Center for Community Stewardship: Empowering Courageous Community Stewards

Minnesota is experiencing a steward revolution and it’s starting at the grassroots community level!

The Center for Community Stewardship (CCS), started just two years ago, continues to make a difference in communities throughout Minnesota.

John Gardner once said, “Every community has enough leaders to run a small nation, but they’re not leading.  They are hiding out, living comfortable lives giving little or no attention to the current and future problems of their community.  Who gave them permission to stand aside?”  We couldn’t agree more and it’s been the guiding force at the CCS since its inception.

The CCS engages community stewards to collectively define a common community destiny and lay out actions strategies that plan FROM the future.  At its core, however, the CCS is challenging Minnesota community leaders to:

• Agree on where their community wants to go;
• Figure out how to work together to get there; and,
• Act courageously as stewards of their communities

The CCS is actively engaged in projects in Bemidji, Park Rapids, Blackduck, Alexandria, Thief River Falls, Red Wing, Stevens County, Fergus Falls and Appleton.  Throughout this report you will be able to read updates from each of these efforts.  Notice the common theme: bold community leaders are stepping up to build a brighter future for their communities.

Thank you to all our stewards for what they do for their communities and congratulations to our communities for building a successful future!

Small towns facing competition from bigger regional centers face different challenges and opportunities than their bigger counterparts. Their future is inextricably linked with their bigger neighbor, even if they don’t always acknowledge it, or like it.

Blackduck is one of those towns.  Spending even a little time in that community, one gets the impression that it is a special place – a downtown that still has activity, its own school, the largest custom drapery manufacturer in the United States, and some very nice amenities, including a golf course, lake and beautiful park. What’s not to like?

Well, like similar communities in the same context, Blackduck feels under siege – Bemidji steals their business, its school has declining enrollment, and hope for the future is not as plentiful as in years past.

What does a stewardship effort look like in such a circumstance? Blackduck leaders have been thinking about that lately, and while not having all the answers, they are going to try a few different things. Here are our first steps:

• We’ll focus on specific projects. Changing community culture doesn’t seem to work very well without having it start at the grassroot, project level in communities that feel under siege. Success on real projects will raise hope, thereby encouraging other initiatives. At least that’s the plan!
• Future action will be opportunity-driven. While not as proactive as initially envisioned, this approach will take advantage of the things that are preoccupying the mind of the community.  Right now they are working on some cool stuff, including a youth center initiative (contact Steve Cochems for a rundown), and possibly a business development strategy (Bruce Meade is the local contact).
• We’ll be mindful of picking things that stir passion in the community. Mobilizing the same suspects will not get us where we’re going; the only way to get new people engaged is to pick those issues people really care about.
• We’ll model stewardship behavior in our activity. Gandhi put it best: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” The things we do need to show that we practice what we preach.

What’s next? Well, the school’s future is the 900 pound gorilla in Blackduck.  Will they decide to tackle this issue as a community? Stay tuned for Blackduck 2.0!

Progress Park Rapids, along with Bemidji Leads!, is one of the “legacy” stewardship efforts in the Headwaters Region.  The group is working hard to get to the next level after having substantial success over its first 3 years.  Part of this effort has included a re-boot of its agenda and the addition of new members.

We’re very proud of this community and its leaders. They are convinced their best days are ahead of them, and are committed to working collectively to create their future.

A spring 2009 retreat defined a bold agenda that is as follows: 

• Educational Excellence initiative through School/Community Collaboration
• Create local access to post-secondary education opportunity (includes mentor initiative)
• Implement major arts/culture initiative that makes us the arts capital of rural Minnesota
• Develop major community center for community
• Seek to become the best wired community in Minnesota
• Implement downtown revitalization initiative
• Implement Parks Plan

Goals have been narrowed to focus resources on top priority opportunities. How did they pick these areas?  An indicator report was recently completed, which provided context that suggested where action needed to be focused.

This work comes on top of past and ongoing efforts that have made a difference in the community. These activities included working on landscaping to improve the appearance of the new T.H. 34 work, continuing efforts to revitalize downtown, the planning for a community center, increase in arts and culture activities and more.

The next step is to help drive change by identifying champions for each initiative, and by helping those champions find partners and aligning resources.

Park Rapids has decided they can be the most liveable small town in Minnesota. We wouldn’t bet against them!

“Park Rapids has a great future ahead of it, primarily because its leaders have found a way to work together. We’re not always perfect in this regard, but we’re getting better every day, and would stack our efforts up against any other community.”

– Katie Magozzi

What is one of the toughest issues confronting the Headwaters Region? While there are several to pick from, addressing its racial disparity issues certainly has to be near the top of the list.

Shared Vision is a project centered in Bemidji, but one that has regional implications. Its mission and vision for a better future is not modest.  Shared Vision’s mission is to “Be a catalyst that encourages the Bemidji community to work together to expand social, economic, educational and leadership opportunity for people of all races.”  Their vision is: “The Bemidji community will be a model for race relations in our state.  We will embrace cultural understanding and respect between the Indian and non-Indian community, and strong participation of Indian people in every aspect of Bemidji community life.  Bemidji will be known as a community that works together to expand opportunities for people of all races.”

What has the diverse committee of local individuals accomplished so far? Well, good leadership does two things well: it defines reality and provides hope.  This group has defined reality through a survey that gives the community a lens on how American Indian and non-Indian people view community life, and it has provided hope by defining a bold agenda for change that can help the community move forward.  Shared Vision 2.0 is about to launch – stay tuned for the results!

Bemidji Pioneer: Community destiny – Group notes progress in Bemidji area
(Published Friday, April 17, 2009, in the Bemidji Pioneer)

“Bemidji Leads!”, which framed 17 benchmarks for the community’s destiny, now wants to focus on five broad areas to reach that destiny.  “We are claiming the destiny ahead of time,” Jim Bensen, retired Bemidji State president and chairman of “Bemidji Leads!,” said Thursday night.  “Bemidji Leads! 2.0,” he said, “is taking a look at growing and attracting talent, creating prosperity, promoting wellness, building a livable community, and encouraging civic engagement,” Bensen said.  “They are larger categories and we now have people working on these various areas,” he said.
 
Bensen gave an update of “Bemidji Leads!” at its Thursday night third annual Celebration of Stewardship at which Jim Hanko, North Country Health Services CEO and president, was awarded the Jim Bensen Award for Outstanding Individual Stewardship.

Also, Outstanding Organizational Stewardship awards were given to Lake Bemidji Dragon Boat Festival, Northern Dental Access Center, Bemidji High School Show Choirs and “Bemidji Proud,” the effort that saw a Bemidji School District operating levy referendum pass last fall.
   
Hanko “exemplifies what stewardship is all about,” said Bensen, who presented Hanko the award named after him. Since arriving in Bemidji, Hanko “has committed himself to the betterment of our community. Jim is talented, extremely well organized, highly disciplined and tenacious in pursuing goals.”
   
In addition to improving the delivery of health care in Bemidji as head of North Country Health Services, Hanko pulled together a number of resources and agencies to form what is now called the Headwaters Alliance for Drug Prevention to attack a growing problem of alcohol and drug abuse among youth in the community.
   
Bensen said Hanko was in on the ground floor as a “Bemidji Leads!” steward, and made the Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce, Joint Economic Development Commission, Bemidji State University Foundation “and countless other organizations increasingly more effective through his tireless commitment.”
   
Hanko and his wife, Jo, “are champions for the arts, theater and music,” Bensen said. “Jim understands the importance of education and has worked exceptionally well in building innovative cooperative programs with Bemidji High School, Northwest Technical College and Bemidji State University to provide career orientation and preparation for health care careers.”
   
Bemidji is a “better community because he chose to live among us,” Bensen said. “Jim has the courage to speak out and take a stand on difficult issues, follows his heart and puts others before him.”
   
One of those difficult issues was support of the Bemidji Regional Event Center, the first destiny driver of “Bemidji Leads!” Hanko formed a committee which spearheaded a public campaign for the center, advocating support of City Council candidates with like views.
   
“The Bemidji Regional Event Center is now a reality,” Hanko said, “as a consequence and a result of the destiny driver of ‘Bemidji Leads!’ earlier. … But it also represents the vision the community’s had for many, many years. To see the groundbreaking and soon the form of a Bemidji Regional Event Center is just going to be huge.”
   
Hanko said he was honored by the award, “and to have an award presented that has Jim Bensen’s name associated with it is truly an honor.”  He thanked the NCHS Board of Trustees for giving him the flexibility to pursue community goals and betterment, a board “that is very supportive of community service and community leadership.”
   
Bensen, in his presentation, said “Bemidji Leads!” action teams will now focus on the five areas it determined as “stepping stones” to the community’s destiny, rather than “stumbling blocks.” Some 300 to 400 “community stewards” are involved, he said.
   
The community’s destiny, he said, is “through intentional, collective action, Bemidji will be a healthy community, successfully balancing regional center amenities, small-town beauty and character; a vibrant economic center, recognized for innovation, creativity and knowledge; a social, cultural, recreational and educational magnet; and, an embracing culturally diverse community that people are committed to shared prosperity, long-term community stewardship — a star of the north, a national model of community success.”
   
The five new areas help focus Bemidji as a knowledge-based economy, Bensen said, which means “you use knowledge so you can leverage that (manufacturing or making things or doing things) to happen easier and better.”
   
He cited Wells Technology and the Potlatch Corp. saw mill as two local examples of using high technology to make their products. “To build a talent base in Bemidji lays a foundation for a broadbased prosperity and prepares the community for a knowledge-based and innovative economy.”
   
The “Bemidji Leads!” model has been adopted in communities near and far, Bensen said, with the aid of the Headwaters Regional Development Commission’s Center for Community Stewardship, directed by Dave Hengel.

There’s a movement happening in Thief River Falls and it’s called TRForward.  The intent of TRForward is to help move our community toward the future with a clear vision, purpose, and direction.  It’s an exciting opportunity for everyone living in this area to be involved with creating a vision and direction for the future of Thief River Falls.

Recently the Center for Community Stewardship spent two days with a group of community members who had gathered to learn how to better plan for the future and, more importantly, how to move in that direction.  Group members came from all different walks of life – from students to parents and grandparents; from business owners to educators and manufacturers.  Representing a broad cross-section of the TRF area, the group has one thing in common – the desire to participate in moving our fine city forward.  Before the group could begin, however, they needed input from the citizens of TRF and the surrounding area.

TRForward put together a survey asking community members to share their views on a variety of topics, including arts, education, healthcare, housing, transportation, and many more.  They received over 1800 surveys from the surrounding area.  The group is currently sorting through the results to find the “Top Ten” list – the items residents feel are the most in need of help.  Coming soon are a series of community forums and focus groups to better understand the residents’ feelings and opinions on these hot topics to better judge the necessary course of action.

Plans are in place to meet this fall for the group to determine its “destiny drivers” – those items that will lead Thief River Falls into the future as a better, stronger community.  Coordinating with all major service groups and organizations, city government, the business community, and residents, TRForward is helping drive Thief River Falls into a better future.

Helping the residents of the Thief River Falls area better utilize their community’s assets to create an even more desirable community to live and work in…that’s what TRForward is all about!

Sponsored by the Stevens County Board of Commissioners, Stevens FORWARD! is an effort to create a brighter future for all residents of the County community.  Funded through a variety of public and private sources including the County, the five cities, the townships, the University of Minnesota, Morris, financial institutions, and other local businesses, this initiative represents a genuine spirit of partnership and collaboration.

In November 2007, a group of two-dozen Stevens County citizens volunteered to find new and innovative ways to collectively direct the county-wide community toward a prosperous future.  Our “Stewards” are a healthy mix of individuals representing all five communities in our County.  They are farmers, attorneys, high school and college students, government officials, university administrators, business owners, and citizens-at-large.  The group spent nearly a year learning about and discussing the economic, cultural, social and educational issues that affect our entire County.  From these ideas, thoughts, and dreams we crafted a written Destiny Statement and identified Destiny Drivers, which form the foundation of Stevens FORWARD!

Our Stewards now function as liaisons throughout the County community, identifying champions and moving our Destiny Drivers from ideas to action.  Having crafted our Destiny Statement and identified our Destiny Drivers, our community champions are now planning next steps and determining funding for projects that will contribute to the fulfillment of our goals.

The Community Stewardship Initiative of the Alexandria, MN began in the winter of 2008 as a conversation by the Alexandria Area Economic Development Commission Board of Directors and staff focusing on the need for increased connectedness and collaboration throughout the region.  Following discussions with Dave Hengel of the Center for Community Stewardship in Bemidji, MN which has worked with a number of communities to initiate similar stewardship programs, the decision was made to move forward.   In May of 2008, a number of informational meetings were held with community, business, organizational, and local government representatives and leaders from throughout the Alexandria Regional Community.  The interest and responses that were received from these meetings was clear and very positive, and the Stewardship Initiative began. 

Since the spring of 2008, the Alex Area Stewards have conducted a Regional Perception Survey (over 1,000 completed surveys returned) and held numerous Community Conversations throughout the region.  Information gathered helped the Stewards gain an understanding of what citizens feel is important to the continued success of the region and what should be improved for future success.  In addition, a group of Stewards undertook a detailed demographic and statistical analysis of the Alexandria Regional Community and compared compiled information with other like-communities from throughout Minnesota to better identify the region’s key assets.  The resulting data and information confirmed much of what the Stewards already believed about the region – it has many assets encompassing a wide variety of strengths, but there are areas that can be strengthened.

Utilizing the survey, conversation, and community asset information, the Alex Area Stewards created a Destiny Statement that identifies what the Alexandria Regional Community should be in the future to assure its continued success.  To assist with working towards this Destiny, 13 Destiny Drivers (goals) were identified to help strengthen specific aspects of the community.  Each Driver is being spearheaded by a Champion organization or group from throughout the region, with the goal of strengthening the entire Regional Community.  The mission statement of the Alex Area Stewards is, “Working to unite our region for a vibrant future.”  The Destiny Statement and Destiny Drivers all focus on achieving this mission to strengthen our entire region.

Currently, the Alex Area Stewards are in the process of sharing their Destiny Drivers with the region through a series of articles and informational pieces in cooperation with local media partners.  Interest in individual Drivers has started to build from throughout the area, and Driver efforts are either underway or slated to begin in the near future.

The Stewards group continues to grow and evolve to better serve the entire Alexandria Regional Community.  The group is open to anyone who has a passion for the success of the entire area.  To learn more about the Alex Area Stewards and their Stewardship Initiative, go to www.alexareastewards.com or call (320) 763-4545.

The Fergus Falls Economic Improvement Commission (FFEIC) Board of Directors voted in early 2009 to contract with the Center for Community Stewardship (CCS) to embark on a community visioning process using the CCS’s proven program of civic engagement and the development of “Destiny Drivers”.  The City of Fergus Falls is a micropolitian center that finds itself in the middle of a lot of change and demands for limited resources.  The board felt it was imperative that we bring the community together through a formal process to get a common vision with significant support from the community.  The CCS was chosen to help us get to the future in our community.

So far our local team, now called “Forward Fergus Falls”, has over 50 active members (stewards) divided into three teams.  The teams are the Asset Team, Public Engagement Team, and the Buzz Team.  The teams are chaired by Harold Stanislawski of the FFEIC, Greg Stumbo of the Fergus Falls City Council, and Pat Connley of the Fergus Falls City Council.  The teams have met regularly and have developed strategies to move forward in consultation with the leadership of the CCS.

A survey is being developed to get input from the public and should be ready to go sometime in late July.  In addition to the survey, plans are underway to conduct extensive listening sessions with the community to learn what’s important to all the stakeholders.  Fergus Falls has plenty of positive attributes and assets, but the question being asked is, “What makes us special?”  In that regard, the Asset Team has identified many particular attributes that really do make Fergus Falls stand out.  The listening sessions and the survey will ultimately be used to help select “destiny drivers” that the Forward Fergus Falls effort will launch in concert with the community.

The West Central Initiative and the Otto Bremer Foundation provided financial support to the program in addition to the Fergus Falls Economic Improvement Commission.  “We are pleased with the progress made thus far,” said Harold Stanislawski, FFEIC Director, “and we look forward to working on the input sessions and with the staff of the CCS.  The program has been met with a lot of enthusiasm from the community and that is a very good sign.”