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Category Archives: Community
What is Community Development?
Last week, I blogged, “Community development precedes economic development.” Thanks for the positive feedback on that idea. But that sentence raises another question for some of you: What is community development? There really isn’t an easy answer to that question. There are many definitions of community development (CD). The United Nationals has offered a succinct, practical definition. It lacks the nuance of other definitions but gets to the heart of the matter: A process where community members come together to take collective action and generate solutions to common… Read More →
Community Development Precedes Economic Development
Texas Extension has long believed community development precedes economic development. It is much easier to support economic growth and economic development if you have a community people want to live in. Rural hospital closures shine a light on the interplay of community and economic development. Frank local news stories about the reasons for and outcomes of hospital closures highlight the importance of community social and physical infrastructure in supporting local economies. My own research shows that the presence or lack of physicians is associated with a number of… Read More →
Economics of Rural Transit Publications Available
Mobility is important to older adults’ quality of life. Mobility can be a challenge as we age, and it can be even more challenging for people in rural areas who must travel longer distances to reach destinations. At the same time, sparsely populated rural areas can struggle with funding and business models to meet the needs of local residents. Sarah Fasanando, masters student in the School of Public Health, Jim Mjelde, and I have two new publications addressing rural transit. Rural Transit Needs for Older Adults (EAG-061) discusses… Read More →
Resources to BTHO Hate and Build Community Dialogue
The words at the bottom of our Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service publications read: “Texas A&M AgriLife Extension provides equal opportunities in its programs and employment to all persons, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.” Yesterday, as news of a (since cancelled) white supremacist rally on the Texas A&M University campus developed, our Extension Director took a few moments to remind us of that statement and our commitment to it, and I’m so glad he… Read More →
Transportation for the Rural Elderly
Our research team recently completed the technical report for our Economics of Transportation for the Rural Elderly project. The team’s objective is to provide research recommendations that may be used to enhance, if appropriate or applicable, the provision of rural transportation options that improve quality of life for the rural elderly and other socially and transportation disadvantaged populations. The technical report, as well as a Scientia Magazine article and a related Bryan Eagle article are available at http://communities.tamu.edu/ruraltransportation/. The technical report is available at http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/TTI-2017-1.pdf.
Webinar: Committee of Negativity: Getting Past the Old Guard
Just saw a notice that Becky McCray and Deb Brown of SaveYour.Town are hosting their next webinar: Committee of Negativity: Getting Past the Old Guard. I hear about negativity concerns fairly often and think you will find these presenters helpful. Info is below. “All small towns have one, a committee of negativity that can’t find anything right with what you do. We’ve all been there and been frustrated with their reactions. Join Deb and I as we share stories and methods for diffusing the committee of negativity,” said… Read More →
Results of Texas Rural Leaders and Economies Survey Released
The report documenting results of the Texas Rural Leaders and Economies Survey is now posted on the Rural Communities website. A few economic highlights are below. For more information view the complete report online. Future posts will discuss local institutions, keeping young people, and rural leadership. Leaders tended to view overall economic conditions and retail conditions similarly. Most respondents rated their economies and retail sectors as stable. Perceptions of decline across both city and county respondents were more evident in rural counties not adjacent to urban areas. … Read More →
Winning Football and Community Success
‘Tis the season. Or ’twas the season anyway. Texas high school football playoffs. I like small town football. Both my brothers played six-man football in Kansas. My son goes to a small school where the elementary kids get to run out on the field with the football players and stay there through the Star Spangled Banner. You see everyone at a small town football game. That’s what I really love–the sense of community around rural schools and their activities from junior high volleyball games to Kindergartners’ Veterans Day… Read More →
Rural Texas Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage
Yesterday I retweeted a Census Bureau infographic with national statistics on rural and urban poverty, income, health insurance coverage and housing. There are several positive messages in that data, including lower poverty rates for rural, lower rates of people living alone, and higher rates of children living in a married family households (being a single householder or the child of a single householder can be difficult). There were also some less pleasant statistics, including a larger share of rural residents without health insurance, a smaller share with a… Read More →
Thinking Beyond the Town Line: Strengthening Rural Development through Cooperation
We talk about regionalism all the time. Collaboration and partnership with surrounding communities is crucial for rural areas. Check out this great webinar recording from the Orton Foundation. Vibrant examples from Michigan, Kentucky, and South Carolina with an intro by of Brett Schwartz of NADO explaining why regionalism is important. Hang in there for the Q&A where the panelists discuss the tension and complementarity of collaboration and competition, among other things. Click the video image below to view the webinar or click here: Some really good thoughts in… Read More →