Rural Brain Gain and Leadership

Rural sociologist Ben Winchester, who studies positive trends happening under the radar in rural areas, will explore small-town leadership and the rural brain gain in two free public events.

Winchester aims to rewrite the rural narrative that focuses on small towns getting smaller, as churches, schools, clinics, businesses and post offices close their doors and the lucky few migrate out to the big cities.

"This deficit framework dominates how we discuss and envision our rural communities," Winchester says. "But the real story of rural America since 1970 is rich and diverse, with positive trends occurring under the radar. These positive changes require us to rewrite the narrative of rural community change."

Winchester's presentations are:

Re-writing the Rural Narrative: Rural Brain Gain (offered twice)

2 p.m. Monday, May 4, Drake Community Library, 930 Park St, Grinnell, Iowa

7 p.m. Monday, May 4, Joe Rosenfield '25 Center, Room 101

Winchester will discuss how the population of rural America has changed significantly in the past 40 years as newcomers aged 30-49 moved into small towns. He will explore how this has had a positive impact on social and economic structures, and how the new residents tend to have bachelor's degrees, careers, professional networks and children.

Re-writing the Rural Narrative: Rural Leadership

10 a.m. Tuesday, May 5, Spaulding Center for Transporation, 829 Spring St., Grinnell, Iowa

Winchester will explore how many people are needed to run small towns, how many leaders are available to serve, and the impact of changing patterns of social involvement on community groups.

"The next 15-20 years appears to be a great opportunity for American small towns," Winchester says, "as a once-tight housing supply begins to open up through the changing preferences of the retiring baby boomer generation. Overall, as we look to the future, the implications of these changes are positive ones for all of our small towns and open country places."

Winchester is a senior research fellow at the University of Minnesota Extension's Center for Community Vitality. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of Minnesota-Morris, and a master's degree in rural sociology from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Grinnell College is sponsoring Tuesday's event in conjunction with the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation and the Poweshiek Leadership Program. Grinnell College's Office of Community Engagement and Enhancement and Center for Prairie Studies, as well as the city of Grinnell and Poweshiek Iowa Development (POW I-80), are sponsoring Monday's presentation.

Grinnell welcomes and encourages the participation of people with disabilities. The Joe Rosenfield '25 Center has accessible parking on the east side of the building. Room 101 is equipped with an induction hearing loop system.  Accommodation requests may be made to Conference Operations.