Leveraging the Strengths of our Rural Economies: Lessons from the Front Ed Morrison Purdue Center for Regional Development November, 2010

First, a thank you to the Purdue Center for Regional Development...for supporting this work in regional innovation Sites of Strategic Doing workshops

And to a group of extraordinary innovators who are re-imagining rural Rural innovators working group organized by Dave Ivan at Michigan State University, Norm Walzer at Northern Illinois University and Mary Emery at Iowa State University Minneapolis, MN

We are operating in a different world...a world of networks

We are operating in a different world...a world of interdependence

We are operating in a different world...a world of uncertainty, beauty and grace

We can collaborate to compete...and move our communities to the next level

We can stop sitting...behind our invisible fences Our communities are marked by invisible fences -- once working, now broken -- that we refuse (or are too afraid) to cross. To our children and grandchildren, these invisible fences make no sense.

We can develop...an attitude Young professionals in Youngstown, Ohio promote a new attitudes about their hometown...Their message to the older generation stuck in the past: “Get over it”.

We can work on complex challenges...together Vision East, NC alliance of 8 workforce boards in Eastern North Carolina October, 2010

We can imagine ourselves...as rural innovators National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts United Kingdom

We can rebuild our civic spaces...to do some complex thinking

We can get serious about civility...to do some complex thinking

We can rediscover the genius...of our democracy In May 1787, the Framers adopted rules of civility to guide their deliberations in what became known as “The Brilliant Solution”

We can embrace diversity...and recognize its creative value In economic development, diversity is not a legal mandate, it is a creative imperative

We can embrace creativity...with new eyes Watermelon Festival: Hope, AR Courtesy of Mark Peterson, University of Arkansas

We can recommit ourselves...to our clients

We can support entrepreneurs...wherever they show up

We can guide deeper conversations...to innovate

See Strategic Doing in action on the Vimeo Strategic Doing channel

We can recognize leadership...in a new (old) way "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." -- John Quincy Adams

We know we can transform...even complex metro economies The transformation of Oklahoma City began with eight people in I was privileged to be a part of this core team.

Across the country people see a new path...which leaves the question....

What will you do?

Thank you! Ed Morrison Purdue Center for Regional Development