Fall Art Tour: Learn about the annual Fall Art Tour, which spans four communities on the third weekend in October. Some of Wisconsin's best-known artists open their studios, allowing visitors a unique, behind-the-scenes view into how their work is created—including live demonstrations. This is a wonderful example of the creative economy.

    NEA Big Read at Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts: Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts was the only Wisconsin recipient of an NEA Big Read grant this cycle, and their successful application demonstrates how partnerships between nonprofits, community organizations, and small business create synergy. Talk with Christina (Shake Rag Alley executive director), Diane (Mineral Point Public Library), Keith (Republic of Letters Books), and Kristin (Little Creek Press) about partnering for cultural programming with a broad reach.

    Chamber of Commerce Resources and Support: Chamber of Commerce Board President Lisa Hay will talk about how the Chamber of Commerce works to provide support, resources, and ideas when long-standing businesses and services move locations. High Street is Mineral Point's main street, and its storefronts are exceptionally visible to visitors and community members.

    10:00 am Wisconsin Clerks: The Swiss Army knives of their communities
    That real-world experience and inside knowledge of what clerks go through inform Melissa Kono’s work in Extension. Kono has developed several trainings focused on helping municipal clerks be more effective and efficient. She provides election law and processes training to election workers across Wisconsin and has trained volunteer groups on voter registration.

    Speaker: Melissa Kono, Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison,  Division of Extension.

    10:45 am Roundtable Discussions
    Leaders will include Melissa Kono, Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension; Staff and community leaders from the Mineral  Point area; and state agency leaders.

    11:45 am Wrap up

    Noon Lunch with colleagues and resource leaders

    • 1 Oct 2024
    • 7:30 AM - 1:00 PM
    • Buechler Farms
    Register


    2024 Small Community Forum: Belgium

    Tuesday, October 1, 2024 | 7:30 am - 1:00 pm
    Buechler Farms, 587 S Royal Ave, Belgium, WI

    $20 registration, includes light breakfast and lunch

    Join us for conversations about the future of Wisconsin’s small (and mighty) communities. This year's forums will bring together residents, community leaders, elected officials, business leaders, and civic-minded individuals to share best practices and discuss strategies to address our communities' unique opportunities and challenges.

    Forum Agenda (subject to change)

    7:30 am Registrations

    • Coffee and rolls

    8:00 am Welcome and Introductions

    8:45 am Local Case Studies: Stories & examples of the important work going on in the community

    10:00 am Rewriting the Rural Narrative
    It seems the rural story has already been told. Small towns keep getting smaller. Churches, schools, clinics, businesses, and now post offices have closed their doors as the lucky few migrate out to the big cities. This deficit framework dominates how we discuss and envision our rural communities. However, the story of rural America since 1970 is rich and diverse, with positive trends occurring under the radar. Learn how positive changes around migration, community involvement, economic development, and regional living have diversified this landscape, requiring us to rewrite the narrative of rural community change.
    Speaker: Benjamin S Winchester, Evaluation Rural Sociology, Extension Professor, Department of Community Development, University of Minnesota Extension (By Zoom)

    10:45 am Roundtable Discussions
    Leaders will include Melissa Kono, Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension; Staff and community leaders from the Belgium area, and state agency leaders. 

    11:45 am Wrap up

    Noon  Lunch with colleagues and resource leaders

    • 10 Oct 2024
    • 7:30 AM - 1:00 PM
    • Adams Community Center, 569 N Cedar St
    Register


    2024 Small Community Forum: Adams

    Thursday, October 10, 2024 | 7:30 am - 1:00 pm 

    Join us for conversations about the future of Wisconsin’s small (and mighty) communities. This year's forums will bring together residents, community leaders, elected officials, business leaders, and civic-minded individuals to share best practices and discuss strategies to address our communities' unique opportunities and challenges.

    $20 registration, includes light breakfast and lunch

    Forum Agenda (subject to change)

    7:30 am Registration

    • Coffee and rolls

    8:00 am Welcome and Introductions

    8:45 am Local Case Studies: Stories & examples of the important work going on in the community

    10:00 am Rewriting the Rural Narrative
    The rural story has already been told. Small towns keep getting smaller. Churches, schools, clinics, businesses, and now post offices, have closed their doors as the lucky few migrate out to the big cities. This deficit framework dominates how we discuss and envision our rural communities. However, the story of rural America since 1970 is rich and diverse, with positive trends occurring under the radar. Learn how positive changes around migration, community involvement, economic development, and regional living have diversified this landscape, requiring us to rewrite the narrative of rural community change.

    Speaker: Benjamin S Winchester, Evaluation Rural Sociology, Extension Professor, Department of Community Development, University of Minnesota Extension
    (By Zoom)

    10:45 am Roundtable Discussions
    Leaders will include Melissa Kono, Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension; Staff and community leaders from the Adams area; and state agency leaders. 

    12:00 pm  Lunch with colleagues and resource leaders

    • 30 Apr 2025
    • 1 May 2025
    • Riverstone


    More Information Coming Soon! 

About us

​Wisconsin Rural Partners, Inc. (WRP) serves as a network hub for organizations, government agencies and people working to make rural Wisconsin a better place. ​​We strive through our work to build leadership for the communities of rural Wisconsin.  ​​

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Wisconsin Rural Partners
601 Sawyer Terrace #5184
Madison, WI 53705

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