Tips from the Field
Small towns exist across Minnesota. According to the state’s House of Representatives classification, about 82% of Minnesota cities have a population under 5,000, with 58% of communities having less than 1,000 people.
Community work is heart work, but in small cities where people are wearing many hats, it can be hard to step away from existing tasks and priorities to initiate and create energy for a new idea.
Based on recent insight from the Blandin Community Learning Network — where seven rural communities spent over a year exploring their local assets and applying them to actions they saw a need for in their communities — we highlight six lessons that can be applied to strengthen engagement and keep momentum in your own town.
1. Cross-community networking reduces the feeling that you are doing it alone
A common barrier to rural progress is the feeling of being alone on an island. We found that engagement spikes when leaders realize their neighbors in the next town also face similar hurdles.
Tip: Seek opportunities to talk with folks from neighboring towns. Encourage them to share one struggle and one win for their community. Doing this will help you build social capital and have folks to reach out to when you are feeling isolated.
2. The move from "planning" to "doing" is re-energizing
Long-term planning is important and moving toward action helps keep the momentum going. Break projects down into manageable actions that you can celebrate. Communities thrive when they see tangible change.
Tip: The Strategic Doing™ process suggests setting 30, 60 and 90 day actions that identify ways to see and celebrate your progress. These “small wins” can be the motivation for some to keep going.
3. Give yourself permission to pivot
Sometimes, a project that sounded good during planning just doesn't take off. In our program, one community realized their project lacked passion within the first 30 days. Instead of quitting, however, they pivoted to a project they actually loved — and their engagement soared.
Tip: Don't be too tied to the original plan. If you reach a roadblock, ask: "Does this project still give us energy?" If the answer is no, it’s okay to change course. An agile team is a strong team.
4. Look to engage community members you have not engaged before
We often rely on the same people for every committee, which leads to burnout. The most successful projects in the learning network were a result of teams recruiting those not always invited to planning efforts, such as maintenance staff, artists, and the quiet experts.
Tip: Create an asset map of the human capital in your community that identifies people and their skills. Then, instead of asking "Who wants to join a committee?", ask "Who has the specific skill we need for this task?" (e.g., who owns a tractor? who is a social media wizard?). People are more likely to say yes to a specific task than a meeting, and as they learn more, they might want to become more involved.
5. Think intergenerationally
The "high points" of some of these community projects were often centered on youth and elders. When young people felt their voices were valued, and elders felt their history and contributions were respected, the project took on a deeper sense of long-term value.
Tip: Intentionally design "intergenerational moments." If you’re building a mural, invite the youth to design the layout, and encourage the elders to share stories about meaningful community events that can inform design.
6. Celebrate success
Success breeds more success. When one of the communities in the learning network shared an initial goal met, it created an energizing effect that motivated others to keep going through the mid-project "slump."
Tip: Build in a "re-energize" phase into projects. Regularly share "Ah-ha" moments and small victories with your team and the public. Celebrating a goal isn't just about the past — it's the fuel for your next big step.
Community development is like an unfolding journey rather than a blueprint. Success lies in strengthening connections, cultivating trust, embracing adaptability, and leveraging local energy. It is about having the courage to take the first step together — even a small one — to start down the path toward shared commitment and build momentum for the next steps.
How can Extension help?
University of Minnesota Extension grows leadership capacity by working alongside communities to support better decision making and steward community assets over time. Examples of Extension and our partners at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs work include: