Wolf Point Residents Listen During Third Reimagining Program
Area residents took part in the third Reimagining Rural presentation in the Great Northern Development Corp.’s meeting room on Tuesday, Feb. 18.
Jeff Siegler of Revitalize or Die provided information regarding civic pride and civic apathy.
Siegler explained that effort is something that makes people proud. Instead of just talking about making things better, actually work on it. Effort leads to progress.
He explained that it feels really good to make a town look better, that’s community pride.
Siegler talks about how ownership, beauty and legacy helps build community pride and great communities.
Many towns used to look beautiful with many local stores and well kept lawns.
“We turned our backs on it,” Siegler said. National chains came to cities and homes were build quickly. A depression of standards became more acceptable. There were less civic-minded efforts and less strides to foster in local businesses.
He asked “How can we heal?” The solution is building civic pride back. The five areas to restore pride include: * Identity. Celebrate local history, tradition.
* Improve standards. When we ask more of people, they tend to raise to the occasion.
* Take ownership. Individuals should feel the need to take care of space.
* Communityness. Community only exists when we are together.
* Appearances. The way things appear forms our opinion of them.
Siegler stressed nothing happens without “action.” He said, “We don’t need more and more meetings.”
A presentation was given by a group that made improvements in Broadus. One of their efforts was a community-based leadership program.
Advice the Broadus group included was to be patient, things don’t happen overnight.
Goals of the Reimagining Rural program include inspire rural people to reimagine their community; embrace different perspectives, individuals and ideas; connect through shared hopes, dreams and experiences; and create positive change, your community is worth it.
