Small Community Forum: Belgium

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

The thirteenth annual series of Small Community Forums will be held in three locations in Wisconsin in September and October 2024. These Forums are meant to facilitate dialogue between small communities, address common issues, network, share best practices, and identify strategies to address shared concerns. Representatives from many state and regional resource partners will be on hand to connect with attendees and provide guidance on specific concerns introduced during the sessions.

Civic leaders, elected officials, volunteers, business leaders, educators, and local and regional economic development associations are encouraged to participate. Case study presentations and resource discussions will focus on infrastructure, partnership, innovation, inclusion in housing, creative economy, childcare, and workforce development, among other issues.

The registration fee is $20, which covers coffee and rolls, lunch, and materials.

Forum Agenda (subject to change)

7:30 am Registrations

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