Group aims for inclusion

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Fairmont – Last October, several dozen people participated in a community discussion on race at Fairmont Elementary School.

Two weeks ago, a follow-up discussion occurred, and on Thursday a third meeting took place to continue the conversation.

The discussion was led by Bukata Hayes, executive director of the Greater Mankato Diversity Council, who was working in conjunction with Region Nine Development Commission and Fairmont Community Education and Recreation.

Last meeting, those present thought two ideas would most help continue the conversation about race in the community. Those ideas were: creating opportunities to have casual conversations with each other and finding a way to showcase different people’s stories through the newspaper or some other form.

Continue reading the Sentinel article. 

April E-Newsletter

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Grant opportunities, new staff and more! Read about it all in Region Nine’s April 2018 E-Newsletter. 

 

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Forum at TCU generates discussions on diversity, racial equity

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According to Jessica O’Brien of the Region Nine Development Commission, the white population in Le Sueur County is projected to decrease in the years to come while other racial populations remain the same or increase.

O’Brien offered this information at a forum on race held Monday evening, April 16 in the Tri-City United High School cafeteria. Montgomery was the final stop for YWCA Mankato, an organization that promotes racial justice as well as women empowerment. Previously, the speakers and facilitators had previously visited Waseca, St. Peter, New Ulm and St. James.

“I talked to Jessica the end of last summer,” said Mike Preisler, TCU Community Education director who coordinated the race forum at TCU. “She wanted to know if this was something I thought would be welcome in the community, and I thought it would.”

Continue reading the Lonsdale Area News Review article. 

Broadband can be life or death for rural areas: How are we doing?

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NORTH MANKATO — The threat to rural Minnesota used to be measured mostly by the lack of good paying jobs needed to keep young people staying in or moving to small towns.

Bill Coleman says the presence or absence of dependable, speedy broadband service is now the key to rural Minnesota’s success or failure.

“Even the smallest manufacturer now requires a fiber connection before they’ll move to a location,” Coleman, owner of Community Technology Advisors, told leaders from the nine-county region.

And it’s not just the ability to attract businesses and jobs that requires solid broadband service, it’s become a top requirement for young people considering moving to the area.

“More people say they won’t move to a place that doesn’t have connectivity.”

And he said the use of devices for telemedicine, in livestock and crop production, and other areas of daily life are only going to grow in rural areas.

Coleman spoke at Region Nine Development Commission’s Connect Rural Broadband Summit in North Mankato Thursday.

Continue reading the Free Press article.