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• Small Community Forum: Mineral Point

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

  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

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• Small Community Forum: Belgium

  • When
    1 Oct 2024
  •  
    7:30 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Buechler Farms
  • Registered
    16 registrants

  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

  Show details
• Small Community Forum: Adams

  • When
    10 Oct 2024
  •  
    7:30 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Adams Community Center, 569 N Cedar St
  • Registered
    26 registrants

  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

  Show details
• 2025 Annual Wisconsin Rural Summit

  • Start
    30 Apr 2025
  • End
    1 May 2025
  • Location
    Riverstone

  
  

  More Information Coming Soon! 
  

  Show details