Meadowlark Project Coming to Madison

KJAM surprises me this morning with a report about something I've never heard of, the Meadowlark Project, coming to Madison for a meeting next Monday, July 9, at St. John's Lutheran Church. Here's the group's description of itself from its front page:

A Leadership Laboratory on the Future of the Northern Great Plains is a two year, innovative, disciplined process that leads to systemic change by bringing a diverse sample of the region�s population to the table and engaging in intense dialogue about the kind of future we want, focused research on actual and possible future conditions, exposure to direct learning experiences, use of scenario planning techniques, and implementation of replicable demonstration projects. The process will create a new framework for understanding what the future can offer on the northern Great Plains.

Hmm. I recognize that my brain may be working at vacation capacity on this glorious holiday, but the Meadowlark Project's self-description seems a little... obtuse? marketing-speak-ish? They might draw a bigger crowd Monday if they were able to explain in simpler language what they're all about and what Monday night's attendees will be getting themselves into.

Still, I'm intrigued. On its website's About page, the Meadowlark Project identifies several key barriers to "advancement" of the rural Great Plains:

1. continued migration of rural youth, both non-Native and Native, from rural areas to larger cities in and outside of the region in search of economic opportunity and cultural acceptance;
2. ongoing racial divisions that prevent the region�s Native American and Latino populations from contributing their full potential to the economic and societal health of the region and perpetuate a view that the Newest Americans are needed solely for jobs others won�t take;
3. hidden and insidious poverty that traps families in a paycheck-to-paycheck existence and a dependence on federal or state programs for survival;
4. growing drug and violence problems in rural communities that come from isolation and despair;
5. reluctance to change cultural norms to match the changing work environment; and
6. a belief that the region should accept whatever the market determines and cooperation between governments, the private sector and civil society to build an economically, socially and environmentally stronger region is taboo.

Their brochure identifies one additional item among "systemic issues that need to be challenged": "a belief that production agriculture remains the principal economic driver in the region and any economic renewal strategy must focus primarily on agriculture."

The Meadowlark Project seems to have a good grasp of the real problems facing the region. They also seem to have a perspective on solutions that might go beyond traditional economic development answers.

Whatever their specific policy goals, the Meadowlark Project's Madison meeting sounds like it promises thought-provoking and worthwhile conversation. Monday, 7-9 p.m., St John's Lutheran in Madison: tell your neighbors, bring your open minds!

p.s.: I have just a small beef with the KJAM headline, "Madison Residents Get a Chance to Voice Opinions." The Madville Times has been providing free-wheeling opinion-voicing for all interested citizens for two years now; where's my coverage, KJAM? ;-)