rural
Small Business Saturday Strategy
Last year, our friend Maggie was excited to add greenery to the planters in front of a couple of blocks of retail and commercial buildings before Small Business Saturday. She put the word out asking if anyone had any fresh greens or evergreens that could be cut up. She also kindly notified the city that…
Read More7 Lessons from the Collaboration Cohort
I led the Collaboration Cohort for Dakota Resources this past summer. In our rush in today’s society to get things done, we miss some important small community-building steps. And they are important – it is what keeps the collaboration moving forward, addressing challenges, learning to work together for the good of all and creating the…
Read MoreStop Fighting Dollar Stores. Start Building Local Solutions.
I see dollar stores in towns that still have grocery stores. I see even more in towns where the grocery store has already closed. That is not a coincidence. Dollar stores are not good for your community We can argue all day about whether dollar stores are “good” or “bad,” but we should at least…
Read MoreWhat to do with a Community Action Committee
I love getting emails from small town folks who have seen or heard us speak, especially when they form committee action committees as a result! Rebecca wanted some next step help, and I was happy to share! Here’s her email: I was so inspired by your story and how you were able to change your…
Read MoreJackson County, Kentucky Creatives
“Great to see a vibrant downtown on a Saturday night in Jackson County. Monthly cruise in with circle on the square music, and the Jackson County Creative Community signing folks up for the new web page. Paintings were donated for a free drawing. Thanks to Corner Cafe for staying open for the event. Always the…
Read MoreSunflower Festival is Idea Friendly
Beth didn’t like sunflowers. Until she moved to central South Dakota. They were everywhere! And her husband, the farmer, grew them. Beth attended the Energize Conference in 2018 and heard the Red Ants Pants Presentation. Sarah Calhoun has her store (they make workwear for women) in White Sulphur Springs, Montana, and that is a very…
Read MoreRural Speaker for Your Event
Why Me? I work with rural people who are ready to move beyond complaining and start doing. Speaking is one of the ways I help small towns see what’s possible and take the next small steps with the resources they already have. When you hire me, you’re not just paying for an hour on stage.…
Read MoreWhat has rural expert Deb Brown been doing for the last ten years?
I got asked the other day what I have been doing for the last ten years. I took some time and wrote it all down. It surprised even me! Take a look, and if you’d like to have a free call with me, just book 30 minutes here. Here’s a comprehensive list (I may have…
Read MoreOld Station, CA Small Town with resources
Let’s talk about a small town You might drive right by most small towns and think ‘there’s nothing for me here.’ Old Station, California has a population of 31, or 64. Depending on which source or year you check. No matter how you count it, that’s a small town. It’s in the mountains, about 14…
Read MoreDoing more with less – no thank you
I’ve never liked the phrase “doing more with less.” It gets tossed around so often that it sounds noble, but it usually feels like a scolding. It implies people aren’t working hard enough or wringing every drop out of their already-limited time, energy, and budgets. It piles guilt on top of fatigue. That phrase comes…
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