MCF Member Briefing: Lessons Learned about Rural-Urban Bridging and Narrative Change

“The need to bridge difference and to create belonging and inclusion is one of the primary needs of our time, and some of our biggest tools to do so are the narratives we create through the stories we tell and how we demonstrate both when we engage with each other.” — Paul Bachleitner, Northwest Area Foundation 

Minnesota’s communities are experiencing change at a pace and a depth we haven’t experienced before. Our urban and rural communities are increasingly diverse with more people of different racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds living alongside each other. 

We recognize our lives and livelihoods are deeply interconnected. We believe experiences of “bridging” and “belonging” help to strengthen our connections within and across our communities. This led to the creation of the Rural Urban Bridging for Impact (RUBI) at MCF. We seek to create and support spaces to hear each other, even through difference, and acknowledge our shared humanity without requiring sameness. 

Join us for a discussion of work on narrative change that has promoted bridging and belonging in rural and urban communities.  We’ll hear from a number of speakers, including Paul Bachleitner, communications director with Northwest Area Foundation, Cheryal Hills, executive director with Region Five Development Commission, and Adrienne Evans, executive director with United Vision for Idaho.

Please reach out to Dave Anderson with questions, [email protected]. Log-in details will be provided in your confirmation email.

Agenda 

3:00 – Welcome & Framing the Issue
3:10 – Presentations from Speakers 

• Paul Bachleitner, communications director, Northwest Area Foundation 
• Cheryal Hills, executive director, Region Five Development Commission 
• Adrienne Evans, executive director, United Vision for Idaho

3:40 – Facilitated Q&A 
4:00 – Adjourn