June 10 - 11, 2003, at the University of Minnesota, Morris.
There are 853 cities in Minnesota, of which 727, or 85%, are small towns with under 5,000 people. The early formation of these towns provided the opportunity for pioneering Minnesotans to raise families, build social and economic institutions, and create rich cultural histories. Today these towns are facing tremendous challenges; among them declining economies, out-migration plucking the brightest from the community, and the tightening of budgeting belts. Have we seen this situation before?
The First Annual Symposium on Small Towns will help understand how the past century of change may guide us in the research, programs, and policies of the future. The Center for Small Towns at the University of Minnesota, Morris will present the symposium on the evening of June 10 and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 11.
The symposium is intended for leaders and citizens from across Minnesota with participants ranging from county commissioners to citizen action groups to extension educators and city managers. The public is invited.
Titled "Rural Minnesota: A Century of Change," this event is designed to examine, describe, and discuss the changes witnessed in the last 100 years. Topics include population, demography, economics, and politics. Displays and exhibits, informal networking, and a musical concert by instrumentalist and composer extraordinaire Peter Ostroushko will be among the offerings during this first-ever event.
"This is an excellent opportunity to both understand and celebrate small towns," said Roger McCannon, director of the Center for Small Towns.
Presenters will include Robert Bergland, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (1977-80); John Fraser Hart, Department of Geography, University of Minnesota; Martha McMurry, Minnesota Department of Administration (formerly Minnesota Planning); Jack Geller, Center for Rural Policy and Development in Mankato; Randy Cantrell, Center for Applied Rural Innovation, University of Nebraska; and Paul Olson, president of the Blandin Foundation. Joe Amato, professor emeritus of history at Southwest State University, will also be present to discuss future research for small towns.
Registration fee is $45. For further information contact Barb Hesse at (320) 589-6451.
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