The Meadowlark Leadership Laboratory on the Future of the Northern Great Plains is a two-year process bringing a diverse sample of the region’s population to the table and engaging in intense dialogue about the kind of future we want. The lab team has developed scenarios of provocative futures of the region and has a goal of implementing replicable demonstration projects. The process will create a new framework for understanding what the future can offer on the Northern Great Plains.

The Meadowlark Project lab team, that includes Rural Enterprise board members Christine Hamilton, Paul Batcheller and President Beth Davis, spent a week in the Black Hills June 2 through 8 reviewing the public engagement feedback, spending two days on solo camping retreats and identifying potential project areas.

The innovative retreat was designed to allow each team member to be alone and silent in nature for introspection. Being fully present and finding inner quiet has brought significant clarity and innovative ideas to many businesses. Meadowlark team leaders planned the retreat—especially the solo camping experience—to bring a clarity of purpose and a depth of wisdom to the team, enabling them to access wellsprings of creativity for new ideas.

“This process gave us the opportunity to focus completely on the questions that face our region’s development,” Hamilton said. “The exchange of ideas which followed our solo camp-out was fascinating and productive.”

Among the concepts developed to undergo further discussion are:

• Sustainability Corp.—learning journeys in the Northern Great Plains.
• Youth Leadership Academy—for traditional and non-traditional youth.
• Technical support and research for community foundations.
• Developing prototyping skills to contribute to, capture and disseminate the learning from communities engaging in innovative solutions to difficult issues.
• Communications—telling the stories through documentary films of the activities above and other community efforts.
• Meadowlark Institute to be a resource for the work and a knowledge transfer organization.

Additional learning and more public engagement will take place. The Meadowlark team reconvenes in Sioux Falls in November to design the demonstration projects. Learn more at www.meadlowlarkproject.com.

Rural Enterprise representatives participate in Meadowlark Retreat

2007 SUMMER REPORT
	Market research shows progress, promise & potential
	"Enterprise" fuels the spirit of SD business
	Author presents workshop to Rural Enterprise board
	Microenterprise program begins to take shape
	Capital Investment Fund is working for SD
	Meadowlark Retreat
	Helping communities & organizations to GROW
	Program creates value-added communities