A lack of employment and a sense of negativity in the region were cited as a key indicator of what is happening in the region during a Meadowlark Project discussion in Keokuk in October 2006.

A dozen people participated in the dialogue using four possible scenarios of what the area and the northern Great Plains might look like in 2050.

“One thought was for the community to provide jobs for members of the community, the empty stores on Main Street need to be occupied,” said Northern Great Plains Inc. President Jerry Nagel. “Besides the empty businesses, there are many industries that are struggling in the region. The region is adjusting to a service economy.”

The other key indicator dealt with younger people in the region.

“There has been an increase in the high school dropout rate and a lower number of students graduating,” Nagel said. “The community also is seeing an increase in drug use with both the younger and older generations.

“Those who are leaving the region are looking for well paying jobs that have good benefits. There is a need to recruit and retain young people in the region because of the loss of young people.”

As for the future, almost everyone who participated in the dialogue at Trinity United Methodist Church in Keokuk wanted to encourage people to get them thinking about the future of Keokuk.

“A few discussed encouraging people to use their imagination about what might happen in the future,” Nagel said. “Part of imagining the future is thinking about the future farther than the next three to five years.”

Others said they would be more visionary about the future. Some members will continue to include more diverse groups in the thinking process.

Other future intentions included hosting other dialogues to get people thinking; listening more; continuing to teach problem solving skills to students; stressing ownership by everyone in the community; being more aware of their neighbors, the block they live in and the city; and working hard at supporting local businesses.

The four scenarios of what life might be like in 2050 were:

n There's No Place Like Home - This is a world in which a long term drought caused by climate change has a catastrophic impact on the robust ethanol industry, which leads to economic and social collapse in the northern Great Plains. The collapse and struggle spawn renewal and a new, more equitable and just way of life for all people and species.

n The Big Empty - This is a world in which the region sees an expansion of ethanol and biofuel production, which provide short-term growth for rural communities. But advances in technology lead to improved efficiency and increasing economies of scale. As the ethanol facilities grow larger, fewer and fewer employees are needed to operate them. Family farms disappear and rural economies falter as corporate farming and mega ethanol plants take over. A third of the region's population dies and is not replaced. Lack of proper services and loss of rural communities lead to a region empty of people and hope.

n A Tech-No-Color World - This is a world in which choices made related to both online and physical access, significantly impact future lifestyle, quality of life and opportunity for people in the northern Great Plains. The region is split into two worlds: One shaped by advanced connective technologies and the other by a focus on maintaining the transportation infrastructure.

n The Good Lands - This is a story of the western part of the region, how their struggles differ from the eastern side and how they find unique opportunities and niches by creating a new identity. The Good Lands. Through active guidance and leadership from the region's tribal nations, a collaborative government and leadership structure is formed. The Good Lands become a leader in renewable energy research and are nationally recognized for their economic, environmental and social reforms.

Several people who participated in the Keokuk dialogue believed The Good Lands scenario had the most impact on them.

“There were a few characteristics of the scenario that people thought should be incorporated in the creation of the future,” Nagel said. “Some believed energy development should be part of the creation. Others thought to rebuild tribal pride through education and economic opportunities.”

Many participants believed the There's No Place Like Home scenario was the most likely and the one they would like to create. The scenario's characteristics that should be included are multi-cultural and multi-generational dialogues; a focus on water and soil conservation; organic, locally-grown food; entrepreneurial support and initiatives; and making education more relevant to the evolving world economy, the group said.

The participants had mixed feelings about whether it would take a catastrophe to reach the future discussed in the There's No Place Like Home scenario.

Some people believed that climate change would affect the local area negatively in that crop production would suffer, possibly affecting bio-fuels production. To minimize the negative impact of climate change, the group suggested recycling, encouraging non-carbon energy production and insisting that older providers generate in a more earth friendly way.

A few of the Keokuk participants commented about the other two scenarios, The Big Empty and A Tech-No-Color Word.

“Many members of the group believe the region is not adequately planning for the impacts of population decline,” Nagel said. “It has been made worse by the out-migration of educated young people.

“There were mixed feelings if it was plausible to expect that enough new people would move into the region to replace the population loss,” Nagel added. “If the region is unsuccessful in creating attractive jobs other than agricultural based, there will not be enough new people moving into the region. There needs to be something attractive for young people to have a reason to move to the region. If the ethanol boom is not a short-term phenomenon, then it is possible for new people to move into the region.”

As for the Tech-No-Color World scenario, some participants believe there already is a separation of the tech haves and have nots in the community.

For more information about the Meadowlark Project, go to the Web site www.meadowlarkproject.org or call Nagel, Ryan Aasheim or Maggie Schmaltz at 701-364-1349.

Meadowlark Project gives glimpse of things to come

Wendy Johnson Pine Journal
Published Thursday, December 06, 2007

http://www.cloquetmn.com/articles/index.cfm?id=12029

Meadowlark Project to host free discussion on direction of future generations in Cloquet

Pine Journal
Published Tuesday, November 20, 2007

A regional project has taken on the challenge of envisioning Minnesota’s future two generations out – and you can add your voice to a conversation that could shape all our tomorrows at a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 28, from 6-8 p.m. at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College (Classroom 256).   A group of 25 leaders in the states of the Northern Great Plains have joined together in the Meadowlark Project Leadership Laboratory. Meadowlark’s goal is to look at the future of our region and find innovative ways to make sure it is a positive one for everyone living here.

The first step toward that goal is to get the entire region talking about its future using scenarios and dramatic stories of possible tomorrows.

The Leadership group has written four scenarios that outline what could be in store for us in 2050. These stories illustrate how the decisions we make today will inevitably impact our future.

“These scenarios are plausible what-if stories that describe alternative paths to the future,” said Meadowlark Team member Katie Fernholz. “These stories are hypothetical futures designed to highlight the risks and opportunities involved in strategic decision-making.”

Scenarios are used for business and military planning and more recently to generate civic dialogue in communities about issues important to the future of society. What makes them so useful in talking about the future is that by shifting the discussion away from the past to possible futures, scenarios create the opportunity for businesses, organizations and communities to focus their energy on creating the kind of future they really want by seeking new, creative and positive solutions to old and challenging problems.

The Meadowlark Project plans to convene community dialogues around the region during the next six months. One of those regional meetings designed to bring area residents into the discussion will be held in Cloquet on Wednesday, Nov. 28, from 6-8 p.m. Refreshments will be served from 5-6 p.m.

The meeting is free, open to the public and completely informal, to encourage as many diverse individuals as possible to participate in a conversation about the scenarios and about the future of the Northern Great Plains.

Meadowlark leaders are also mailing thousands of copies of the scenarios throughout the region, to high school teachers, business and community leaders, university professors and more. The goal is to get 10,000 people in the region talking about the future.

The Meadowlark Project group met in January to develop the four scenarios.

They used current and historical trends, data and research, and systems thinking tools to essentially envision the unknown - the future. The results were four very possible, yet very different, ways our future could unfold. In 2050 your community and this region could be a thriving technologically savvy world, a hopeless dwindling society, a Buffalo Commons, or a place people are glad to call home.

To read the four scenarios, check out the project website www.meadowlarkproject.org . You’ll find greater detail on the project, the scenarios, and a list of Meadowlark team members.

The Meadowlark Project was initiated by Northern Great Plains, Inc., a Fargo-based non-profit, whose mission is to make a positive difference in the future of rural communities and businesses by helping them successfully adapt to changing market and social forces.

NGP works in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota. For more information on NGP, please visit www.ngplains.org.

The Cloquet meeting is supported by the Pine Journal and the Northland Foundation.

http://www.twoharborsmn.com/articles/index.cfmid=16152&section=News&freebie_check&CFID=68103111&CFTOKEN=74679201&jsessionid=8830bdbf3b0be55591a2

Community dialog aims to shape region's future

Lake County News Chronicle
Published Thursday, November 15, 2007

What will Keokuk and the northern Great Plains look like in 2050?

About two dozen citizens tried to answer that question last week in Keokuk, using four scenarios developed by the Meadowlark Project Leadership Lab Team.

The scenarios were:

There's No Place Like Home - This is a world in which a long term drought caused by climate change has a catastrophic impact on the robust ethanol industry, which leads to economic and social collapse in the northern Great Plains. The collapse and struggle spawn renewal and a new, more equitable and just way of life for all people and species.

The Big Empty - This is a world in which the region sees an expansion of ethanol and biofuel production, which provide short-term growth for rural communities. But advances in technology lead to improved efficiency and increasing economies of scale. As the ethanol facilities grow larger, fewer and fewer employees are needed to operate them. Family farms disappear and rural economies falter as corporate farming and mega ethanol plants take over. A third of the region's population dies and is not replaced. Lack of proper services and loss of rural communities lead to a region empty of people and hope.

A Tech-No-Color World - This is a world in which choices made related to both online and physical access, significantly impact future lifestyle, quality of life and opportunity for people in the northern Great Plains. The region is split into two worlds: One shaped by advanced connective technologies and the other by a focus on maintaining the transportation infrastructure.

The Good Lands - This is a story of the western part of the region, how their struggles differ from the eastern side and how they find unique opportunities and niches by creating a new identity. The Good Lands. Through active guidance and leadership from the region's tribal nations, a collaborative government and leadership structure is formed. The Good Lands become a leader in renewable energy research and are nationally recognized for their economic, environmental and social reforms.

The There's No Place Like Home and the Good Lands scenarios stem from disasters and use Native Americans and young people to affect positive change.

The Keokuk Area Vision Plan was credited with bringing several segments of the community together. While Keokuk does not have much diversity, the leadership is younger and wants to see positive changes, some attendees at Trinity United Methodist Church said. In addition, the unusually large number of candidates in last month's Keokuk School Board election was brought up as an example of a response to a crisis in the public schools.

Broken into groups of five or six people, those present were asked how creativity could be fostered in the community, how can people be taught to listen and how does a community get more diversity.

In addition, a “scarcity versus abundancy” mentality can prohibit risk taking, some people said.

An owner of a technology company asked the people at his table how they and their children view technology. After a couple of people said they use their computers to check e-mail, read newspapers on-line and play games, the businessman said his generation is starting to question the security of the food system because so much corn is used now to produce ethanol.

After the attendees were asked to silently reflect for three minutes on what they had heard, the following thoughts were expressed:

Guard against having a single vision and think of all resources instead.

While the Big Empty scenario wasn't attractive, some consolidation may be a realistic alternative.

Be responsible and informed voters.

The technology divide already exists in Keokuk.

People tend to leap at new opportunities without careful consideration.

When asked about the outcome of last week's event, Northern Great Plains Inc. President Jerry Nagel said, “It's difficult to answer, but dialogue builds community. Many places have lost that sense of community.

“One thing that has really struck me is the hunger throughout the region for conversation in another way ... At least 30 percent of people who show up (at Meadowlark Project meetings) never have shown up for anything else.”

Organizers hope to get 10,000 people in the northern Great Plains talking about the region, Nagel said. The resulting dialogue will be put on the Web site www.meadowlarkproject.org. Organizers also want to develop five or six projects that address issues raised at the meetings like the one in Keokuk.

Asked about Keokuk specifically, Grow Iowa Tour Team member Mike Ironside said, “Keokuk has huge potential. It's in the same position Dubuque was in 10 to 15 years ago. People (in Keokuk) have a lot of enthusiasm and think they're on the cusp of great things.”

Have you ever wondered what your community might look like in the future? Ever wondered what your kids or grandkids might be doing 40 years from now?

A regional project has taken on the challenge of envisioning Iowa's future two generations out. Keokuk area citizens can add their voices to a conversation that could shape all tomorrows during a meeting at 7 p.m. today in the fellowship hall of Trinity United Methodist Church in Keokuk.

This project is brought to Iowa as part of the IBF's 2007 Grow Iowa Tour.

A group of 25 leaders in the states of the Northern Great Plains have joined together in the Meadowlark Project Leadership Laboratory. Meadowlark's goal is to look at the future of the region and find innovative ways to make sure it is a positive one for everyone living here.

The first step toward that goal is to get the entire region talking about its future using scenarios, dramatic stories of possible tomorrows. The leadership group has written four scenarios that outline what could be in store for the region in 2050; these stories illustrate how the decisions made today will inevitably impact the future.

“These scenarios are plausible what-if stories that describe alternative paths to the future,” said IBF Chair Brad Parks. “These stories are hypothetical futures designed to highlight the risks and opportunities involved in strategic decision-making.”

Scenarios are used for business and military planning and more recently to generate civic dialogue in communities about issues important to the future of society.

What makes them so useful in talking about the future is that by shifting the discussion away from the past to possible futures, scenarios create the opportunity for businesses, organizations and communities to focus their energy on creating the kind of future they really want by seeking new, creative and positive solutions to old and challenging problems.

Tonight's meeting in Keokuk is free, open to the public and completely informal to encourage as many diverse individuals as possible to participate in a conversation about the scenarios and about the future of the Northern Great Plains.

Meadowlark leaders are also mailing thousands of copies of the scenarios throughout the region, to high school teachers, business and community leaders, university professors and more. The goal is to get 10,000 people in the region talking about the future.

The Meadowlark Project group met in January to develop the four scenarios.

They used current and historical trends, data and research and systems thinking tools to essentially envision the unknown - the future.

The results were four very possible, yet very different, ways the region's future could unfold. In 2050 the Keokuk area and the region could be a thriving technologically savvy world, a hopeless dwindling society, a Buffalo Commons or a place people are glad to call home.

To read the four scenarios, check out the project Web site www.meadowlarkproject.org. You'll find greater detail on the project, the scenarios, and a list of Meadowlark team members.

The Meadowlark Project was initiated by Northern Great Plains, Inc., a Fargo-based non-profit, whose mission is to make a positive difference in the future of rural communities and businesses by helping them successfully adapt to changing market and social forces. NGP works in North Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota.

For more information on NGP, visit www.ngplains.org. The meeting is being held in conjunction with the Grow Iowa Tour organized by Iowans for a Better Future and its Growth Partners.

For more information, contact Jerry Nagel, Northern Great Plains, jnagel@ngplains.org.

The meeting will begin with a meal at 6 p.m. and the program at 6:45 p.m. Melissa Sobolik, an AAUW member, will give a presentation.

The Meadowlark Project is a two-year project addressing out-migration, racial divides and poverty in the region.