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Rural Dialogues

Rural Dialogues

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Dialogue Communities

We hosted Dialogues in five greater Minnesota communities. The Dialogues launched in Stevens County in 2014, with a focus on climate and community resilience. The second phase of the Dialogues focused on community energy issues. Learn more about the participating communities below.

Murray County

A field with a wind turbine

Murray County situated in the southwestern corner of Minnesota, is no stranger to wind energy, as wind turbines have become a familiar part of the landscape in recent years.

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Redwood County

Downtown Redwood Falls

Redwood County is also in Southwest Minnesota, named after the Redwood River which flows through the area. The county is home to many corn and soybean farms, which may also provide land for future renewable energy development.

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Stevens County

Welcome to Morris sign in Morris, Minnesota

Located in West Central Minnesota, Stevens County is driven by its agricultural history and the University of Minnesota-Morris. Stevens County serves as a model for rural communities pursuing resilience and energy planning.

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Itasca County

The shores of a lake in Itasca County

Located in Northeast Minnesota, Itasca County is a testament to Minnesota’s unique natural heritage. Regard for Itasca County’s forests and lakes, both facing serious threats from climate change, motivate resilience and adaptation efforts.

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Winona County

building in downtown winona

Nestled in Southeast Minnesota along the Mississippi River, Winona County boasts a diverse economy and picturesque views. Winona County is pioneering community engagement and cross-sector collaboration efforts to respond to climate change.

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Project Sponsors

The Rural Dialogues were a 7 year long project of the Jefferson Center, a nonpartisan community engagement and policy nonprofit, and the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, a nonprofit advocacting for fair and sustainable food, farm, and trade systems.

Jefferson Center Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

About the dialogues

The Rural Dialogues model offers a creative, resource-sensitive approach for bringing a community together to learn, plan, and act. While the Dialogues program is no longer active, this site aims to be a resource for those interested in this model.

Connect With Us

332 Minnesota St, Suite W1360
Saint Paul, MN 55101

651-209-7672
hello@ruraldialogues.org

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