Small Community Forum: Adams

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

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