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  34. <title>45 Degrees North: One More Worry For Rural Elders And Caregivers</title>
  35. <link>https://dailyyonder.com/45-degrees-north-one-more-worry-for-rural-elders-and-caregivers/2024/04/19/</link>
  36. <comments>https://dailyyonder.com/45-degrees-north-one-more-worry-for-rural-elders-and-caregivers/2024/04/19/#respond</comments>
  38. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Donna Kallner]]></dc:creator>
  39. <pubDate>Fri, 19 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  40. <category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
  41. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dailyyonder.com/?p=130618</guid>
  42.  
  43. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="576" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_20240408_120424.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_20240408_120424.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_20240408_120424.jpg?resize=760%2C428&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_20240408_120424.jpg?resize=1296%2C729&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_20240408_120424.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_20240408_120424.jpg?resize=1536%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_20240408_120424.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_20240408_120424.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_20240408_120424.jpg?resize=1568%2C882&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_20240408_120424.jpg?resize=400%2C225&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_20240408_120424.jpg?resize=706%2C397&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_20240408_120424.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  44. <p>Disaster readiness can fall far down the list of priorities for rural elders and caregivers. When day-to-day challenges alone are overwhelming, it’s easy to put off preparations you hope will never be needed. But when everything takes more time and effort, planning to hustle one step ahead of a crisis isn’t much of a plan. [&#8230;]</p>
  45. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/45-degrees-north-one-more-worry-for-rural-elders-and-caregivers/2024/04/19/">45 Degrees North: One More Worry For Rural Elders And Caregivers</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
  46. ]]></description>
  47. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="576" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_20240408_120424.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_20240408_120424.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_20240408_120424.jpg?resize=760%2C428&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_20240408_120424.jpg?resize=1296%2C729&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_20240408_120424.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_20240408_120424.jpg?resize=1536%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_20240408_120424.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_20240408_120424.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_20240408_120424.jpg?resize=1568%2C882&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_20240408_120424.jpg?resize=400%2C225&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_20240408_120424.jpg?resize=706%2C397&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_20240408_120424.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  48. <p>Disaster readiness can fall far down the list of priorities for rural elders and caregivers. When day-to-day challenges alone are overwhelming, it’s easy to put off preparations you hope will never be needed. But when everything takes more time and effort, planning to hustle one step ahead of a crisis isn’t much of a plan.</p>
  49.  
  50.  
  51.  
  52. <p>There are ways, though, to break readiness down into more do-able parts. Anything you can do <em>before</em> needing to evacuate or shelter in place can save precious minutes when every minute counts. Here are some suggestions:</p>
  53.  
  54.  
  55.  
  56. <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The 3 Ps</strong></h3>
  57.  
  58.  
  59.  
  60. <p>Purse, prescriptions and pets: In an emergency, that may be all you have time to grab. Those are things you probably grab anyway when going to medical or veterinary appointments or on other outings, though. So start here. </p>
  61.  
  62.  
  63.  
  64. <p>Find a zippered bag that will hold medication containers and keep everything in that bag except when you’re filling weekly pill boxes. Add printouts of notes after doctor visits and hospitalization discharge papers, a toothbrush, a bottle of water, a pocket pack of tissues and wipes, and spare holders for hearing aids, eyeglasses, and dentures. Clip to the bag a short list of other bulky <em>essentials </em>to gather like incontinence supplies and portable oxygen.</p>
  65.  
  66.  
  67.  
  68. <p>Use a second zippered bag for pet essentials like a bottle of water, a baggie of kibble, poop bags, and printouts of immunization records and other pertinent veterinary records.&nbsp;</p>
  69.  
  70.  
  71.  
  72. <p>To each bag and purse add a few energy bars, a flashlight and extra batteries (preferably a small LED flashlight with a neck lanyard), and a card with your contact information and your emergency contacts. If you have a spare cell phone charger, pack that with prescriptions.&nbsp;</p>
  73.  
  74.  
  75.  
  76. <p>Keep bags together in a place that is easy to access and known to caregivers and family members or neighbors who might help with an evacuation. An old daypack is helpful, too, for anyone with the shoulder mobility to put it on: Put the 3 Ps inside and arms through the straps to free hands for using a cane or walker and navigating steps or uneven ground.</p>
  77.  
  78.  
  79.  
  80. <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Go </strong>Bag</h3>
  81.  
  82.  
  83.  
  84. <p>Pack an old suitcase or duffle bag with a few changes of clothing and find an out-of-the-way spot to leave it — hopefully forever. For elders who live independently and still drive, it might make sense to keep a bag in their vehicle rather than expect them to wrestle one from the bottom of a crowded closet as wildfire or floodwaters approach. </p>
  85.  
  86.  
  87.  
  88. <p>When my late parents were in an assisted living facility in Florida, they were required to have a packed bag ready to go during hurricane season. Rather than pull garments from Mom’s closet, I purchased several changes of clothes for her for 20 bucks at my local thrift shop. Include layers for a wide range of conditions. The church where they sheltered during Hurricane Irma was very cold from air conditioning until power was lost, and then it was hot. And in the dark, it was difficult to navigate to and from toilets. That’s why I now recommend a flashlight with a neck lanyard to free up hands for balance and navigation. I would also add a package of waterless shower wipes.&nbsp;</p>
  89.  
  90.  
  91.  
  92. <p>We never found the hearing aids Dad put in his shirt pocket during that evacuation , although he did get his eyeglasses back. Put identification labels on cases and devices, mobility aids, cell phones, chargers, and bags. Consider labeling with contact information for both the owner and another trusted person who might be easier to reach.</p>
  93.  
  94.  
  95.  
  96. <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Now What? </strong></h3>
  97.  
  98.  
  99.  
  100. <p>Beyond the 3 Ps and a go bag, preparedness is best tailored to individual circumstances. This <a href="https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2024-02/ready-gov_caregivers-preparedness-guide.pdf">Disaster Preparedness Guide For Caregivers</a> can help you assess current needs and project how those might change, make a plan that utilizes limited resources, and engage a support network to assist before, during and after a potential disaster. </p>
  101.  
  102.  
  103.  
  104. <p>It’s important that the support network be based in reality. You can’t really expect the person who isn’t reliable for everyday appointments to shine in a crisis. And support people need to be able to problem-solve on the fly as evacuation traffic is routed onto unfamiliar roads, gas stations sell out, shelters fill, and conditions change. However willing they may be, a caregiver who is permanently or temporarily limited in their physical strength, mobility, or cognition may not be able to meet the needs of evacuation caregiving or even sheltering in place. And there may be other resources.</p>
  105.  
  106.  
  107.  
  108. <p>A friend’s father had recently gone on home hospice when hurricane warnings were issued. Hospice personnel not only handled his evacuation to safer quarters (including moving the hospital bed), but also moved him back home when it was safe to do so.&nbsp;</p>
  109.  
  110.  
  111.  
  112. <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Brutal Honesty</strong></h3>
  113.  
  114.  
  115.  
  116. <p>The difference between being able to manage a crisis independently or not can be a matter of weeks. Distant family members may not recognize or accept how much circumstances have changed, or be able to address crisis needs or preparations from afar on an as-needed basis. So it’s important for elders and primary caregivers to be proactive in both planning and implementing plans, and to be brutally honest about all the ways plans might fail.</p>
  117.  
  118.  
  119.  
  120. <p>Sometimes that requires caregivers, many of whom are also older, ill or disabled, to make hard decisions about what they can and cannot do. For example, a caregiver who can call a rural ambulance service for a lift assist after a fall is unlikely to get last-minute help from that service to move a wheelchair-bound family member into and out of the basement when there’s a tornado warning. Instead, they may have to plan to shelter that person in an interior room like a bathroom and use blankets to protect the wheelchair-bound person from debris while other members of the household go to the basement.&nbsp;</p>
  121.  
  122.  
  123.  
  124. <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Emergency Alerts</strong></h3>
  125.  
  126.  
  127.  
  128. <p>Sheltering in the bathroom is the plan, for now, for a family member whose impaired mobility is relatively new (there&#8217;s more helpful information <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/notalonespecialneedsparenting/2018/07/9-tips-for-surviving-a-tornado-in-a-wheelchair/">here</a> on tornado survival for wheelchair-bound people). When she returned home after a long hospitalization and rehabilitation, the family addressed a long list of adaptations and concerns to help her live independently. I don’t recall asking if “tornado shelter” was on the list. If it was, we probably thought we could figure it out in March or April. And then, for the first time in Wisconsin’s recorded history, <a href="https://www.wpr.org/news/wisconsins-first-recorded-february-tornado-leaves-injuries-property-damage">a February tornado</a> touched down near where she lives. She wasn&#8217;t impacted, thank goodness. But tornadoes aren&#8217;t the only hazard for which we could have a better plan. For example, in a chemical spill scenario, road blocks could prevent family members from reaching her. </p>
  129.  
  130.  
  131.  
  132. <p>At the very least we could make sure the fire department knows she would be unable to evacuate without assistance. Her county uses a network of tornado sirens, and directs residents to use <a href="https://www.weather.gov/crp/wea">wireless weather alerts</a> from the National Weather Service. I wish they used a mass <a href="https://www.ready.gov/alerts">emergency alert system</a> like the one my county uses. It lets residents notify authorities about access or functional needs, including physical disabilities, electricity-dependent medical devices, intellectual or developmental disabilities, dementia, hearing or visual impairment, and no means of transportation. It can be delivered by landline phones as well as wireless text, voice and email.</p>
  133.  
  134.  
  135.  
  136. <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Tough Conversations</strong></h3>
  137.  
  138.  
  139.  
  140. <p>It’s not any easier to begin conversations about potential wide-scale disasters than it is about personal disasters like no longer being able to drive. And for some, the heartbreaking reality is that an abstract possibility like a wildfire or chemical spill evacuation barely registers against an avalanche of daily losses. Some simply can’t imagine finding the energy to leave home for a crowded shelter or to impose on family or friends. Some genuinely would prefer to stay home rather than evacuate, no matter the consequences. But that choice can impact other people as well, including the first responders and law enforcement personnel tasked with evacuating residents of an area that is under threat. </p>
  141.  
  142.  
  143.  
  144. <p>As a first responder who has worked a couple of disasters in my own area, I’m torn about this. I really don&#8217;t want to think of finding neighbors who perished in their homes because they couldn&#8217;t or wouldn&#8217;t evacuate or get to the basement for shelter. Then again, I understood why my father swore he would never again choose to evacuate ahead of a hurricane.</p>
  145.  
  146.  
  147.  
  148. <p>Perhaps the best we can do is talk about what-ifs and imagine how we would respond given our current capabilities and as our options narrow.&nbsp;</p>
  149.  
  150.  
  151.  
  152. <h3 class="wp-block-heading">G<strong>race for Caregivers</strong></h3>
  153.  
  154.  
  155.  
  156. <p>One of the most capable people I know recalls how helpless she felt trying to get her toddler and her late mother-in-law (who suffered from dementia) to the basement ahead of a tornado. Sometimes the best you can do is get a person to sit on a chair near the steps while you pray. But even strong faith and a safe outcome are not quite enough to ease the pain of a memory like that. For many rural families, caregiving is a blessing, but it’s also hard. If you or someone you know is a caregiver in need of support, the <a href="https://rosalynncarter.org/">Rosalynn Carter Institute For Caregivers</a> is there to help. Text TOUGH to 741741 for free 24/7 crisis counseling.</p>
  157.  
  158.  
  159.  
  160. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots"/>
  161.  
  162.  
  163.  
  164. <p><em>Donna Kallner writes from Langlade County in rural northern Wisconsin.</em></p>
  165. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/45-degrees-north-one-more-worry-for-rural-elders-and-caregivers/2024/04/19/">45 Degrees North: One More Worry For Rural Elders And Caregivers</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
  166. ]]></content:encoded>
  168. <wfw:commentRss>https://dailyyonder.com/45-degrees-north-one-more-worry-for-rural-elders-and-caregivers/2024/04/19/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
  169. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  172. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">130618</post-id> </item>
  173. <item>
  174. <title>Q&#038;A: Solving Spatial Inequity for Rural Schools</title>
  175. <link>https://dailyyonder.com/qa-solving-spatial-inequity-for-rural-schools/2024/04/19/</link>
  176. <comments>https://dailyyonder.com/qa-solving-spatial-inequity-for-rural-schools/2024/04/19/#respond</comments>
  178. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Lane Wendell Fischer]]></dc:creator>
  179. <pubDate>Fri, 19 Apr 2024 09:59:00 +0000</pubDate>
  180. <category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
  181. <category><![CDATA[path finders]]></category>
  182. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dailyyonder.com/?p=132865</guid>
  183.  
  184. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="576" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-11.png?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-11.png?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-11.png?resize=760%2C428&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-11.png?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-11.png?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-11.png?resize=400%2C225&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-11.png?resize=706%2C397&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-11.png?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  185. <p>Editor’s Note: This interview first appeared in Path Finders, an email newsletter from the Daily Yonder. Each week, Path Finders features a Q&#38;A with a rural thinker, creator, or doer. Like what you see here? You can join the mailing list at the bottom of this article and receive more conversations like this in your inbox each week. [&#8230;]</p>
  186. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/qa-solving-spatial-inequity-for-rural-schools/2024/04/19/">Q&amp;A: Solving Spatial Inequity for Rural Schools</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
  187. ]]></description>
  188. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="576" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-11.png?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-11.png?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-11.png?resize=760%2C428&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-11.png?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-11.png?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-11.png?resize=400%2C225&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-11.png?resize=706%2C397&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-11.png?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  189. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
  190.  
  191.  
  192.  
  193. <p><em>Editor’s Note: This interview first appeared in <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/path-finders/">Path Finders</a>, an email newsletter from the Daily Yonder. Each week, Path Finders features a Q&amp;A with a rural thinker, creator, or doer. Like what you see here? You can <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/qa-whos-making-black-country-music/2024/03/08/#signup">join the mailing list at the bottom of this article</a> and receive more conversations like this in your inbox each week.</em></p>
  194.  
  195.  
  196.  
  197. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
  198.  
  199.  
  200.  
  201. <p>Rural schools across the country face challenges like teacher shortages and funding disparities. A new book, &#8220;<a href="https://hep.gse.harvard.edu/9781682537862/the-middle-of-somewhere/">The Middle of Somewhere</a>,&#8221; aims to highlight the ways in which rural schools and communities have partnered to improve educational opportunities for rural students.</p>
  202.  
  203.  
  204.  
  205. <p>I spoke with the book’s authors, Sara L. Hartman, Ph.D., an associate professor of Teacher Education at Ohio University’s College of Education, and Bob Klein, Ph.D., chair and professor of the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Foundations at Eastern Illinois University, to learn more about their new book.</p>
  206.  
  207.  
  208.  
  209. <p>Enjoy our conversation about innovative partnerships, how to reduce spatial inequity, and the power of “somewhere,” below.</p>
  210.  
  211.  
  212.  
  213. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
  214.  
  215.  
  216.  
  217. <p><strong>Lane Wendell Fischer, The Daily Yonder: Tell me a little bit about yourself and how you came to studying partnerships as a vehicle for improving rural schools.</strong></p>
  218.  
  219.  
  220.  
  221. <div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex">
  222. <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
  223. <p><strong>Sara L. Hartman:</strong> I was raised in beautiful southeastern Ohio and spent countless hours of my childhood exploring and playing make-believe in the lush, deciduous forests that surrounded my home. </p>
  224.  
  225.  
  226.  
  227. <p>As a preservice teacher during my undergraduate degree in elementary education, some of my most impactful clinical experiences were in rural schools.</p>
  228. </div>
  229.  
  230.  
  231.  
  232. <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
  233. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="1169" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/632c74b3e4fa3.webp?resize=780%2C1169&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-130963" style="width:218px;height:auto" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/632c74b3e4fa3.webp?w=801&amp;ssl=1 801w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/632c74b3e4fa3.webp?resize=507%2C760&amp;ssl=1 507w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/632c74b3e4fa3.webp?resize=768%2C1151&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/632c74b3e4fa3.webp?resize=684%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 684w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/632c74b3e4fa3.webp?resize=400%2C599&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/632c74b3e4fa3.webp?resize=706%2C1058&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/632c74b3e4fa3.webp?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sarah L. Hartman, Ph.D. (Image provided by Hartman)</figcaption></figure>
  234. </div>
  235. </div>
  236.  
  237.  
  238.  
  239. <p> Being welcomed into these rural school partnerships began a nearly 30-year interest in rural education partnerships. Later, as a graduate student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, I lived on an acreage in rural Otoe County and had the opportunity to become involved in a totally different rural context.</p>
  240.  
  241.  
  242.  
  243. <p>Now, I find myself calling home a 130-year-old farmhouse in the middle of the woods in southern Athens County, Ohio. My husband and I have been privileged to be able to raise our two daughters in this home.</p>
  244.  
  245.  
  246.  
  247. <p>I’m fortunate to partner with mentor teachers and school leaders as we work to prepare teacher candidates in our region. It’s essential that they understand the challenges that the region experiences, but equally important is helping them see the region’s strengths, one of which is its many partnerships that improve the lives of the region’s children.&nbsp;</p>
  248.  
  249.  
  250.  
  251. <div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-2 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex">
  252. <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
  253. <p><strong>Bob Klein: </strong>I started with a desire to better understand and support rural education in the United States. With many collaborators, I’ve looked at place-based education approaches (a number of place-based references are on DY), math circle <a href="https://aimathcircles.org/">approaches</a> to Indigenous rural education, and several rounds of co-authoring <a href="https://www.nrea.net/why-rural-matters">Why Rural Matters</a>. </p>
  254. </div>
  255.  
  256.  
  257.  
  258. <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
  259. <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="916" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/201508-klein-portrait-2.jpeg?resize=780%2C916&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-130964" style="width:225px;height:auto" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/201508-klein-portrait-2-scaled.jpeg?resize=1103%2C1296&amp;ssl=1 1103w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/201508-klein-portrait-2-scaled.jpeg?resize=647%2C760&amp;ssl=1 647w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/201508-klein-portrait-2-scaled.jpeg?resize=768%2C902&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/201508-klein-portrait-2-scaled.jpeg?resize=1308%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1308w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/201508-klein-portrait-2-scaled.jpeg?resize=1744%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1744w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/201508-klein-portrait-2-scaled.jpeg?resize=1200%2C1410&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/201508-klein-portrait-2-scaled.jpeg?resize=872%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 872w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/201508-klein-portrait-2-scaled.jpeg?resize=1568%2C1842&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/201508-klein-portrait-2-scaled.jpeg?resize=2000%2C2349&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/201508-klein-portrait-2-scaled.jpeg?resize=400%2C470&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/201508-klein-portrait-2-scaled.jpeg?resize=706%2C829&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/201508-klein-portrait-2-1103x1296.jpeg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Bob Klein, Ph.D. (Image provided by Klein)</figcaption></figure>
  260. </div>
  261. </div>
  262.  
  263.  
  264.  
  265. <p>That desire to support rural education efforts bifurcates into a policy approach (Why Rural Matters) and an effective engagement approach (Partnerships). </p>
  266.  
  267.  
  268.  
  269. <p>Indigenous communities have experienced waves of interlopers who want to “bestow” a best practice and my collaborators and I sought something more humble — to only go where we were invited and to work hand-in-hand with teachers, students, parents, organizations, tribal elders (and more), to build relationships and interventions that made the kinds of differences that our partners wanted to see in their communities. This has been the approach in the Southwest predominantly and we have worked for a decade now connecting mathematicians across the United States with Indigenous teachers and students in summer camps, classroom visits, community festivals, and more.&nbsp;</p>
  270.  
  271.  
  272.  
  273. <p>As an academic, I wanted to not only work to build those partnerships, but to research what lessons could be gleaned from the broader research on partnerships and how different models to building, sustaining, and transforming partnerships happen.&nbsp;</p>
  274.  
  275.  
  276.  
  277. <p><strong>DY: Explain this concept of innovative partnerships. What do these relationships look like and why are they so important for rural schools and rural education?</strong></p>
  278.  
  279.  
  280.  
  281. <p><strong>SH: </strong>Rural schools and communities use partnerships to address spatial inequities, marking the continuation of decades of collaboration. Rural partnerships are like rural places; no two are exactly alike. That being said, rural partnerships do share some commonalities.&nbsp;</p>
  282.  
  283.  
  284.  
  285. <p>We all know that many rural schools and communities experience challenges related to issues of funding and geographic isolation. However, rural schools consistently meet these challenges with innovative practices that are applicable across other rural contexts. Yet, because of the invisibility of rural spaces, innovation happening in rural schools and communities too often goes unnoticed and unreported.</p>
  286.  
  287.  
  288.  
  289. <div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-3 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex">
  290. <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
  291. <p><strong>BK: </strong>The point of “The Middle of Somewhere” is to bring together engaging examples of these kinds of partnerships to provide a reader not only variety, but the opportunity to look for meaningful and useful patterns among the different examples in the book. People who live in rural spaces wear many hats — living in rural communities usually involves sharing of resources and talents toward some common purpose. Sara and I thought that if you were looking for examples of excellent, responsive partnerships, there is no better place to start than rural places. </p>
  292. </div>
  293.  
  294.  
  295.  
  296. <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
  297. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="667" height="1000" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/81sZCvdY5nL._AC_UF10001000_QL80_.jpg?resize=667%2C1000&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-130965" style="width:287px;height:auto" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/81sZCvdY5nL._AC_UF10001000_QL80_.jpg?w=667&amp;ssl=1 667w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/81sZCvdY5nL._AC_UF10001000_QL80_.jpg?resize=507%2C760&amp;ssl=1 507w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/81sZCvdY5nL._AC_UF10001000_QL80_.jpg?resize=400%2C600&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/81sZCvdY5nL._AC_UF10001000_QL80_.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 667px) 100vw, 667px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image from <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/?np_newsletters_click=1&amp;id=130961&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fhep.gse.harvard.edu%2F9781682537862%2Fthe-middle-of-somewhere%2F%3Futm_medium%3Demail%23generate-pdf&amp;em=olivia@dailyyonder.com&amp;utm_source=Center+for+Rural+Strategies+-+The+Daily+Yonder+and+Rural+Assembly&amp;utm_campaign=c85073c972-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_04_12_05_08&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_-c85073c972-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&amp;mc_cid=c85073c972&amp;mc_eid=UNIQID" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvard Education Press</a>.</figcaption></figure>
  298. </div>
  299. </div>
  300.  
  301.  
  302.  
  303. <p><strong>DY: “The Middle of Somewhere” showcases three different areas that can benefit from partnerships: prospective and current teachers; rural education networks; and justice, equity, and inclusion. Why are these areas particularly important to addressing issues that many rural schools presently face?</strong></p>
  304.  
  305.  
  306.  
  307. <p><strong>SH: </strong>If you talk to anyone who works in a rural school, one of the first things you will hear about are the challenges associated with preparing, recruiting, and retaining teachers in rural schools. It was clear to us from the beginning that our book needed to provide partnership examples that addressed this need.&nbsp;</p>
  308.  
  309.  
  310.  
  311. <p>Rural education networks typically involve many partners across multiple rural contexts. Consequently, they have the ability to impact large numbers of students. Knowing this, we wanted to feature several chapters that illustrated how rural education networks could be implemented across a greater scale.&nbsp;</p>
  312.  
  313.  
  314.  
  315. <p>Justice, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of most educational conversations right now. Although each of the chapters in “The Middle of Somewhere” are connected to these themes, we felt it was essential to specifically call attention to partnerships that named these topics as foundational goals of their partnership work.</p>
  316.  
  317.  
  318.  
  319. <p><strong>DY: One of the key themes touched on so well in the book is this idea of “spatial inequity.” Could you explain what spatial inequity is and how it relates to rural students? Why is it important to address?</strong></p>
  320.  
  321.  
  322.  
  323. <p><strong>SH: </strong>Spatial equity is the way equity/inequity is connected to place. Spatial equity impacts how resources are allocated, the availability of services, and access to learning supports and opportunities. Given how important those things are in any educational setting, you would think you would hear about spatial equity more often, yet the term is used infrequently.&nbsp;</p>
  324.  
  325.  
  326.  
  327. <p>Without centering these challenges — long bus rides, expensive transportation costs, state-mandated assessment policies that are not easily implemented in a rural setting, funding inequities, lack of broadband access, and childcare deserts, to name a few — as issues of spatial inequity, rural school challenges too often go unnoticed and unaddressed. Spatial equity must become part of our common educational lexicon. As authors, we sought to make this term more readily understood and hopefully used to describe inequities that are linked to place.&nbsp;</p>
  328.  
  329.  
  330.  
  331. <p><strong>BK: </strong>Spatial equity matters because students absorb latent messages about where they live into their identities and then frame their opportunities based on their rurality. Said more plainly, all too often rural students see their locale as an inherent deficit — one built on prejudices reinforced by popular media, political discourses, and structural disconnects.</p>
  332.  
  333.  
  334.  
  335. <p><strong>DY: What are some common characteristics of partnerships that succeed?</strong></p>
  336.  
  337.  
  338.  
  339. <p><strong>SH: </strong>Rural partnerships that succeed share several commonalities. They are guided by a shared vision and goals that unite and inspire the members of the partnership team. They are developed and sustained despite challenges that arise, which may even include conflict between collaborators. The notion that all rural people get along because they live in close-knit communities is a myth.&nbsp;</p>
  340.  
  341.  
  342.  
  343. <p>Successful rural partnerships are not solely reliant on one person for their sustainment. The image of a solo-led rural partnership is both common and romanticized, yet from our research, we maintain that partnerships that are person-dependent quickly lose momentum when that person steps away.&nbsp;</p>
  344.  
  345.  
  346.  
  347. <p><strong>DY: What is your advice to a rural educator, administrator, or community member looking to create education partnerships in their own communities?</strong></p>
  348.  
  349.  
  350.  
  351. <p><strong>BK: </strong>Be bold and start the conversation with a group of people with different backgrounds, job titles, beliefs, and talents than yours. Make your pitch catchy enough to bring in collaborators who might otherwise feel like an outsider, then do the work of asset mining to figure out how the different talents and affiliations can combine to start building the actions needed to address the goals — the partnership will come from that.</p>
  352.  
  353.  
  354.  
  355. <p>​​<strong>SH: </strong>Do not expect a successful rural partnership to come to fruition overnight. Successful partnerships take time and patience to develop and even longer for sustaining procedures to be established. If you are the leader of the collaborative work, be willing to release the reins of control to allow multiple perspectives to be heard. As you ask partners to collaborate, be inclusive in your invitations. Exclusion of key members often leads to resistance during implementation.&nbsp;</p>
  356.  
  357.  
  358.  
  359. <p>Lastly, remember that rural partnerships are powerful tools for spatial equity advocacy on regional and state levels. Collectively using their resources and voices, rural education partnerships are powerful in their ability to lobby for resources as well as create supports that will benefit their rural schools and communities.</p>
  360.  
  361.  
  362.  
  363. <p><strong>DY: Lastly, I adore the title of this book. As a former rural student who only recently stopped referring to his hometown as “the middle of nowhere,” I’m curious, why’d you choose to call it “The Middle of Somewhere”?</strong></p>
  364.  
  365.  
  366.  
  367. <p><strong>SH: </strong>I could not possibly tally the number of times I have heard someone use the statement that is the opposite of “The Middle of Somewhere.” The use of the euphemism is pervasive, even within rural regions themselves. While it may not seem like a big deal, I invite others to consider the consequences of telling someone that they are from nowhere.&nbsp;</p>
  368.  
  369.  
  370.  
  371. <p>Of course, this issue is bigger than just one saying, but it gets to the root of the stereotypical ways in which rural people and places are viewed. The title of “The Middle of Somewhere” was chosen specifically to counter this messaging.&nbsp;</p>
  372.  
  373.  
  374.  
  375. <p>The bottom line is this… rural children’s homes are somewhere, rural schools are somewhere, and rural communities are somewhere.</p>
  376.  
  377.  
  378.  
  379. <p><strong>BK: </strong>Addressing mass-stereotypes begins with a careful look at the language we use. The “middle of somewhere” was our act of rebellion against a phrase that obscures the beauty of all rural spaces.</p>
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  400. <p>This interview first appeared in <strong>Path Finders</strong>, a weekly email newsletter from the Daily Yonder. Each Monday, Path Finders features a Q&amp;A with a rural thinker, creator, or doer. Join the mailing list today, to have these illuminating conversations delivered straight to your inbox. </p>
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  439. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/qa-solving-spatial-inequity-for-rural-schools/2024/04/19/">Q&amp;A: Solving Spatial Inequity for Rural Schools</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
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  448. <title>Commentary: Accountability Starts with Community </title>
  449. <link>https://dailyyonder.com/commentary-accountability-starts-with-community/2024/04/18/</link>
  450. <comments>https://dailyyonder.com/commentary-accountability-starts-with-community/2024/04/18/#respond</comments>
  452. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Christopher Chavis]]></dc:creator>
  453. <pubDate>Thu, 18 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  454. <category><![CDATA[Politics and Government]]></category>
  455. <category><![CDATA[commentary]]></category>
  456. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dailyyonder.com/?p=129937</guid>
  457.  
  458. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?w=2048&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?resize=760%2C570&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?resize=1296%2C972&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?resize=1568%2C1176&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?resize=2000%2C1500&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?resize=706%2C530&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  459. <p>From the departure of industry to the corporatization of farming, the world in and around many rural communities is rapidly changing, with many struggling to find their place in those new economy models. For some rural communities, these new challenges are just another log on the roaring fire of deep and persistent poverty.&#160; I grew [&#8230;]</p>
  460. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/commentary-accountability-starts-with-community/2024/04/18/">Commentary: Accountability Starts with Community </a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
  461. ]]></description>
  462. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?w=2048&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?resize=760%2C570&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?resize=1296%2C972&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?resize=1568%2C1176&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?resize=2000%2C1500&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?resize=706%2C530&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5533815184_764848f623_k.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  463. <p>From the departure of industry to the corporatization of farming, the world in and around many rural communities is rapidly changing, with many struggling to find their place in those new economy models. For some rural communities, these new challenges are just another log on the roaring fire of <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/rural-economy-population/rural-poverty-well-being/">deep and persistent poverty</a>.&nbsp;</p>
  464.  
  465.  
  466.  
  467. <p>I grew up in Robeson County, North Carolina, a persistent-poverty county in the southeastern portion of the state. I have seen the decline of small-scale manufacturing and agriculture first-hand and know people who have been directly affected. I have also seen state and local elected officials repeatedly fail to address these problems.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
  468.  
  469.  
  470.  
  471. <p>I believe that people from impoverished rural communities should be engaged, active, and loud in their state and local political advocacy spaces and supported by allies who can amplify their voices. We must hold elected officials accountable for failing to address the long-standing problems in our communities.&nbsp;</p>
  472.  
  473.  
  474.  
  475. <p>It is not uncommon for a local politician to run on national issues or their support for a national politician. This should be unacceptable. The fates of our communities rest in the hands of our state and local elected officials and their willingness to engage on the issues affecting our communities.&nbsp;</p>
  476.  
  477.  
  478.  
  479. <p>How do you start holding elected officials accountable? You can start by simply organizing your neighbors. Collective power is important and can speak volumes about the urgency of your problem. Every community is different, so working with your neighbors can also help you identify any barriers to accountability that may exist in your community and devise strategies for overcoming them.&nbsp;</p>
  480.  
  481.  
  482.  
  483. <p>From there, there are numerous steps that you can take to amplify your voice. You can also start building relationships with your local officials; these are the people whose decisions most affect your day-to-day life. You should also build relationships with whatever local media happens to still exist in your community so they can help amplify your voice and center your issues.&nbsp; You can write op-eds, letters to the editor, and even hold press conferences to elevate your issues. Finally, seek out coalition partners in other, similar communities who can help you emphasize how widespread your problems are and why it is important for your county or state to pay attention.&nbsp;</p>
  484.  
  485.  
  486.  
  487. <p>If you do not have the time or resources to organize your community, that is also not a problem. You can start small – contact your local elected officials, find advocacy organizations that are working on issues affecting your community and volunteer to do what you can to amplify your community’s concerns.&nbsp;</p>
  488.  
  489.  
  490.  
  491. <p>Also, don’t forget the biggest tool for making change – running for elected office yourself. By running for office, you can be a direct change agent for your community by being able to directly propose solutions.&nbsp;</p>
  492.  
  493.  
  494.  
  495. <p>It is critically important for rural people to remain engaged in their local election process, where the stakes are often higher and where you can make the most difference.&nbsp;</p>
  496.  
  497.  
  498.  
  499. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots"/>
  500.  
  501.  
  502.  
  503. <p><em>Christopher Chavis grew up in rural Robeson County, North Carolina, and is a frequent writer and speaker on rural access-to-justice issues. He is a citizen of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.</em></p>
  504. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/commentary-accountability-starts-with-community/2024/04/18/">Commentary: Accountability Starts with Community </a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
  505. ]]></content:encoded>
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  508. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  511. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">129937</post-id> </item>
  512. <item>
  513. <title>Is Beyoncé&#8217;s Latest Album a True &#8216;Renaissance&#8217; for Black Country Music?</title>
  514. <link>https://dailyyonder.com/beyonce-cowboy-carter-renaissance-for-black-country-music/2024/04/18/</link>
  515. <comments>https://dailyyonder.com/beyonce-cowboy-carter-renaissance-for-black-country-music/2024/04/18/#respond</comments>
  517. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Lane Wendell Fischer and Tarel Dean Dennie]]></dc:creator>
  518. <pubDate>Thu, 18 Apr 2024 09:59:00 +0000</pubDate>
  519. <category><![CDATA[Arts and Culture]]></category>
  520. <category><![CDATA[Media]]></category>
  521. <category><![CDATA[the good the bad and the elegy]]></category>
  522. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dailyyonder.com/?p=131996</guid>
  523.  
  524. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="512" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?fit=1024%2C512&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?w=2240&amp;ssl=1 2240w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?resize=760%2C380&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?resize=1296%2C648&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?resize=768%2C384&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?resize=1536%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?resize=2048%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?resize=1200%2C600&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?resize=1024%2C512&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?resize=1568%2C784&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?resize=2000%2C1000&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?resize=400%2C200&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?resize=706%2C353&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?fit=1024%2C512&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  525. <p>"Cowboy Carter" may not represent the pinnacle of Black country music, but it's still a transformative cultural project.</p>
  526. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/beyonce-cowboy-carter-renaissance-for-black-country-music/2024/04/18/">Is Beyoncé&#8217;s Latest Album a True &#8216;Renaissance&#8217; for Black Country Music?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
  527. ]]></description>
  528. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="512" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?fit=1024%2C512&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?w=2240&amp;ssl=1 2240w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?resize=760%2C380&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?resize=1296%2C648&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?resize=768%2C384&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?resize=1536%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?resize=2048%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?resize=1200%2C600&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?resize=1024%2C512&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?resize=1568%2C784&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?resize=2000%2C1000&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?resize=400%2C200&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?resize=706%2C353&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beyonce-Cowboy-Carter-1.webp?fit=1024%2C512&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  529. <p style="font-size:14px"><em>Editor’s Note: A version of this story first appeared in&nbsp;The Good, the Bad, and the Elegy, a newsletter from the Daily Yonder focused on the best, and worst, in rural media, entertainment, and culture. Every other Thursday, it features reviews, retrospectives, recommendations, and more. You can&nbsp;</em><a href="#signup"><em>join the mailing list at the bottom of this article</em></a><em>&nbsp;to receive future editions in your inbox.</em></p>
  530.  
  531.  
  532.  
  533. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
  534.  
  535.  
  536.  
  537. <p>Beyoncé’s latest album, “Cowboy Carter,” is out. Folks everywhere are hootin’ and hollerin’ back and forth about what this record, “act ii” of her three-part “Renaissance” project, means and what it accomplishes for Black country artists. It’s a contentious and important conversation, with racial oppression, cultural redlining, and lost history at the forefront.&nbsp;</p>
  538.  
  539.  
  540.  
  541. <p>A windstorm of questions has been whipping around the internet over the past few weeks: Is Beyoncé country enough? Is she saving the country genre? Did Black people create country music? Did Queen Bey reclaim country music for Black folks? Does the album art represent a reclamation of the imagery of Black cowboys and rodeos, or a platforming of racist, imperialist systems to pander to white audiences? What is country music? Who gets to make country music? Who gets to be country?</p>
  542.  
  543.  
  544.  
  545. <p>The Daily Yonder itself contributed to this discussion in two <a href="http://dailyyonder.com/could-beyonces-country-debut-redefine-a-genre-as-we-know-it/2024/02/28/">recent</a> <a href="http://dailyyonder.com/qa-whos-making-black-country-music/2024/03/08/">newsletters</a>, and in continued <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/tag/rural-black-history/">coverage</a> on the intersection of Black and rural identities.&nbsp;</p>
  546.  
  547.  
  548.  
  549. <p>In terms of confronting the many questions “Cowboy Carter” raises, the album’s limited press campaign and imperfect execution offer more confusion than answers. One thing is clear though: this is a Beyoncé album through and through.</p>
  550.  
  551.  
  552.  
  553. <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-left">Country Grammar</h2>
  554.  
  555.  
  556.  
  557. <p>When Beyoncé first teased a country album during a Super Bowl commercial — alongside the release of two singles, “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” and “16 CARRIAGES” — critics immediately rejected the singer’s country identity.&nbsp;</p>
  558.  
  559.  
  560.  
  561. <p>The backlash hearkened back to the 2016 <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/04/arts/music/beyonce-cma-awards-backlash.html">Country Music Association (CMA) Awards</a>, when Beyoncé shared the stage for a performance of her country song “Daddy Lessons” with <a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/country/chicks-radio-banned-george-bush-oral-history-1235087442/">The Chicks</a>.</p>
  562.  
  563.  
  564.  
  565. <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
  566. <iframe title="Beyoncé and Dixie Chicks - Daddy Lessons ( LIVE at CMA Awards 2016 )" width="780" height="439" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/85Ksi-uzuIg?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
  567. </div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Beyoncé and The Chicks performing &#8216;Daddy Lessons&#8217; at the 2016 Country Music Awards (via Beyoncé lives on YouTube).</figcaption></figure>
  568.  
  569.  
  570.  
  571. <p>“SHE DOES NOT BELONG!!!!” one viewer <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-conservative-cma-beyonce-dixie-chicks-20161103-htmlstory.html">said</a>. “When have they ever invited ANY country singer to their BET awards…NEVER!!!!”</p>
  572.  
  573.  
  574.  
  575. <p>It was this experience that inspired Beyoncé to explore country music more deeply in the first place, the singer said on Instagram.&nbsp;</p>
  576.  
  577.  
  578.  
  579. <p>“The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me,” she wrote. “act ii is a result of challenging myself, and taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work.”</p>
  580.  
  581.  
  582.  
  583. <p>Beyoncé isn’t the first artist to bend and blend genres. In fact, many of country music’s greatest stars and legends have explored sounds from different popular genres.&nbsp;</p>
  584.  
  585.  
  586.  
  587. <p>It’s impossible to deny the influence of Rock music in songs from musicians like Charlie Daniels and Eric Church; or the Pop inspiration in the discography of Dolly Parton and Kelsea Ballerini; or the R&amp;B/Hip-Hop influences on artists like Sam Hunt and Jelly Roll. But all these artists are white southerners who don’t have to defend their country identity.</p>
  588.  
  589.  
  590.  
  591. <div class="wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-5 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex">
  592. <div class="wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
  593. <p>It&#8217;s no secret that country music has a sordid <a href="https://theconversation.com/with-beyonces-foray-into-country-music-the-genre-may-finally-break-free-from-the-stereotypes-that-have-long-dogged-it-223831?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=Daily%20Newsletter%20%20February%2026%202024%20-%202889629341&amp;utm_content=Daily%20Newsletter%20%20February%2026%202024%20-%202889629341+Version+B+CID_4d92b95fa6befd5ddd6f59fc4d342428&amp;utm_source=campaign_monitor_us&amp;utm_term=With%20Beyoncs%20foray%20into%20country%20music%20the%20genre%20may%20finally%20break%20free%20from%20the%20stereotypes%20that%20have%20long%20dogged%20it">racial history</a>. Before popular music became a commodified industry, the early sounds of folk music were a combination of impoverished Black and white culture in the American South, with influences of African, Celtic, and evangelical Christian music.</p>
  594.  
  595.  
  596.  
  597. <p>When popular music shifted from art to commodity, music producers and executives split the market&nbsp; into two categories: “race records” made by and marketed for Black folks and “hillbilly music” by and for rural white folks.&nbsp;</p>
  598.  
  599.  
  600.  
  601. <p>After World War II, hillbilly records were rebranded as the “country” music genre we recognize today. While Black musicians were restricted from releasing music within the new genre, their influence persisted.&nbsp;</p>
  602. </div>
  603.  
  604.  
  605.  
  606. <div class="wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
  607. <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="975" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/434209557_18475072495008035_5560925990853691556_n.jpg?resize=780%2C975&#038;ssl=1" alt="Beyoncé in a red, white, and blue cowboy outfit" class="wp-image-132015" style="width:386px;height:auto" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/434209557_18475072495008035_5560925990853691556_n.jpg?resize=1037%2C1296&amp;ssl=1 1037w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/434209557_18475072495008035_5560925990853691556_n.jpg?resize=608%2C760&amp;ssl=1 608w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/434209557_18475072495008035_5560925990853691556_n.jpg?resize=768%2C960&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/434209557_18475072495008035_5560925990853691556_n.jpg?resize=1229%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1229w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/434209557_18475072495008035_5560925990853691556_n.jpg?resize=1200%2C1500&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/434209557_18475072495008035_5560925990853691556_n.jpg?resize=819%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 819w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/434209557_18475072495008035_5560925990853691556_n.jpg?resize=400%2C500&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/434209557_18475072495008035_5560925990853691556_n.jpg?resize=706%2C883&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/434209557_18475072495008035_5560925990853691556_n.jpg?w=1440&amp;ssl=1 1440w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/434209557_18475072495008035_5560925990853691556_n-1037x1296.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Art from Beyoncé&#8217;s &#8216;Cowboy Carter&#8217; album (Credit: Beyoncé via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C5GDZ18Lre5/?hl=en&amp;img_index=7">Instagram</a>).</figcaption></figure>
  608. </div>
  609. </div>
  610.  
  611.  
  612.  
  613. <p>Early stars like Hank Williams, known as the “Father of Country Music,” and The Carter Family, country music’s “First Family,” learned melodies and techniques from Black musicians like Lesley Riddle and Rufus “Tee-Tot” Payne. One of Johnny Cash’s early mentors was Gus Cannon, who had to mask his racial identity on country records in the 1920s.&nbsp;</p>
  614.  
  615.  
  616.  
  617. <p>Black influence didn’t come solely in the form of benevolent mentors or band members. Minstrel shows, where white performers wore blackface to ridicule Black music and culture was pervasive from the time of slavery through the 20<sup>th</sup> century. This is when Black creativity and culture, like the banjo, first entered mainstream white culture. Minstrel shows were once popular at the Grand Ole Opry, commonly known as the most famous stage in country music.</p>
  618.  
  619.  
  620.  
  621. <p>In 2021, an alternative <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/07/22/1189580693/black-opry-founder-holly-g-is-fighting-for-black-country-music-to-be-recognized">stage</a>, the Black Opry, was founded by music journalist Holly G. to promote Black country artists.</p>
  622.  
  623.  
  624.  
  625. <p>Alice Randall, author of “<a href="https://time.com/6960671/beyonce-black-country-legacy-essay/">My Black Country</a>,” calls country music “a genre of Black influence, without Black presence.” Randall should know: she is the first Black woman to write a number-one country hit, “XXXs and OOOs,” performed by Trisha Yearwood.</p>
  626.  
  627.  
  628.  
  629. <div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-6 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex">
  630. <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
  631. <p>Black women were especially denied access to writing rooms, recording studios, rodeo stages, airwaves, the charts, and the history books, Randall says.</p>
  632.  
  633.  
  634.  
  635. <p>Randall’s work raises important questions like Who can be country? Who can be rural? Who can be a “real American?”</p>
  636.  
  637.  
  638.  
  639. <p>“Genres are a funny little concept, aren’t they?” answers Linda Martell in the intro to “SPAGETTII”, a rap-forward track featured on “Cowboy Carter.” <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/the-most-important-voice-on-beyonces-new-album/2024/04/08/">Martell</a> is known as the first commercially successful female Black country artist and was the first to play the Grand Ole Opry in 1970.</p>
  640. </div>
  641.  
  642.  
  643.  
  644. <div class="wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
  645. <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="975" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/435670011_18477728227008035_4789836981861591831_n.jpg?resize=780%2C975&#038;ssl=1" alt="Beyoncé wearing a shirt with Black country musician Linda Martell on it. " class="wp-image-132022" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/435670011_18477728227008035_4789836981861591831_n.jpg?resize=1037%2C1296&amp;ssl=1 1037w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/435670011_18477728227008035_4789836981861591831_n.jpg?resize=608%2C760&amp;ssl=1 608w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/435670011_18477728227008035_4789836981861591831_n.jpg?resize=768%2C960&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/435670011_18477728227008035_4789836981861591831_n.jpg?resize=1229%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1229w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/435670011_18477728227008035_4789836981861591831_n.jpg?resize=1200%2C1500&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/435670011_18477728227008035_4789836981861591831_n.jpg?resize=819%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 819w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/435670011_18477728227008035_4789836981861591831_n.jpg?resize=400%2C500&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/435670011_18477728227008035_4789836981861591831_n.jpg?resize=706%2C883&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/435670011_18477728227008035_4789836981861591831_n.jpg?w=1440&amp;ssl=1 1440w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/435670011_18477728227008035_4789836981861591831_n-1037x1296.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Beyoncé nods to Black country artist Linda Martell–both in her album and on her T-shirt (Credit: Beyoncé via<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C5tMl2TrZ8R/?hl=en&amp;img_index=1"> Instagram</a>).</figcaption></figure>
  646. </div>
  647. </div>
  648.  
  649.  
  650.  
  651. <p>The same could be said of geographic categories in the case of identifying rural, suburban, and urban communities. Sure, these labels can be helpful in determining how government programs may bias one group over the other, but all too often these labels are reduced to a single damaging stereotype like “rural white racists” or “urban Black criminals” that ignores the diversity and complexity that exists in every community across the country.&nbsp;</p>
  652.  
  653.  
  654.  
  655. <p>There is no one way to be country, or rural, or southern, or Black.</p>
  656.  
  657.  
  658.  
  659. <p>The truth of the matter is Black people have always and will always occupy rural spaces and country music.&nbsp;</p>
  660.  
  661.  
  662.  
  663. <p>As for Beyoncé, her “<a href="https://time.com/6694806/beyonce-country-music/">countryness</a>” demands no scrutiny.&nbsp;</p>
  664.  
  665.  
  666.  
  667. <p>&nbsp;“Cowboy Carter” tackles that subject head on in the soaring album opener, “AMERIICAN REQUIEM.”</p>
  668.  
  669.  
  670.  
  671. <p>In the song, Beyoncé mourns the idea of what she thinks America and country music could be and encourages a change in the way we view those systemically oppressive systems, even as those systems were built in large part through the creativity and labor of Black people.</p>
  672.  
  673.  
  674.  
  675. <p>She reminds her critics that she’s the granddaughter of a moonshiner from Gadsden, Alabama and that she has relatives rooted in Galveston, Texas and Louisiana.</p>
  676.  
  677.  
  678.  
  679. <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
  680. <iframe title="Beyoncé - AMERIICAN REQUIEM (Official Lyric Video)" width="780" height="439" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vp3BSjJdyow?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
  681. </div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A lyric video for &#8216;Ameriican Requiem,&#8217; a song from &#8216;Cowboy Carter&#8217; (via BeyoncéVEVO on YouTube).</figcaption></figure>
  682.  
  683.  
  684.  
  685. <p>“Used to say I spoke too country,” she sings. “And the rejection came, said I wasn’t country enough.</p>
  686.  
  687.  
  688.  
  689. <p>“Said I wouldn’t saddle up,” she continues. “But if that ain’t country, tell me, what is?”</p>
  690.  
  691.  
  692.  
  693. <p>After the outrage from her CMA performance, Beyoncé put her money where her mouth is. She took that rejection and turned it into an album, joining the ranks of <a href="https://holler.country/lists/a-guide-to-outlaw-country/">country outlaws</a> like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, and Willie Nelson, who all fought for creative freedom outside of the Nashville establishment.&nbsp;</p>
  694.  
  695.  
  696.  
  697. <p>If being an outlaw ain’t country, what is?</p>
  698.  
  699.  
  700.  
  701. <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-left">Bey in the Bonnet</h2>
  702.  
  703.  
  704.  
  705. <p>On the flipside, the “BeyHive” — the community of Beyoncé’s most ardent fans — has been buzzing since Beyoncé’s Super Bowl announcement, claiming that “Queen Bey” is saving a dying genre and reclaiming country music for Black people. Respectfully, she is doing no such thing.</p>
  706.  
  707.  
  708.  
  709. <p>There’s no denying Beyoncé’s country roots or her ability to make a powerful and entertaining country album, but her doing so doesn’t make her country music’s saving grace. Asserting such a claim minimizes the accomplishments of other Black country artists who dedicated their entire careers to transforming the genre.&nbsp;</p>
  710.  
  711.  
  712.  
  713. <p>From early musicians like Lesley Riddle and Rufus Payne to pioneers like Charley Pride, the first Black country artist to have a number one record, and Tracy Chapman, who recently became the first Black person to win the CMA’s Song of the Year award for “Fast Car,” there is a strong contingent who have spent their careers carving out spaces for Black artists in the genre. This advocacy work has continued with contemporary artists like <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/commentary-mickey-guytons-super-bowl-performance-can-show-the-strength-of-diversity/2022/02/11/">Mickey Guyton</a>, <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/commentary-these-women-artists-want-to-redefine-the-voices-of-country-music/2024/02/06/">Amythyst Kiah</a>, Allison Russell, and Rissi Palmer, just to name a few.</p>
  714.  
  715.  
  716.  
  717. <p>In fact, there are several moments on the album in which Beyoncé works with these Black country artists, both old and new.</p>
  718.  
  719.  
  720.  
  721. <p>“BLACKBIIRD” features backing vocals from Tanner Adell, Brittany Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts. “SMOKE HOUR ☆ WILLIE NELSON” samples songs from legends Son House, Rosetta Tharpe, Chuck Berry, and Roy Hamilton. Willie Jones and Shaboozey, two up and coming artists are featured in the album, as well.</p>
  722.  
  723.  
  724.  
  725. <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
  726. <iframe title="BLACKBIIRD (Official Lyric Video)" width="780" height="439" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xhempeEjGUA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
  727. </div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A lyric video for Beyoncé&#8217;s cover of &#8216;Blackbird&#8217; on &#8216;Cowboy Carter&#8217; (via BeyoncéVEVO on YouTube).</figcaption></figure>
  728.  
  729.  
  730.  
  731. <p>But if a primary goal of “Cowboy Carter” is to center Black country artistry, it could’ve – and should’ve – gone farther.</p>
  732.  
  733.  
  734.  
  735. <p>From the lyrics in the more political songs on the album like “AMERIICAN REQUIEM” and the songs that are more personal to her background like “16 CARRIAGES” to her announcement post, she seems to want to show the validity of Black artists having space in the country genre – but what she mostly manages to do is show that <em>she </em>has space in the genre, relegating Black artists to the margins and putting white artists on pedestals.</p>
  736.  
  737.  
  738.  
  739. <p>Seeing big ticket names like Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Miley Cyrus, and Post Malone is an exciting sight, but feels out of place on the project. Samples from songs like Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’, The Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations,” and Patsy Cline’s “I Fall to Pieces” similarly fall flat in the context of this album.</p>
  740.  
  741.  
  742.  
  743. <p>On top of that, the album includes two full-length covers, both from white artists: the Beatles’ “Blackbird” and Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.” While both tunes share powerful messages, the failure to include a single cover from a Black country legend like Martell or Pride is a glaring misstep, one that’s hard to forgive when it comes from an exceedingly intentional artist like Beyoncé.</p>
  744.  
  745.  
  746.  
  747. <p>Ultimately, “Cowboy Carter”<em> </em>seems to be a one-off foray into the genre for Beyoncé, an excursion that may be healing on a personal level and exciting to the industry, but all roads still seem to lead back to herself. With her substantial stature in the music industry and her immense influence over popular culture, Beyoncé could have done something life-changing for many small Black country artists by featuring them more prominently in collabs to highlight their vocal ability (like the full verse-chorus solo given to Miley Cyrus) or covering one of their songs to highlight their writing prowess. Instead, four amazing Black female country artists share nigh indistinguishable background vocals and a shared verse on a Beatles song.&nbsp;</p>
  748.  
  749.  
  750.  
  751. <p>Does “Cowboy Carter” need to be a purely Black project? Not necessarily. While the more poignant message of the album would be to highlight the space that Black artists have carved in the genre, Beyoncé herself admits that the album isn’t even necessarily <em>about</em> the genre itself, saying on Instagram: “This ain’t a Country album. This is a Beyoncé album.”</p>
  752.  
  753.  
  754.  
  755. <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-left">Giddy Up</h2>
  756.  
  757.  
  758.  
  759. <p>Thus, the biggest success of “Cowboy Carter” has been its ability to start a conversation. More people than ever are talking about Black country music and the experiences of Black rural folks. This is an important step for not only Black artists, but also for Black fans of the genre.</p>
  760.  
  761.  
  762.  
  763. <p>Some <a href="https://19thnews.org/2024/03/cowboy-carter-black-country-music-fans/">Black fans</a> of country music, who don’t know many other Black people who engage with the genre and who have encountered confusion or dismissiveness from white fans say they are “hopeful that Beyoncé and ‘Cowboy Carter’ … will help elevate Black country artists and serve as a bridge for more Black people to feel comfortable listening.”</p>
  764.  
  765.  
  766.  
  767. <p>This kind of revolution can really only be led by someone like Beyoncé, which speaks to the very heart of the issue. It’s a shame that other Black country artists, who have certainly released great country music of their own, rivaling or exceeding Beyoncé’s foray, have been largely ignored by the industry and the public for decades.&nbsp;</p>
  768.  
  769.  
  770.  
  771. <p>Whether you look at this album as a renaissance — to borrow Beyoncé’s term — or a reclamation of Black culture in country music isn’t really important. Frankly, getting overly caught up in those semantics only continues to center an already mega-famous superstar in a conversation about representation for other aspiring and overlooked Black artists in the industry.</p>
  772.  
  773.  
  774.  
  775. <p>Beyoncé started this national conversation. Now it’s up to the folks in the industry and fans to turn our collective focus towards the many talented Black artists who will continue to make country music, even after Beyoncé moves on to her next act.</p>
  776.  
  777.  
  778.  
  779. <p><em>Lane Wendell Fischer reports on education, culture, and rural life for the Daily Yonder. Tarel Dean Dennie studies Black representation in media at Yale University.</em></p>
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  796. <p>This article first appeared in&nbsp;<strong>The Good, the Bad, and the Elegy</strong>, an email newsletter from the Daily Yonder focused on the best, and worst, in rural media, entertainment, and culture. Every other Thursday, it features reviews, recommendations, retrospectives, and more. <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/contact-us/subscribe-daily-yonder/#good-bad-elegy">Join the mailing list</a> today to have future editions delivered straight to your inbox.</p>
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  836. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/beyonce-cowboy-carter-renaissance-for-black-country-music/2024/04/18/">Is Beyoncé&#8217;s Latest Album a True &#8216;Renaissance&#8217; for Black Country Music?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
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  843. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">131996</post-id> </item>
  844. <item>
  845. <title>Blazing Trails in the Mountains</title>
  846. <link>https://dailyyonder.com/blazing-trails-in-the-mountains/2024/04/17/</link>
  847. <comments>https://dailyyonder.com/blazing-trails-in-the-mountains/2024/04/17/#respond</comments>
  849. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Kim Kobersmith]]></dc:creator>
  850. <pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  851. <category><![CDATA[Rural Life]]></category>
  852. <category><![CDATA[Travel/Recreation]]></category>
  853. <category><![CDATA[Yonder Report]]></category>
  854. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dailyyonder.com/?p=130371</guid>
  855.  
  856. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="683" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?w=2560&amp;ssl=1 2560w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?resize=760%2C507&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?resize=1296%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C267&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?resize=706%2C471&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?w=2340&amp;ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  857. <p>Mountain bikers ride for the thrill. The joy of racing downhill. The feeling of choosing the best path, hugging the ground, catching some air. The deep satisfaction of being connected to the natural world by navigating its challenges and experiencing its beauty. “Mountain biking is unique in the world of trails,” write Dave Wiens, International [&#8230;]</p>
  858. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/blazing-trails-in-the-mountains/2024/04/17/">Blazing Trails in the Mountains</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
  859. ]]></description>
  860. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="683" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?w=2560&amp;ssl=1 2560w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?resize=760%2C507&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?resize=1296%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C267&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?resize=706%2C471&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?w=2340&amp;ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_06-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  861. <p>Mountain bikers ride for the thrill. The joy of racing downhill. The feeling of choosing the best path, hugging the ground, catching some air. The deep satisfaction of being connected to the natural world by navigating its challenges and experiencing its beauty.</p>
  862.  
  863.  
  864.  
  865. <p>“Mountain biking is unique in the world of trails,” write Dave Wiens, International Mountain Biking Association Executive Director, on the organization’s <a href="https://www.imba.com/resource/mountain-bike-trail-development-guidelines">website</a>. “For the mountain biker, the trail is the experience. No other trail user feels, relishes, and appreciates every undulation and nuance of a well-crafted trail that has been purposefully and creatively planned, designed and built for the bike.”&nbsp;</p>
  866.  
  867.  
  868.  
  869. <p>Increasingly, communities across the country are putting serious investments of money, time, and effort into constructing these kinds of well-crafted mountain biking trail systems.&nbsp;</p>
  870.  
  871.  
  872.  
  873. <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Rising Popularity of Pedaling Outdoors</strong></h3>
  874.  
  875.  
  876.  
  877. <p>Like all outdoor recreation pursuits, mountain biking was growing steadily in the 2010’s. Participation exploded during the pandemic, when science showed that being outside was the best way to prevent spread and outdoor recreation was one of the best ways to support mental health. According to Chris Perkins with the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, millions more people flocked to outdoor destinations than ever before.</p>
  878.  
  879.  
  880.  
  881. <p>Anyone who tried to purchase a bike in 2021 discovered that demand outstripped supply. According to a Sports and Fitness Industry Association <a href="https://www.singletracks.com/community/study-mountain-biking-is-growing-but-not-among-core-riders/">report</a>, nine million people rode a bicycle off-road in 2022, compared to only 6.9 million in 2007. And though the unique parameters of the pandemic have ended, the draw of outdoor recreation has not. Perkins said that while official numbers aren’t yet out for 2023, he has seen data from numerous organizations that indicate it was a record-breaking year.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
  882.  
  883.  
  884.  
  885. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="520" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_08.jpeg?resize=780%2C520&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-130374" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_08.jpeg?w=1086&amp;ssl=1 1086w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_08.jpeg?resize=760%2C507&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_08.jpeg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_08.jpeg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_08.jpeg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_08.jpeg?resize=400%2C267&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_08.jpeg?resize=706%2C471&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_08.jpeg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Silver Stallion competitive youth bike clubs participants and coaches. (Photo provided by Silver Stallion Bicycle &amp; Coffee Works)</figcaption></figure>
  886.  
  887.  
  888.  
  889. <p>The outdoor recreation industry is gaining recognition as a significant economic driver, especially in rural areas looking to diversify their economic base. <a href="https://www.bea.gov/sites/default/files/2023-11/orsa1123.pdf">According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)</a>, the outdoor recreation economy in 2020 generated $1.1 trillion and supported five million jobs. From 2021-2022, the outdoor recreation economy grew 2.5 times faster than the U.S. economy as a whole<strong>.&nbsp;</strong></p>
  890.  
  891.  
  892.  
  893. <p>Mountain biking is riding that wave. The BEA <a href="https://www.bea.gov/sites/default/files/2023-11/orsa1123.pdf">reports</a> that in 2022, mountain biking had an economic country-wide impact of $2.07 billion. In Colorado alone, a <a href="https://www.imba.com/resource/economic-impact-mountain-biking-three-western-colorado-national-forests">2018 study</a> funded by the Outdoor Alliance on the economic impact of mountain biking tourism in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests showed over 150,000 visits a year. Seventy percent of cyclists were from outside the surrounding region, and annual spending by mountain bikers was $24 million.</p>
  894.  
  895.  
  896.  
  897. <p>All this attention and use means that mountain biking trail systems are undergoing an evolution. Originally constructed by scrappy volunteer club members with shoestring budgets, trails are now professionally designed and constructed. The role of club members has shifted to maintenance, fundraising, and networking.&nbsp;</p>
  898.  
  899.  
  900.  
  901. <p>The networking is crucial. Rural places are uniquely poised to provide epic trail adventures. Generally, a destination-level system has 25+ miles of interconnected trails that incorporate a range of difficulty levels and technical challenges and capture some of the unique natural and cultural features of the location. Their development usually requires collaborative work with multiple landowners and jurisdictions. Perkins said the ORR’s work with local communities has shown the number one prerequisite for the development of an outdoor recreation ecosystem is local grassroots advocates.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
  902.  
  903.  
  904.  
  905. <p>Another important piece is funding. A mile of trail can cost $45,000. Perkins is hopeful about two federal funding sources, the Rural Outdoor Investment Act and the Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor portion of the American Rescue Plan. “We need to invest in outdoor recreation infrastructure at the same level as the record-breaking visitations so the resources last for generations to come,” he said in an interview.</p>
  906.  
  907.  
  908.  
  909. <p>The following conversations explore with local leaders in three rural towns their reasons for, and experiences of, developing mountain biking trail systems, and what they bring to their communities.&nbsp;</p>
  910.  
  911.  
  912.  
  913. <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>A Natural Experience: Copper Harbor Trails Club, MI</strong></h3>
  914.  
  915.  
  916.  
  917. <p>The town of Copper Harbor, Michigan, pop. 121, sits at the northernmost tip of the Upper Peninsula and declares itself the furthest town in the contiguous U.S. from an interstate (about five hours). Originally built for copper mining, it has been an outdoor-centered tourism destination for more than 100 years. The Copper Harbor Trails club started constructing mountain biking trails here in the 1990’s, making them one of the pioneers of the sport in the mid-west. The terrain, with substantial hills, waterfalls, and Lake Superior, is a big draw.&nbsp;</p>
  918.  
  919.  
  920.  
  921. <p>“Biking here is a truly wild experience,” said Nathan Miller, Executive Director of the Copper Harbor Bike Club, in an interview. “You can bike ten miles in the middle of the wilderness and pop out at a scenic vista of Lake Superior.”&nbsp;</p>
  922.  
  923.  
  924.  
  925. <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="520" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_05.jpg?resize=780%2C520&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-130377" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_05-scaled.jpg?resize=1296%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_05-scaled.jpg?resize=760%2C507&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_05-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_05-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_05-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_05-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_05-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_05-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_05-scaled.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_05-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_05-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C267&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_05-scaled.jpg?resize=706%2C471&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_05-scaled.jpg?w=2340&amp;ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_05-1296x864.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Copper Harbor Trail Club developed one of the first women’s clinics to get more females interested in the male-dominated sport. (Photo by Nathan Miller / Copper Harbor Trails Club)</figcaption></figure>
  926.  
  927.  
  928.  
  929. <p>Copper Harbor has been identified as a destination-worthy trail system by the International Mountain Biking Association since 2012. As one of the first real trail systems developed in the midwest, it has developed a sizable reputation. One third of visitors to town plan mountain biking as one of their activities. Local businesses sponsor the club programs because the quality-of-life benefits of accessible outdoor recreation keeps their employees wanting to live in the area.</p>
  930.  
  931.  
  932.  
  933. <p>But recently, the town’s popularity has strained the community’s infrastructure. Already busy, Copper Harbor saw a big spike in visitation during Covid, and not just by cyclists. Visitors using the main mountain biking trailhead, located near the fire station and post office in the center of town, kept locals from accessing these basic services. The bike club and community are working on solutions, like constructing trail-specific campgrounds outside of downtown that incorporate connector trails so visitors can access the community on two wheels.</p>
  934.  
  935.  
  936.  
  937. <p>The influx of cyclists of all levels also laid bare weaknesses in trail emergency services. While mountain biking is generally considered safe, a couple of major injuries happened in a short span of time. First aid care relied on volunteer first responders. The incidents made leaders realize that many community servants were not equipped to attempt a five-mile adventure into a remote setting to rescue someone who is lost or injured. The club is in the process of recruiting and training a bike patrol who can provide emergency care in the backcountry.</p>
  938.  
  939.  
  940.  
  941. <p>The accidents also threatened the status of the trail system. The public land organization that owned the trails closed them, then sold them, without consulting the biking community. Fortunately, the private purchaser of the system reopened it.</p>
  942.  
  943.  
  944.  
  945. <p>As the bike club works through these growing pains, it hasn’t lost sight of the special place and sport it stewards. Each summer, Copper Harbor hosts a trail event over Labor Day weekend. Riders gather in the park each evening for live music and socializing. During the last two events, the northern lights appeared in the night sky and people were awed.&nbsp;</p>
  946.  
  947.  
  948.  
  949. <p>“That is something you can only have in Copper Harbor,” said Miller. “Ride around on great trails all day and then have a life-altering experience you will never forget.”&nbsp;</p>
  950.  
  951.  
  952.  
  953. <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Community-focused Development: Bailey’s Trail System, Athens County, OH</strong></h3>
  954.  
  955.  
  956.  
  957. <p>Cycling has a long history in this piece of Appalachian Ohio. The Athens Mountain Biking Club formed in the 1970’s, and in the early days the group hand-built miles of mountain biking trails that crisscross two state parks and city property. A paved 22-mile bikeway, the Hockhocking Adena, runs beside the Hocking River and connects several communities.</p>
  958.  
  959.  
  960.  
  961. <p>In 2016, the club envisioned its most ambitious plan to date: developing 88 miles of world-class professionally-constructed mountain biking trails across a 9,000-acre, primarily unused tract of the Wayne National Forest. The completed system will connect three small towns struggling to rebuild after a long history of extractive industry. The access point in the small town of Chauncey is the community park, which is situated on a reclaimed coal mine.</p>
  962.  
  963.  
  964.  
  965. <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="519" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_02.jpg?resize=780%2C519&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-130378" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_02-scaled.jpg?resize=1296%2C862&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_02-scaled.jpg?resize=760%2C506&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_02-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C511&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_02-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1022&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_02-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1363&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_02-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C798&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_02-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C681&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_02-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_02-scaled.jpg?resize=1568%2C1043&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_02-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1331&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_02-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C266&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_02-scaled.jpg?resize=706%2C470&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_02-scaled.jpg?w=2340&amp;ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_02-1296x862.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Bailey’s Trail System Dirt Fondo at the trailhead park in Chauncey, Ohio. (Photo by Delia Palmisano / ORCA)</figcaption></figure>
  966.  
  967.  
  968.  
  969. <p>“We saw Bailey’s as a catalyst for a changing economy,” said Jessie Powers, Executive Director of the Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia (ORCA), in an interview. “We want to rewrite the script about what the benefits could be for rural communities.”</p>
  970.  
  971.  
  972.  
  973. <p>The effort was spearheaded by a multistakeholder coalition that included the bike club, city and county governments, local nonprofits, the national forest, business owners, and the county health department. Their goal was to have the trail system benefit local people as much as possible. Trailheads intentionally placed in these three communities provide easy trail access for locals and enhanced opportunities for economic development.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
  974.  
  975.  
  976.  
  977. <p>The coalition formed ORCA as an umbrella organization to secure impact investment funds for the trail development. Using a pay-for-success structure, ORCA set up social enterprises that benefit the community and enhance the trail system as a destination. For example, they operate the only bike rental business in a 100-mile radius and sell merchandise designed and created by local artists. To remove barriers for small businesses to open near the community trailheads, ORCA plans include a 5,000-foot commercial facility that will be available for lease by local entrepreneurs.&nbsp;</p>
  978.  
  979.  
  980.  
  981. <p>Even before completion, the trail system is making a big difference in these communities. In 2021, with one trailhead and 26 miles of trails, the system generated $3.6 million dollars of direct impact for the county, according to an Ohio University <a href="https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/athensmessenger.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/3e/a3e248cc-d716-11ed-86e9-233b2900d8c6/64332287adf2b.pdf.pdf">impact analysis</a>.</p>
  982.  
  983.  
  984.  
  985. <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="519" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_03.jpg?resize=780%2C519&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-130379" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_03-scaled.jpg?resize=1296%2C862&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_03-scaled.jpg?resize=760%2C506&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_03-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C511&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_03-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1022&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_03-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1363&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_03-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C798&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_03-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C681&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_03-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_03-scaled.jpg?resize=1568%2C1043&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_03-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1331&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_03-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C266&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_03-scaled.jpg?resize=706%2C470&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_03-scaled.jpg?w=2340&amp;ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_03-1296x862.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Community Trails Celebration, 5/20/2023, Chauncey Community Park</figcaption></figure>
  986.  
  987.  
  988.  
  989. <p>Powers believes the area has great potential as a destination. Just adjacent to Athens County is Hocking Hills, an internationally celebrated destination that welcomes four million visitors a year to enjoy its forested landscape and geologic wonders. The terrain of Athens County is very similar.&nbsp;</p>
  990.  
  991.  
  992.  
  993. <p>“ORCA was created to deliver the Bailey’s Trail System but the mission is much larger,” she said. “We want to help Appalachian Ohio understand the opportunity outdoor recreation provides rural communities. It has economic, social, environmental, and health benefits.”</p>
  994.  
  995.  
  996.  
  997. <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>A Health and Wellness Initiative: Navajo Nation</strong></h3>
  998.  
  999.  
  1000.  
  1001. <p>When former professional mountain biker Scott Nydam moved to Gallup, New Mexico, he was introduced to the cycling community on the neighboring Navajo Nation. He knew he wanted to support and encourage their efforts, and decided to address the lack of a bicycle shop in the area. He founded Silver Stallion Bicycle &amp; Coffee Works, a nonprofit providing education in bicycle mechanics and apprenticeship in specialty coffee for youth.&nbsp;</p>
  1002.  
  1003.  
  1004.  
  1005. <p>As Nydam set to work, he realized the needs were bigger than his nonprofit mission statement. Developing mountain biking on the Nation requires material capital (bikes, trails), intellectual capital (riding and maintenance skills) and social capital (coaches, mentors). He sees himself as part of a conglomerate of people trying to bring together all of those pieces.&nbsp;</p>
  1006.  
  1007.  
  1008.  
  1009. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="439" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_11.jpeg?resize=780%2C439&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-130381" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_11.jpeg?w=1182&amp;ssl=1 1182w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_11.jpeg?resize=760%2C428&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_11.jpeg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_11.jpeg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_11.jpeg?resize=400%2C225&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_11.jpeg?resize=706%2C397&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_11.jpeg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The development of mountain biking on the Navajo Nation is explored in the documentary film, “In the Dirt,” now on the festival circuit. (Photo provided by Silver Stallion Bicycle &amp; Coffee Works)</figcaption></figure>
  1010.  
  1011.  
  1012.  
  1013. <p>Trails were part of the plan, but not the first goal. There is no precedence for them on the Navajo Nation, where land ownership is complex. Seven years ago, developing a ribbon of trail through the landscape required the same permission process as a gas pipeline.</p>
  1014.  
  1015.  
  1016.  
  1017. <p>“The reservation system doesn’t really work, especially for community-driven initiatives like trails,” said Nydam in an interview.&nbsp;</p>
  1018.  
  1019.  
  1020.  
  1021. <p>Still, Nydam saw the radical potential. He knows first-hand the benefits of riding: a new relationship to the environment, improved physical health, promotion of mental health through focus and agency. The approach of biking leaders was to position the effort as a community wellness initiative. They work closely with the Indian Health Service to promote cycling among the Nation’s youth and families.</p>
  1022.  
  1023.  
  1024.  
  1025. <p>“Riders have to pedal their own bikes and make their own decisions,” said Nydam. “We are trying to add mountain biking to the quiver of health promotions.”</p>
  1026.  
  1027.  
  1028.  
  1029. <p>With the support of Indian Health Service, public schools, and cycling advocates, Silver Stallion established an array of youth ridership programs. Thirteen schools now have PE class programs. Two hundred ninety-two middle schoolers participated in five afterschool programs – more than 1/5 of the participating schools’ populations. The nonprofit provides free bikes for kids who are somehow involved in their efforts.&nbsp;</p>
  1030.  
  1031.  
  1032.  
  1033. <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="610" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_09.jpg?resize=780%2C610&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-130380" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_09.jpg?resize=1296%2C1014&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_09.jpg?resize=760%2C595&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_09.jpg?resize=768%2C601&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_09.jpg?resize=1536%2C1202&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_09.jpg?resize=1200%2C939&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_09.jpg?resize=1024%2C801&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_09.jpg?resize=1568%2C1227&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_09.jpg?resize=400%2C313&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_09.jpg?resize=706%2C552&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_09.jpg?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24.02.DY-Mtn-Biking_09-1296x1014.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Young winners of the Rezduro Race on the Navajo Nation. (Photo provided by Silver Stallion Bicycle &amp; Coffee Works)</figcaption></figure>
  1034.  
  1035.  
  1036.  
  1037. <p>The programs have created trust with schools, teachers, and social workers. While Nydam used to feel like he had to “sell” mountain biking, now he is responding to schools and communities who have seen how their kids are thriving. After two years of the program, kids were getting bored with dirt roads and wanted real trails. An engineered plan for 18.7 miles of trails is (slowly) working its way through the necessary bureaucracy. Meanwhile, leaders are developing trails on school property in concert with administrators and communities.&nbsp;</p>
  1038.  
  1039.  
  1040.  
  1041. <p>“This region is vast and epic and beautiful,” said Nydam. “But trails and land-use decisions need to fall in the boundaries of self-determination. It is enough for outdoor recreation to exist on Navajo, for Navajo.”</p>
  1042.  
  1043.  
  1044.  
  1045. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots"/>
  1046. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/blazing-trails-in-the-mountains/2024/04/17/">Blazing Trails in the Mountains</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
  1047. ]]></content:encoded>
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  1053. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">130371</post-id> </item>
  1054. <item>
  1055. <title>Climate Change Is Shifting How and When We Prepare our Gardens</title>
  1056. <link>https://dailyyonder.com/climate-change-is-shifting-how-and-when-we-prepare-our-gardens/2024/04/17/</link>
  1057. <comments>https://dailyyonder.com/climate-change-is-shifting-how-and-when-we-prepare-our-gardens/2024/04/17/#respond</comments>
  1059. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Claire Carlson]]></dc:creator>
  1060. <pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2024 09:58:00 +0000</pubDate>
  1061. <category><![CDATA[Agriculture]]></category>
  1062. <category><![CDATA[gardening]]></category>
  1063. <category><![CDATA[keep it rural]]></category>
  1064. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dailyyonder.com/?p=132739</guid>
  1065.  
  1066. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?w=2560&amp;ssl=1 2560w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=760%2C570&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=1296%2C972&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=2048%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=1568%2C1176&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=2000%2C1500&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=706%2C530&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?w=2340&amp;ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  1067. <p>Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in&#160;Keep It Rural, an email newsletter from the Daily Yonder. Like what you see?&#160;&#160;Join the mailing list&#160;for more rural news, thoughts, and analysis in your inbox each week. Gardening is changing. Last fall, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released an updated plant hardiness zone map that shows which [&#8230;]</p>
  1068. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/climate-change-is-shifting-how-and-when-we-prepare-our-gardens/2024/04/17/">Climate Change Is Shifting How and When We Prepare our Gardens</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
  1069. ]]></description>
  1070. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?w=2560&amp;ssl=1 2560w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=760%2C570&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=1296%2C972&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=2048%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=1568%2C1176&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=2000%2C1500&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?resize=706%2C530&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?w=2340&amp;ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2944-scaled-e1713363425935.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  1071. <p><em>Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in&nbsp;</em><a href="https://dailyyonder.com/keep-it-rural/"><em>Keep It Rural</em></a><em>, an email newsletter from the Daily Yonder. Like what you see?&nbsp;&nbsp;</em><a href="https://dailyyonder.com/contact-us/subscribe-daily-yonder/"><em>Join the mailing list</em></a><em>&nbsp;for more rural news, thoughts, and analysis in your inbox each week.</em></p>
  1072.  
  1073.  
  1074.  
  1075. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
  1076.  
  1077.  
  1078.  
  1079. <p>Gardening is changing. Last fall, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released an updated <a href="https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/">plant hardiness zone map</a> that shows which plants do best in which parts of the country. About half the country was moved into a warmer hardiness zone, reflecting our climate change reality.</p>
  1080.  
  1081.  
  1082.  
  1083. <p>The map update puts to paper what farmers and gardeners across the country have been noting for more than a decade now: summers are on average getting hotter and drier. Extreme weather events like heat waves or flooding are also becoming more common, according to <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/01/09/1147805696/climate-change-makes-heat-waves-storms-and-droughts-worse-climate-report-confirm">climate scientists</a>, which means that even if you’re now technically able to grow warmer-weather plants, you’re still contending with extreme weather that could put stress on your garden. In other words, an early cold snap could kill those lemons you were so excited might finally grow in your hardiness zone.</p>
  1084.  
  1085.  
  1086.  
  1087. <p>This new map also reflects the effect of growing metropolitan areas where pavement and buildings absorb more heat than rural areas, according to <a href="https://environment.uw.edu/news/2023/12/plant-hardiness-zones-are-getting-warmer-across-the-country-uw-plant-expert-explains-why-it-matters/">researchers</a> from the University of Washington. You can see this play out in my corner of Oregon, where the farther outside of the Portland metropolitan area you go, the later the <a href="https://www.portlandnursery.com/resources/frost-dates">average last frost date</a> is.&nbsp;</p>
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  1089.  
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  1091. <div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex">
  1092. <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
  1093. <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="1040" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2899.jpg?resize=780%2C1040&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-132742" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2899-scaled.jpg?resize=972%2C1296&amp;ssl=1 972w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2899-scaled.jpg?resize=570%2C760&amp;ssl=1 570w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2899-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2899-scaled.jpg?resize=1152%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1152w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2899-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2899-scaled.jpg?resize=900%2C1200&amp;ssl=1 900w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2899-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C800&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2899-scaled.jpg?resize=450%2C600&amp;ssl=1 450w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2899-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C400&amp;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2899-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C200&amp;ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2899-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C1600&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2899-scaled.jpg?resize=1568%2C2091&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2899-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C2667&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2899-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C533&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2899-scaled.jpg?resize=706%2C941&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2899-scaled.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_2899-972x1296.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The USDA recently changed its plant hardiness zone map in response to climate change. (Photo by Claire Carlson).</figcaption></figure>
  1094. </div>
  1095.  
  1096.  
  1097.  
  1098. <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
  1099. <p>&nbsp;To me, this shows how essential it is to pay attention to your specific locale.Take my mom, for instance: she’s in a small suburb outside of Portland where 100-foot trees line her property and deer the size of elk (her words) strut across her front lawn, gnawing on every alleged “deer resistant” plant in sight. She’s had to adapt to a shady yard with voracious herbivores. She grows a lot of potted tomatoes that she can position in the spots of sun that speckle the fenced part of her yard, away from the deer. Her plants are well-hydrated thanks to the enormous trees that keep temperatures at her house 10-15 degrees cooler than less vegetated parts of town during the hottest parts of the year.&nbsp;</p>
  1100. </div>
  1101. </div>
  1102.  
  1103.  
  1104.  
  1105. <p>In contrast, at my house in southeast Portland, there are miles of paved road and nary a tree in sight. During the peak of summer, temperatures can reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit and <em>feel</em> like 100 degrees, and you can imagine how unhappy that makes my plants. I grew up in a desert where water conservation is second nature, so the idea of watering during the hottest weeks of summer is a total contradiction in my mind.&nbsp;</p>
  1106.  
  1107.  
  1108.  
  1109. <p>This year, I’ve decided I won’t be gardening in late summer because of this. My gardening season will be from late March to early July, and anything that survives past then? I’ll take note of it for next year, but I’m not going to fret over which plants I did and did not keep alive while we (me, my plants, and I) were fighting for our lives inside an urban heat island. To use the words of Ifeoma Ozoma from this wonderful <a href="https://annehelen.substack.com/p/every-single-day-i-wake-up-filled">interview</a> about gardening in New Mexico, “&#8230;[I] believe that anything planted in the ground that can’t survive without assistance after it’s established isn’t meant to be planted here.”&nbsp;</p>
  1110.  
  1111.  
  1112.  
  1113. <p>The new hardiness map is a good jumping-off point for gardeners, but paying attention to how specific plants respond to the different soil types in your yard or knowing which of your window sills is ideal for perching an oregano plant on is the best way to set yourself up for success. The more local your knowledge, the better.</p>
  1114.  
  1115.  
  1116.  
  1117. <p>And as the climate continues to warm, bracing ourselves for – and adapting to – the changes that come with it is going to be essential. On the plus side, maybe someday I actually will be able to grow lemons in Oregon.&nbsp;</p>
  1118. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/climate-change-is-shifting-how-and-when-we-prepare-our-gardens/2024/04/17/">Climate Change Is Shifting How and When We Prepare our Gardens</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
  1119. ]]></content:encoded>
  1121. <wfw:commentRss>https://dailyyonder.com/climate-change-is-shifting-how-and-when-we-prepare-our-gardens/2024/04/17/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
  1122. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  1125. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">132739</post-id> </item>
  1126. <item>
  1127. <title>Program Brings Together Three Generations to Discuss Aging</title>
  1128. <link>https://dailyyonder.com/program-brings-together-three-generations-to-discuss-aging/2024/04/16/</link>
  1129. <comments>https://dailyyonder.com/program-brings-together-three-generations-to-discuss-aging/2024/04/16/#respond</comments>
  1131. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Liz Carey]]></dc:creator>
  1132. <pubDate>Tue, 16 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  1133. <category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
  1134. <category><![CDATA[Rural Life]]></category>
  1135. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dailyyonder.com/?p=130365</guid>
  1136.  
  1137. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="640" height="480" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/osu_healthy_aging_club.jpeg?fit=640%2C480&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/osu_healthy_aging_club.jpeg?w=640&amp;ssl=1 640w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/osu_healthy_aging_club.jpeg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/osu_healthy_aging_club.jpeg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/osu_healthy_aging_club.jpeg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/osu_healthy_aging_club.jpeg?fit=640%2C480&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  1138. <p>Three scholars from the Oklahoma State University (OSU) received a three-year, $242,000 grant to support healthy aging in rural Oklahoma communities. Their program, Active Aging for L.I.F.E, helps college-aged students, high school students and senior citizens learn from each other as they grow older. Emily Roberts, an associate professor at OSU and one of the [&#8230;]</p>
  1139. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/program-brings-together-three-generations-to-discuss-aging/2024/04/16/">Program Brings Together Three Generations to Discuss Aging</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
  1140. ]]></description>
  1141. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="640" height="480" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/osu_healthy_aging_club.jpeg?fit=640%2C480&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/osu_healthy_aging_club.jpeg?w=640&amp;ssl=1 640w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/osu_healthy_aging_club.jpeg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/osu_healthy_aging_club.jpeg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/osu_healthy_aging_club.jpeg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/osu_healthy_aging_club.jpeg?fit=640%2C480&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  1142. <p>Three scholars from the Oklahoma State University (OSU) received a three-year, $242,000 grant to support healthy aging in rural Oklahoma communities. Their program,<a href="https://education.okstate.edu/research/centers/alliance-on-aging/"> Active Aging for L.I.F.E,</a> helps college-aged students, high school students and senior citizens learn from each other as they grow older.</p>
  1143.  
  1144.  
  1145.  
  1146. <p>Emily Roberts, an associate professor at OSU and one of the grant receipients, said the rural health program is designed to help participants on both ends of the age spectrum. The goal is to challenge assumptions people have against aging and bridge generational divides in rural communities across Oklahoma, Roberts said.</p>
  1147.  
  1148.  
  1149.  
  1150. <p>Over a third of Oklahoma’s population lives in rural communities, according to the Census definition.</p>
  1151.  
  1152.  
  1153.  
  1154. <p>&nbsp;“There are several factors that older adults face living in these economically fragile communities,” Roberts said in an interview with the Daily Yonder. “There are barriers to health and human services. They are impacted by not only the economic factors but by available transportation, and sometimes lower than average insurance coverage.”</p>
  1155.  
  1156.  
  1157.  
  1158. <p>She said she thinks older adults in rural areas tend to be likely to contend with isolation and separation from family members who have left the area.&nbsp;</p>
  1159.  
  1160.  
  1161.  
  1162. <p>“All of these factors kind of culminate in pretty poor health outcomes particularly for older adults,” she said.</p>
  1163.  
  1164.  
  1165.  
  1166. <p>The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that about 20% of rural (nonmetropolitan) residents are 65 or older, 4 points higher than in metropolitan areas.</p>
  1167.  
  1168.  
  1169.  
  1170. <p>But aging, Roberts said, is something rural adults have control over.</p>
  1171.  
  1172.  
  1173.  
  1174. <p>“Some of our faculty got together and started to look at some of the health outcomes in our rural communities,” she said. “We wondered what we could do about it. And we started to look at active aging as a way to start changing people’s perceptions and behaviors about the aging process. It’s not something that just happens to us. We have control.”</p>
  1175.  
  1176.  
  1177.  
  1178. <p>To help the older adults, as well as to guide young people to being healthier as they age, Roberts and her colleagues&nbsp; (Associate Professor Greg Clare, also in the Department of Design and Merchandising, and Assistant Professor Xuewei Chen) will begin running the Active Aging for L.I.F.E. programs in rural schools across the state. Starting in mid-April, older adults will go into six high schools in rural counties and spend time with students in family consumer sciences classes.</p>
  1179.  
  1180.  
  1181.  
  1182. <p>“There aren&#8217;t too many of these kinds of programs,” Roberts said. “There are health and wellness programs for certain populations, but this brings together multiple populations at the same time.”</p>
  1183.  
  1184.  
  1185.  
  1186. <p>Roberts said the program brings together older adults and college-aged students to create life leader teams. Those teams are trained in leading modules on the four focuses of L.I.F.E. – Longevity, Independence, Fitness and Engagement.</p>
  1187.  
  1188.  
  1189.  
  1190. <p>“We will be spending four class sessions with two different groups of students for our first go ‘round,” she said. “We’re pretty excited about it because it is bringing three generations to the table to talk about things that they wouldn&#8217;t normally be talking about. If we can start high school students thinking about the positive things they can do across their life… to impact some of the later outcomes, particularly in these rural communities.”</p>
  1191.  
  1192.  
  1193.  
  1194. <p>The program also helps engage the older adults, she said. They get to spend time with a group of students they don’t normally get to spend time with and reflect on their life choices, Roberts said.</p>
  1195.  
  1196.  
  1197.  
  1198. <p>“In one of the previous programs that we did, we had an older adult who said something to the effect that ‘We&#8217;re all in the same boat. We&#8217;re just at different ends of it,’” she said. “And I think that&#8217;s really the perspective we have. It’s not an US and THEM discussion. It’s how can we be more proactive across our life span?”</p>
  1199.  
  1200.  
  1201.  
  1202. <p>Roberts said that while many of the things they talk about are presented to high schoolers in other classes and forums – eat healthy, exercise properly, sleep well – getting those life tips from someone who knows about those issues first hand has a different impact.</p>
  1203.  
  1204.  
  1205.  
  1206. <p>“When you connect it with this life framework, I think it becomes a little bit more powerful,” she said. “</p>
  1207.  
  1208.  
  1209.  
  1210. <p>While the grant funding isn’t available to study whether the program will have had an impact on the high school students 10, 20 or 30 years from now, surveys given during a trial study of the Active Aging for L.I.F.E. modules in 2017 found that the discussions do have an impact.</p>
  1211.  
  1212.  
  1213.  
  1214. <p>“We could see (from the surveys) that they were starting to think about how aging relates to them right now and not just as something in the future,” she said. “For the older adults, for them, it was really a good experience to be able to just share their life knowledge. Having these conversations turned out to be a really impactful for both generations to be sitting at the same table having these discussions.”</p>
  1215. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/program-brings-together-three-generations-to-discuss-aging/2024/04/16/">Program Brings Together Three Generations to Discuss Aging</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
  1216. ]]></content:encoded>
  1218. <wfw:commentRss>https://dailyyonder.com/program-brings-together-three-generations-to-discuss-aging/2024/04/16/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
  1219. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  1222. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">130365</post-id> </item>
  1223. <item>
  1224. <title>When Blue Collar Work Means More Energy for Art</title>
  1225. <link>https://dailyyonder.com/when-blue-collar-work-means-more-mental-energy-for-art/2024/04/16/</link>
  1226. <comments>https://dailyyonder.com/when-blue-collar-work-means-more-mental-energy-for-art/2024/04/16/#respond</comments>
  1228. <dc:creator><![CDATA[James Anderson]]></dc:creator>
  1229. <pubDate>Tue, 16 Apr 2024 09:59:00 +0000</pubDate>
  1230. <category><![CDATA[Arts and Culture]]></category>
  1231. <category><![CDATA[Labor]]></category>
  1232. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dailyyonder.com/?p=129944</guid>
  1233.  
  1234. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="791" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?fit=1024%2C791&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?w=2200&amp;ssl=1 2200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?resize=760%2C587&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?resize=1296%2C1001&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?resize=768%2C593&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?resize=1536%2C1187&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?resize=2048%2C1583&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?resize=1200%2C927&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?resize=1024%2C791&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?resize=1568%2C1212&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?resize=2000%2C1545&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?resize=400%2C309&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?resize=706%2C546&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?fit=1024%2C791&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  1235. <p>Red and blue vessels drawn by alcohol-based copic markers run up, down, and across the skeletal outline of a human face bereft of any aesthetically pleasing features. The figure holds a paintbrush, above which an iridescent ball of flame engulfs the upper head space.&#160; “It&#8217;s just an explosion of imagination, essentially, and it is sort [&#8230;]</p>
  1236. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/when-blue-collar-work-means-more-mental-energy-for-art/2024/04/16/">When Blue Collar Work Means More Energy for Art</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
  1237. ]]></description>
  1238. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="791" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?fit=1024%2C791&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?w=2200&amp;ssl=1 2200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?resize=760%2C587&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?resize=1296%2C1001&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?resize=768%2C593&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?resize=1536%2C1187&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?resize=2048%2C1583&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?resize=1200%2C927&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?resize=1024%2C791&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?resize=1568%2C1212&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?resize=2000%2C1545&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?resize=400%2C309&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?resize=706%2C546&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Unexpected-Discovery-colors.jpg?fit=1024%2C791&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  1239. <p class="has-drop-cap">Red and blue vessels drawn by alcohol-based copic markers run up, down, and across the skeletal outline of a human face bereft of any aesthetically pleasing features. The figure holds a paintbrush, above which an iridescent ball of flame engulfs the upper head space.&nbsp;</p>
  1240.  
  1241.  
  1242.  
  1243. <p>“It&#8217;s just an explosion of imagination, essentially, and it is sort of spiritual,” said <a href="https://brianpearman.com/about/">Brian Pearman</a>, the <a href="https://waywards.substack.com/p/lessons-from-a-southern-illinois">Southern Illinois-based artist</a> in his late thirties who created the image, drawing inspiration from the psychedelic painter <a href="https://www.alexgrey.com/">Alex Gray</a>. “Sure, you can take psychedelics or you can take drugs. Or you can just meditate while doing art, and you will sort of find enlightenment. … When I&#8217;m stressed out or whatnot, I&#8217;ll look to art. And then I&#8217;m like, ‘Well, I don&#8217;t know what I was really worried about,’ because it enlightens you.”&nbsp;</p>
  1244.  
  1245.  
  1246.  
  1247. <p>Pearman often has an image in his mind’s eye he feels compelled to convey. “Because the Muse is kind of a real thing, I believe,” he said. “And if the Muse is talking to you, you kind of gotta listen, or you lose it.”</p>
  1248.  
  1249.  
  1250.  
  1251. <p>Art enables him to share the experience of those images, in a way.&nbsp;</p>
  1252.  
  1253.  
  1254.  
  1255. <p>“If I draw accurately enough, then you can see what is in my head. … It’s one of the few ways that you can actually see into someone else&#8217;s mind,” he said.&nbsp;</p>
  1256.  
  1257.  
  1258. <div class="wp-block-image">
  1259. <figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="1010" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2_Pearman_Enlightenment-Through-Art.jpg?resize=780%2C1010&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-129987" style="width:370px;height:auto" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2_Pearman_Enlightenment-Through-Art.jpg?resize=1001%2C1296&amp;ssl=1 1001w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2_Pearman_Enlightenment-Through-Art.jpg?resize=587%2C760&amp;ssl=1 587w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2_Pearman_Enlightenment-Through-Art.jpg?resize=768%2C994&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2_Pearman_Enlightenment-Through-Art.jpg?resize=1187%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1187w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2_Pearman_Enlightenment-Through-Art.jpg?resize=1200%2C1553&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2_Pearman_Enlightenment-Through-Art.jpg?resize=791%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 791w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2_Pearman_Enlightenment-Through-Art.jpg?resize=400%2C518&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2_Pearman_Enlightenment-Through-Art.jpg?resize=706%2C914&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2_Pearman_Enlightenment-Through-Art.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2_Pearman_Enlightenment-Through-Art-1001x1296.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Artwork by artist Bria Pearman (Photo by Brian Pearman)</figcaption></figure></div>
  1260.  
  1261.  
  1262. <p>Whether he’s cultivating an enlightened outlook or engaging in vivid self-expression, Pearman approaches art as a way of life, even as he holds down a full-time job as an operational manager at a CVS drugstore in Greenville, Illinois, located about 80 miles east of the Mississippi River.&nbsp;</p>
  1263.  
  1264.  
  1265.  
  1266. <p>Pearman and a handful of other men about his age make a living doing sometimes difficult and draining blue collar and service industry labor in the rural Southern Illinois town, but they also create incredible artwork in their spare time.&nbsp;</p>
  1267.  
  1268.  
  1269.  
  1270. <p>As one of the few guys at his job, Pearman usually unloads and organizes big shipments with pallets that go up to the ceiling on the days when trucks come.&nbsp;</p>
  1271.  
  1272.  
  1273.  
  1274. <p>Carrying 60-pound totes overhead as needed can be good exercise but physically taxing, while providing customer service makes the job enjoyable even as it can exact a psychological toll.&nbsp;</p>
  1275.  
  1276.  
  1277.  
  1278. <p>Helping customers he’s come to know well in the 10-plus years he’s worked at CVS feels rewarding, Pearman said.&nbsp;</p>
  1279.  
  1280.  
  1281.  
  1282. <p>Someone might come in after a grandparent passes when they need to print funeral pictures, for example.&nbsp;</p>
  1283.  
  1284.  
  1285.  
  1286. <p>“So I&#8217;ll go out of my way to help them with that,” he said, “and they&#8217;re appreciative of it.”</p>
  1287.  
  1288.  
  1289.  
  1290. <p>But especially in the wake of Covid-19, he’s witnessed an epidemic of mental illness firsthand. He said people have expressed ire at workers because they’re the ones present in the moment, despite Pearman and his co-workers having nothing to do with what people are angry about.&nbsp;</p>
  1291.  
  1292.  
  1293.  
  1294. <div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex">
  1295. <div class="wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow"><div class="wp-block-image">
  1296. <figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="1035" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/3_OPTIONAL_Pearman-portrait.jpg?resize=780%2C1035&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-129990" style="width:389px;height:auto" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/3_OPTIONAL_Pearman-portrait.jpg?resize=977%2C1296&amp;ssl=1 977w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/3_OPTIONAL_Pearman-portrait.jpg?resize=573%2C760&amp;ssl=1 573w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/3_OPTIONAL_Pearman-portrait.jpg?resize=768%2C1019&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/3_OPTIONAL_Pearman-portrait.jpg?resize=1158%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1158w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/3_OPTIONAL_Pearman-portrait.jpg?resize=1543%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1543w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/3_OPTIONAL_Pearman-portrait.jpg?resize=150%2C200&amp;ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/3_OPTIONAL_Pearman-portrait.jpg?resize=1200%2C1592&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/3_OPTIONAL_Pearman-portrait.jpg?resize=772%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 772w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/3_OPTIONAL_Pearman-portrait.jpg?resize=1568%2C2081&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/3_OPTIONAL_Pearman-portrait.jpg?resize=400%2C531&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/3_OPTIONAL_Pearman-portrait.jpg?resize=706%2C937&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/3_OPTIONAL_Pearman-portrait.jpg?w=1906&amp;ssl=1 1906w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/3_OPTIONAL_Pearman-portrait-977x1296.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Pearman looks at his art creation as a meditative practice. (Photo by Brian Pearman)</figcaption></figure></div></div>
  1297. </div>
  1298.  
  1299.  
  1300.  
  1301. <p>“Sometimes dealing with people all day, I&#8217;m just brain dead,” he said. “So [art] helps me kind of reinvigorate the synapses a little bit, sitting there focusing and whatnot.”&nbsp;</p>
  1302.  
  1303.  
  1304.  
  1305. <p>Pearman isn’t able to fully flex his artistic muscles every single day. But he thinks about art often and he can’t go long without waxing creative.&nbsp;</p>
  1306.  
  1307.  
  1308.  
  1309. <p>“Whether it&#8217;s a couple minutes or a couple hours, I try to carve out a chunk of most days to work on it,” said Pearman, who’s authored and self-published <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQFN6867">two novels in a series</a> that details an apocalyptic scenario following the collapse of society as we know it.&nbsp;</p>
  1310.  
  1311.  
  1312.  
  1313. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots"/>
  1314.  
  1315.  
  1316.  
  1317. <p class="has-drop-cap">T.J. Smith, an artist and musician around the same age as Pearman who also grew up in Greenville, produced a lot of artwork during a creative period in his life a few years ago. At the time, he worked on a golf course digging grave-size holes with a shovel and tending to irrigation. When he wasn’t fixing leaks, he had relative down time.&nbsp;</p>
  1318.  
  1319.  
  1320.  
  1321. <p>Although he performed the work of a professional plumber, maintaining pumps and pipes, he only earned $12 per hour. Smith got to spend time outside, however, and enjoy fresh air, exposure to fertilizer – which was sprayed semi-frequently – aside. The contemplation the job afforded, coupled with frequent cannabis use at the time, meant that he didn’t worry too much at work. He often carried around a clipboard and would sketch as he went about his day.&nbsp;</p>
  1322.  
  1323.  
  1324.  
  1325. <p>He drew three-dimensional depictions of higher dimensional spaces, called hypercubes, allowing his mind to wander while training it to balance multiple images simultaneously, which informed what he would later do on the canvas.&nbsp;</p>
  1326.  
  1327.  
  1328.  
  1329. <p>A lot of his visual art and the music he made with drums and guitar offered an ephemeral exit from addictions developed in response to relationship woes, a rough breakup and socioeconomic realities, like low wage labor and losing a house he bought.&nbsp;</p>
  1330.  
  1331.  
  1332.  
  1333. <p>“I had barely enough money to buy art supplies,” Smith said. “Most of my art supplies were given to me by people.”&nbsp;</p>
  1334.  
  1335.  
  1336.  
  1337. <p>He also won about $250 at a pool tournament, and that money went toward purchases at a craft supply store.&nbsp;</p>
  1338.  
  1339.  
  1340.  
  1341. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="586" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/4_Smith_Perspective-Turbulence-1.jpg?resize=780%2C586&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-129994" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/4_Smith_Perspective-Turbulence-1.jpg?w=964&amp;ssl=1 964w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/4_Smith_Perspective-Turbulence-1.jpg?resize=760%2C571&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/4_Smith_Perspective-Turbulence-1.jpg?resize=768%2C577&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/4_Smith_Perspective-Turbulence-1.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/4_Smith_Perspective-Turbulence-1.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/4_Smith_Perspective-Turbulence-1.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/4_Smith_Perspective-Turbulence-1.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/4_Smith_Perspective-Turbulence-1.jpg?resize=706%2C530&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/4_Smith_Perspective-Turbulence-1.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Artist T.J. Smith&#8217;s painting &#8220;Perspective Turbulence.&#8221; (Photo by T.J. Smith)</figcaption></figure>
  1342.  
  1343.  
  1344.  
  1345. <p>During that inspired period, Smith painted a piece he initially titled, “Perspective Turbulence,” because he constructed it with no definitive focal point.&nbsp;</p>
  1346.  
  1347.  
  1348.  
  1349. <p>As with a lot of his art, the picture contains hidden imagery, like the psilocybin mushrooms you can spot in the ear of the anthropomorphic, scale-bearing individual if you observe from the right angle.&nbsp;</p>
  1350.  
  1351.  
  1352.  
  1353. <p>A pointing figure functions as a harbinger of doom, directing the onlooker’s attention to where it otherwise might not be drawn, warning people to escape as an explosion occurs in the distance, which Smith thinks he could’ve depicted a little better by darkening the bottom to clarify that the explosion is occurring celestially.&nbsp;</p>
  1354.  
  1355.  
  1356.  
  1357. <p>He attributes some of this darker work to his struggles with addiction, like a piece centering a centipede that he started but never finished.&nbsp;</p>
  1358.  
  1359.  
  1360.  
  1361. <p>“You can just tell there’s a lot of agony in it,” he said. “It’s like a cityscape, but the cityscape was eventually going to be empty fifths of vodka and wine bottles and stuff.”&nbsp;</p>
  1362.  
  1363.  
  1364.  
  1365. <p>Smith said there’s still some 20 hours of detail missing. While he neglected to complete the critical, symbolic depiction of dependence on alcohol in the artwork, he managed to escape addiction in his personal life, but not without scars.&nbsp;</p>
  1366.  
  1367.  
  1368.  
  1369. <p>A few years back, a good friend who appreciated Smith’s artwork had been holed up in his room for a long while. Smith gave some of his recent work to this friend’s mother so she could bring it back and show her son. Then his friend died.&nbsp;</p>
  1370.  
  1371.  
  1372.  
  1373. <p>He sobered up a week or two afterward. He also stopped painting.&nbsp;</p>
  1374.  
  1375.  
  1376.  
  1377. <p>Smith recalled being miserable while he was drinking and at the time thinking the misery would go away once he got sober. He later learned it doesn’t always work like that, as hard realities remain.&nbsp;</p>
  1378.  
  1379.  
  1380.  
  1381. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots"/>
  1382.  
  1383.  
  1384.  
  1385. <p class="has-drop-cap">Another artist in town, Blake Weiss, who previously struggled with addiction to hard drugs, used to make music and draw with Smith.&nbsp;</p>
  1386.  
  1387.  
  1388.  
  1389. <p>“Most of our sketches weren’t about the sketches,” Smith, who’s just a few years his senior, said. “We were trying to produce ways of escaping reality, pretty much.”&nbsp;</p>
  1390.  
  1391.  
  1392.  
  1393. <p>For a while, Weiss worked at a local creamery, located on the outskirts of town past the <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/the-rise-and-fall-of-jeremy-hammond-enemy-of-the-state-183599/">notorious state prison</a>. It was better than his previous warehouse job, and he got to learn about cheese and acquire new skills.&nbsp;</p>
  1394.  
  1395.  
  1396.  
  1397. <p>But he left for a position as a custodian at Greenville University.</p>
  1398.  
  1399.  
  1400.  
  1401. <p>“I can listen to music all day and I can listen to podcasts,” said Weiss, who now studies music as an undergraduate at the school. “So I get to listen to creative stuff all day long and I work by myself so I&#8217;m constantly writing songs in my head. I&#8217;m constantly taking notes. I&#8217;m so blessed for the job I have right now because I clean a music center and I go to college there so it&#8217;s like I&#8217;m surrounded by this music stuff all day.”</p>
  1402.  
  1403.  
  1404.  
  1405. <div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-10 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex">
  1406. <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
  1407. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="720" height="960" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/6_Weiss_Guitar_Custodian-Shirt_2.jpg?resize=720%2C960&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-129995" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/6_Weiss_Guitar_Custodian-Shirt_2.jpg?w=720&amp;ssl=1 720w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/6_Weiss_Guitar_Custodian-Shirt_2.jpg?resize=570%2C760&amp;ssl=1 570w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/6_Weiss_Guitar_Custodian-Shirt_2.jpg?resize=600%2C800&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/6_Weiss_Guitar_Custodian-Shirt_2.jpg?resize=450%2C600&amp;ssl=1 450w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/6_Weiss_Guitar_Custodian-Shirt_2.jpg?resize=300%2C400&amp;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/6_Weiss_Guitar_Custodian-Shirt_2.jpg?resize=150%2C200&amp;ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/6_Weiss_Guitar_Custodian-Shirt_2.jpg?resize=400%2C533&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/6_Weiss_Guitar_Custodian-Shirt_2.jpg?resize=706%2C941&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/6_Weiss_Guitar_Custodian-Shirt_2.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Artist and musician Blake Weiss works as a custodian at Greenville University. (Photo provided by Blake Weiss)</figcaption></figure>
  1408. </div>
  1409.  
  1410.  
  1411.  
  1412. <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
  1413. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="720" height="960" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/7_Weiss_Artwork-2.jpg?resize=720%2C960&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-129996" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/7_Weiss_Artwork-2.jpg?w=720&amp;ssl=1 720w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/7_Weiss_Artwork-2.jpg?resize=570%2C760&amp;ssl=1 570w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/7_Weiss_Artwork-2.jpg?resize=600%2C800&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/7_Weiss_Artwork-2.jpg?resize=450%2C600&amp;ssl=1 450w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/7_Weiss_Artwork-2.jpg?resize=300%2C400&amp;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/7_Weiss_Artwork-2.jpg?resize=150%2C200&amp;ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/7_Weiss_Artwork-2.jpg?resize=400%2C533&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/7_Weiss_Artwork-2.jpg?resize=706%2C941&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/7_Weiss_Artwork-2.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">&#8220;We were trying to produce ways of escaping reality,&#8221; Weiss said of drawing with his friend T.J. Smith. (Photo by Blake Weiss)</figcaption></figure>
  1414. </div>
  1415. </div>
  1416.  
  1417.  
  1418.  
  1419. <p>The school heavily invests in and supports the arts, and its produced notable bands like <a href="https://www.jarsofclay.com/">Jars of Clay</a>. Nevertheless, the religious orientation of Greenville University – formerly Greenville College – can, at times and from an artist’s perspective, impede creative expression in the small town.&nbsp;</p>
  1420.  
  1421.  
  1422.  
  1423. <p>“I don’t have a problem with the Christian undertone,” Weiss said. “But when they try to police things and say that’s not Christian, that just drives me nuts.”&nbsp;</p>
  1424.  
  1425.  
  1426.  
  1427. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots"/>
  1428.  
  1429.  
  1430.  
  1431. <p class="has-drop-cap">Like the university that exerts preponderant influence in the rural town of about 7,000 residents, and like the work available to men such as Weiss, Smith and Pearman, the Southern Illinois cultural milieu enables and obstructs art as a way of life.&nbsp;</p>
  1432.  
  1433.  
  1434.  
  1435. <p>“I notice a lot of people in small towns, there’s some really creative people,” Weiss said. “I think [a small town] breeds that because you’re looking for something. You’re looking for some kind of outlet because you don’t really know what to do. It’s just different from city life.”&nbsp;</p>
  1436.  
  1437.  
  1438.  
  1439. <p>One of his friends and a fellow artist and musician, Jeremy Darbyshire, who used to work with Weiss at the local IGA grocery store, understands better than most how the environment can both nourish and strangle the creative spirit.&nbsp;</p>
  1440.  
  1441.  
  1442.  
  1443. <p>“Growing up autistic, it was a difficult challenge,” explained Darbyshire, who’s a few years younger than Weiss. “I just found this place to be just a living hellhole because I knew I was different and people would often remind me how different I was. It just kind of threw me into this spiral of depression and anxiety and I kind of acted out in my own way. But now that I know better and I can be who I want to be now, I find the quieter life here to be much more preferable than if I just happened to say, ‘screw it’, and go somewhere else where nobody knows who I am and start on a clean slate. I just find the familiarity of the people and my experiences here to be what drives me the most creatively.”&nbsp;</p>
  1444.  
  1445.  
  1446.  
  1447. <p>Similar to Pearman, who said some of his work represents the beauty of the natural world because of Greenville’s abundant trees and verdant topography – and thanks in part to the proximity of the <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/shawnee">Shawnee National Forest</a> located about 140 miles south of the town – Darbyshire also paints landscapes, fields, and other wide open spaces. He enjoys escapism through artwork, but the people he works with also help make his artistic life possible.&nbsp;</p>
  1448.  
  1449.  
  1450.  
  1451. <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="589" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Evil-Dead-cabin-1.jpg?resize=780%2C589&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-129998" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Evil-Dead-cabin-1.jpg?resize=1296%2C978&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Evil-Dead-cabin-1.jpg?resize=760%2C574&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Evil-Dead-cabin-1.jpg?resize=768%2C580&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Evil-Dead-cabin-1.jpg?resize=1536%2C1159&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Evil-Dead-cabin-1.jpg?resize=2048%2C1546&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Evil-Dead-cabin-1.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Evil-Dead-cabin-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C906&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Evil-Dead-cabin-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C773&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Evil-Dead-cabin-1.jpg?resize=1568%2C1183&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Evil-Dead-cabin-1.jpg?resize=2000%2C1509&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Evil-Dead-cabin-1.jpg?resize=400%2C302&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Evil-Dead-cabin-1.jpg?resize=706%2C533&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pearman_Evil-Dead-cabin-1-1296x978.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The landscape of rural southern Illinois inspires the art of Pearman and his friends. (Artwork by Brian Pearman)</figcaption></figure>
  1452.  
  1453.  
  1454.  
  1455. <p>“Currently, I still find a little creativity in how I interact with people, my coworkers over at a pizza joint – the Casey&#8217;s General Store – and I&#8217;m also thankful for that gig because it&#8217;s easier to manage [than previous jobs] and I find myself a lot more mellowed out than I used to be,” he said in 2023. “And some people there are very interesting in the way that they go about things, and that&#8217;s kind of been an inspiration, just observing just general people.”&nbsp;</p>
  1456.  
  1457.  
  1458.  
  1459. <p>Darbyshire identifies with a bisexual orientation, which contributed to some feelings of estrangement by the time he reached high school. Art provides shared meaning and experience that reflects and transcends those differences.&nbsp;</p>
  1460.  
  1461.  
  1462.  
  1463. <p>“One of the most fulfilling things is just having that understanding,” he said. “And you get on the level. You realize you’re not so different from people after all, I guess.”&nbsp;</p>
  1464.  
  1465.  
  1466.  
  1467. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots"/>
  1468.  
  1469.  
  1470.  
  1471. <p class="has-drop-cap">Working-class art in rural South-Central Illinois can come in the form of social commentary too, as with “The Rise and Fall of Man,” a product of alcohol-based copic markers and Pearman’s Kubric-caliber imagination.&nbsp;</p>
  1472.  
  1473.  
  1474.  
  1475. <p>Replete with subconscious influences from <em>2001: A Space Odyssey</em>, the piece features proto-human silhouettes representing evolutionary change near the top left, and the star baby a little below and to the right within a set of overlapping circles that, taken together, constitute the Tree of Life.&nbsp;</p>
  1476.  
  1477.  
  1478.  
  1479. <p>Within the lower, earthly realm, a figure at the bottom in a top hat symbolizes avaricious bankers. Beyond the criticism of financial capitalism, the donkey and the elephant on the banker’s breast pockets says something about the entrenched two-party political system in the United States.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
  1480.  
  1481.  
  1482. <div class="wp-block-image">
  1483. <figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="1216" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/8_Pearman_The-Rise-and-Fall-of-Man-1.jpg?resize=780%2C1216&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-129997" style="width:323px;height:auto" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/8_Pearman_The-Rise-and-Fall-of-Man-1.jpg?resize=831%2C1296&amp;ssl=1 831w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/8_Pearman_The-Rise-and-Fall-of-Man-1.jpg?resize=487%2C760&amp;ssl=1 487w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/8_Pearman_The-Rise-and-Fall-of-Man-1.jpg?resize=768%2C1198&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/8_Pearman_The-Rise-and-Fall-of-Man-1.jpg?resize=985%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 985w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/8_Pearman_The-Rise-and-Fall-of-Man-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C1871&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/8_Pearman_The-Rise-and-Fall-of-Man-1.jpg?resize=657%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 657w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/8_Pearman_The-Rise-and-Fall-of-Man-1.jpg?resize=400%2C624&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/8_Pearman_The-Rise-and-Fall-of-Man-1.jpg?resize=706%2C1101&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/8_Pearman_The-Rise-and-Fall-of-Man-1.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/8_Pearman_The-Rise-and-Fall-of-Man-1-831x1296.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">&#8220;The Rise and Fall of Man&#8221; by Brian Pearman</figcaption></figure></div>
  1484.  
  1485.  
  1486. <p>“They&#8217;re all owned, bought and sold from the same people,” Pearman said about the Democrats and Republicans.&nbsp;</p>
  1487.  
  1488.  
  1489.  
  1490. <p>Influential individuals throughout history – Washington, Hitler, Caesar, Henry VIII and Napoleon – look on at the destruction in disbelief, despite also having done atrocious things, and beneath them, the devil looms over the banker’s shoulder, in case anyone was unsure about who’s really pulling the strings while civilization gets sacrificed for profit.</p>
  1491.  
  1492.  
  1493.  
  1494. <p>Consider the context that gives rise to these incisive works: Hot and humid summers, brutally cold, character-building winters, often limited socioeconomic and recreational opportunities, exposure to what some have termed “<a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/03/18/817687042/deaths-of-despair-examines-the-steady-erosion-of-u-s-working-class-life">deaths of despair</a>.”</p>
  1495.  
  1496.  
  1497.  
  1498. <p>Perhaps the lived experience of Midwestern artists, as well as the <a href="https://www.racket.news/p/msnbc-paul-krugman-panic-over-white">classist contempt and expressions of presumed superiority</a> coming from purported progressives and others in urban coastal areas, can be credited in part for producing the poignant symbolism coming out of rural Illinois.&nbsp;</p>
  1499.  
  1500.  
  1501.  
  1502. <p>While Pearman remains prolific and <a href="https://waywards.substack.com/p/lessons-from-a-southern-illinois">can’t seem to stop creating</a>, his generation is getting older.&nbsp;</p>
  1503.  
  1504.  
  1505.  
  1506. <p>Weiss said he knows talented individuals from Greenville who have either moved away or who have had to devote much of their time and energy to family and work at the expense of art.</p>
  1507.  
  1508.  
  1509.  
  1510. <p>“Some people have lost some motivation because so many people have tried so long to do something with their art … and after a while you get stuck in a rut,” he said. “You&#8217;ll still always have art as an outlet, personally, but it&#8217;s like, a lot of people are like, ‘Man, I just want to get out there. I want to be able to survive on my art.’ … And a lot of us have had to settle for something we don&#8217;t really want to do to get by.”&nbsp;</p>
  1511.  
  1512.  
  1513.  
  1514. <p>There used to be more community among artists and musicians, especially those around his age, in Greenville, he added.&nbsp;</p>
  1515.  
  1516.  
  1517.  
  1518. <p>Still, the town continues to produce ways of life that encourage working-class artists to explore the <a href="https://www.marcuse.org/herbert/publications/1970s/1979-aesthetic-dimension.html">aesthetic dimension</a>, a realm of serious play that can represent the awesomeness of the rustic, quotidian world while simultaneously indicting the forces that both inhibit and compel the kind of creative freedom unique to “flyover country.”&nbsp;</p>
  1519.  
  1520.  
  1521.  
  1522. <p>“I can quite literally put anything down on paper that I can think of, and it governs a sense of freedom from that,” Pearman explained. “If I have a bad day at work, or things just don&#8217;t seem to be going my way, I can sit down with a pencil and paper and get all of those frustrations out. Creativity cannot be taken away from someone. Even if no one ever sees a single one of my artworks again, I&#8217;ll keep doing it because it&#8217;s something that no one else can ruin for me.”</p>
  1523.  
  1524.  
  1525.  
  1526. <p><em>Editor&#8217;s Note: While growing up, James Anderson was friends with two of the four artists quoted in this piece. In addition, one of the other artists, Blake Weiss, is now the author&#8217;s brother-in-law.</em></p>
  1527.  
  1528.  
  1529.  
  1530. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots"/>
  1531. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/when-blue-collar-work-means-more-mental-energy-for-art/2024/04/16/">When Blue Collar Work Means More Energy for Art</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
  1532. ]]></content:encoded>
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  1535. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  1538. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">129944</post-id> </item>
  1539. <item>
  1540. <title>Repairing the Pipeline for Rural Career and Technical Educators in Wyoming</title>
  1541. <link>https://dailyyonder.com/repairing-the-pipeline-for-rural-career-and-technical-educators-in-wyoming/2024/04/15/</link>
  1542. <comments>https://dailyyonder.com/repairing-the-pipeline-for-rural-career-and-technical-educators-in-wyoming/2024/04/15/#respond</comments>
  1544. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Lane Wendell Fischer]]></dc:creator>
  1545. <pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  1546. <category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
  1547. <category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
  1548. <category><![CDATA[Labor]]></category>
  1549. <category><![CDATA[Yonder Report]]></category>
  1550. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dailyyonder.com/?p=130336</guid>
  1551.  
  1552. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="683" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/syd-mills-sPl7FgBalxI-unsplash.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/syd-mills-sPl7FgBalxI-unsplash.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/syd-mills-sPl7FgBalxI-unsplash.jpg?resize=760%2C507&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/syd-mills-sPl7FgBalxI-unsplash.jpg?resize=1296%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/syd-mills-sPl7FgBalxI-unsplash.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/syd-mills-sPl7FgBalxI-unsplash.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/syd-mills-sPl7FgBalxI-unsplash.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/syd-mills-sPl7FgBalxI-unsplash.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/syd-mills-sPl7FgBalxI-unsplash.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/syd-mills-sPl7FgBalxI-unsplash.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/syd-mills-sPl7FgBalxI-unsplash.jpg?resize=400%2C267&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/syd-mills-sPl7FgBalxI-unsplash.jpg?resize=706%2C471&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/syd-mills-sPl7FgBalxI-unsplash.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  1553. <p>Hiring and maintaining a qualified educator workforce is often a primary concern for rural schools across the country, requiring local education leaders to create innovative solutions. The University of Wyoming’s College of Education has recently partnered with local community colleges across the state to repair a pipeline for future Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers [&#8230;]</p>
  1554. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/repairing-the-pipeline-for-rural-career-and-technical-educators-in-wyoming/2024/04/15/">Repairing the Pipeline for Rural Career and Technical Educators in Wyoming</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
  1555. ]]></description>
  1556. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="683" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/syd-mills-sPl7FgBalxI-unsplash.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/syd-mills-sPl7FgBalxI-unsplash.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/syd-mills-sPl7FgBalxI-unsplash.jpg?resize=760%2C507&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/syd-mills-sPl7FgBalxI-unsplash.jpg?resize=1296%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/syd-mills-sPl7FgBalxI-unsplash.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/syd-mills-sPl7FgBalxI-unsplash.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/syd-mills-sPl7FgBalxI-unsplash.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/syd-mills-sPl7FgBalxI-unsplash.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/syd-mills-sPl7FgBalxI-unsplash.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/syd-mills-sPl7FgBalxI-unsplash.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/syd-mills-sPl7FgBalxI-unsplash.jpg?resize=400%2C267&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/syd-mills-sPl7FgBalxI-unsplash.jpg?resize=706%2C471&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/syd-mills-sPl7FgBalxI-unsplash.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  1557. <p>Hiring and maintaining a qualified educator workforce is often a primary concern for rural schools across the country, requiring local education leaders to create innovative solutions.</p>
  1558.  
  1559.  
  1560.  
  1561. <p>The University of Wyoming’s College of Education has recently partnered with local community colleges across the state to repair a pipeline for future <a href="https://www.acteonline.org/why-cte/what-is-cte/">Career and Technical Education</a> (CTE) teachers at high schools and community colleges.&nbsp;</p>
  1562.  
  1563.  
  1564.  
  1565. <p>CTE programs offer students an array of skills-based learning opportunities for many high-demand industries ranging from construction, to nursing, to marketing.</p>
  1566.  
  1567.  
  1568.  
  1569. <p>For decades, Wyoming has relied on traditional methods to fill out its CTE teacher workforce. After completing a two-year associate’s degree at their community college, students could either enter the trades or take another two years of teacher training.&nbsp;</p>
  1570.  
  1571.  
  1572. <div class="wp-block-image">
  1573. <figure class="alignleft size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-creedon-newell2.jpeg?resize=768%2C1024&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-130340" style="width:313px;height:auto" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-creedon-newell2.jpeg?w=768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-creedon-newell2.jpeg?resize=570%2C760&amp;ssl=1 570w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-creedon-newell2.jpeg?resize=600%2C800&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-creedon-newell2.jpeg?resize=450%2C600&amp;ssl=1 450w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-creedon-newell2.jpeg?resize=300%2C400&amp;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-creedon-newell2.jpeg?resize=150%2C200&amp;ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-creedon-newell2.jpeg?resize=400%2C533&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-creedon-newell2.jpeg?resize=706%2C941&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-creedon-newell2.jpeg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Creedon Newell practices teaching construction skills in Wyoming’s new career and technical educator bridge course, designed to encourage trades students and professionals to pursue a career in CTE teaching. (Photo by Rob Hill)</figcaption></figure></div>
  1574.  
  1575.  
  1576. <p>“It was very much a fork in the road,” said Rob Hill, a CTE consultant for the University of Wyoming and president of SkillsUSA Wyoming. Hill became a Wyoming CTE teacher through this traditional path.</p>
  1577.  
  1578.  
  1579.  
  1580. <p>“You had to take life off and go to school,” Hill said. “That limited a lot of people, especially students with families, jobs, and homes.”</p>
  1581.  
  1582.  
  1583.  
  1584. <p>As it turned out, most students never completed the final two years of teacher training and just entered the trades after the first two years at their community college, Hill said in an interview with the Daily Yonder.</p>
  1585.  
  1586.  
  1587.  
  1588. <p>This outdated pipeline has contributed to a shortage of both CTE teachers and skilled workers in the state.</p>
  1589.  
  1590.  
  1591.  
  1592. <p>According to a 2023 report from the Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board, the median age of CTE teachers in Wyoming schools is 52, and <a href="https://ctepolicywatch.acteonline.org/2023/07/analysis-of-national-data-illustrates-cte-teacher-shortages.html#:~:text=Most%20concerningly%20for%20CTE%20advocates%2C%20CTE%20teachers%20are%20older%20than%20the%20public%20teacher%20workforce%20in%20general%3A%2012.7%25%20of%20CTE%20teachers%20are%2060%20years%20of%20age%20or%20older%2C%20compared%20to%207.9%25%20overall">national numbers</a> are similar. Compare this to the average age of all teachers in the U.S., which is just over 42.&nbsp;</p>
  1593.  
  1594.  
  1595.  
  1596. <p>On average, a state employee in Wyoming retires at 62. This means that in the next 7 to 10 years, Wyoming could lose close to half of its CTE workforce to retirement.</p>
  1597.  
  1598.  
  1599.  
  1600. <p>“We’ve seen a number of things that have impacted us and that rural part is very real,” Hill said.</p>
  1601.  
  1602.  
  1603.  
  1604. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="554" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Wyoming-cte-map.png?resize=780%2C554&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-130349" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Wyoming-cte-map.png?w=820&amp;ssl=1 820w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Wyoming-cte-map.png?resize=760%2C539&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Wyoming-cte-map.png?resize=768%2C545&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Wyoming-cte-map.png?resize=400%2C284&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Wyoming-cte-map.png?resize=706%2C501&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Wyoming-cte-map.png?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Wyoming’s higher educational institutions are spread across hundreds of miles. Their new bridge course is designed to connect students from these far away communities to the state’s CTE teacher network, in hopes of inspiring the next generation of CTE teachers in Wyoming. (Illustration from University of Wyoming College of Education)</figcaption></figure>
  1605.  
  1606.  
  1607.  
  1608. <p>In rural communities, a CTE program might only consist of one or two teachers. When that school loses a teacher, the whole program is at risk until a qualified replacement is found.&nbsp;</p>
  1609.  
  1610.  
  1611.  
  1612. <p>During a recent tour of Wyoming’s school districts, Jenna Shim, PhD and interim dean of the College of Education, learned that some high school CTE programs are closing down because they couldn’t find replacements.</p>
  1613.  
  1614.  
  1615.  
  1616. <p>“One CTE teacher shared with me that he has a specialty in welding, but he has to teach culinary arts,” Shim told the Daily Yonder. “I could see welding and construction, but welding and culinary arts seem like a far stretch.”</p>
  1617.  
  1618.  
  1619.  
  1620. <p>And it can be difficult to attract new talent to small schools and communities.&nbsp;</p>
  1621.  
  1622.  
  1623.  
  1624. <p>“We tend to do best with people that are invested in that community previously and become teachers, as opposed to bringing in teachers into small communities,” Hill said.</p>
  1625.  
  1626.  
  1627.  
  1628. <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The CTE Domino Effect in Rural Communities</strong></h3>
  1629.  
  1630.  
  1631.  
  1632. <p>Adding to the difficulty of attracting new teachers is a domino effect caused by current teacher shortages, Shim and Hill said.</p>
  1633.  
  1634.  
  1635.  
  1636. <p>A shortage of educators leads to a shortage of high school CTE programs, which leads to a shortage of students pursuing CTE in the state, followed by a shortage of tradespeople in the state, and a shortage of essential services, which, in turn, leads to less attractive communities.</p>
  1637.  
  1638.  
  1639.  
  1640. <p>On top of educational advancement for students, repairing CTE teacher pipelines through state and local partnerships helps assemble the next generation of rural water experts, plumbers, electricians, technicians, mechanics, and more, Hill said.</p>
  1641.  
  1642.  
  1643.  
  1644. <p>“It has a trickle-down effect into the stability of the community,” Shim said.</p>
  1645.  
  1646.  
  1647.  
  1648. <p>And in rural communities, small fluctuations in population, programs, and services can be especially catastrophic — or especially beneficial.&nbsp;</p>
  1649.  
  1650.  
  1651.  
  1652. <p>“It doesn’t seem like a big deal if you don’t have one teacher,” Hill said. “But that one teacher in a town of 2000 people that teaches welding, where you have a huge welding industry, that has an extremely large impact.”</p>
  1653.  
  1654.  
  1655. <div class="wp-block-image">
  1656. <figure class="alignright size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="600" height="800" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-rachel-lear1.jpg?resize=600%2C800&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-130350" style="width:314px;height:auto" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-rachel-lear1.jpg?w=600&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-rachel-lear1.jpg?resize=570%2C760&amp;ssl=1 570w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-rachel-lear1.jpg?resize=450%2C600&amp;ssl=1 450w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-rachel-lear1.jpg?resize=300%2C400&amp;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-rachel-lear1.jpg?resize=150%2C200&amp;ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-rachel-lear1.jpg?resize=400%2C533&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-rachel-lear1.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rachel Lear practices teaching construction skills in Wyoming’s new career and technical educator bridge course, designed to encourage trades students and professionals to pursue a career in CTE teaching. (Photo by Rob Hill)</figcaption></figure></div>
  1657.  
  1658.  
  1659. <p>The broken pipeline has also raised economic concerns. “Without a sufficient number of teachers, it’s hard to prepare a sufficient workforce,” Shim said.</p>
  1660.  
  1661.  
  1662.  
  1663. <p>Two key industries in Wyoming are energy and tourism. Both rely heavily on skilled workers. And both are susceptible to booms and busts that give local communities economic whiplash.</p>
  1664.  
  1665.  
  1666.  
  1667. <p>“Over the last decade especially, there’s been a real desire to diversify our workforce,” Hill said. “And that means a different generation of career and technical education, like manufacturing, cybersecurity, and data analysis.”</p>
  1668.  
  1669.  
  1670.  
  1671. <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Repairing the Pipeline</strong></h3>
  1672.  
  1673.  
  1674.  
  1675. <p>The biggest problem in the previous CTE teacher pipeline was continuity, Hill said. The pathway to teacher certification in rural communities must be both attractive and achievable.</p>
  1676.  
  1677.  
  1678.  
  1679. <p>This spring, the College of Education piloted a new course that aims to do both by exposing community college students to CTE teaching before they complete their associate’s degree and decide between trades work or teaching.&nbsp;</p>
  1680.  
  1681.  
  1682.  
  1683. <p>“Creating a more seamless pathway is a real goal here,” Hill explained.&nbsp;</p>
  1684.  
  1685.  
  1686.  
  1687. <p>The bridge course will be offered each semester in partnership with all eight community colleges in the state and is inherently low stakes. The course credits can be applied toward an associate’s degree at the community college, toward their teaching degree at the university, or toward any other bachelor’s degree they pursue.</p>
  1688.  
  1689.  
  1690.  
  1691. <p>In the course, students get a taste of what a career in CTE teaching is like. Coordinated by Hill, the course is one dose online learning and one dose on-site learning. Hill leads the online classroom, where students learn about different national and statewide topics. “But students will learn about how it’s implemented locally,” Hill said.&nbsp;</p>
  1692.  
  1693.  
  1694.  
  1695. <p>Each community college has a community college professional and a school district professional that serve as a mentor and safety net for local students, introducing them to CTE leaders at both levels.&nbsp;</p>
  1696.  
  1697.  
  1698.  
  1699. <p>One area of misconception is how much CTE teachers are paid, Shim said.</p>
  1700.  
  1701.  
  1702.  
  1703. <p>“I think wages scare them most,” Hill said. “But in Wyoming, our hourly wage is higher than many of the trades folks. We have pensions. We have healthcare. It’s a lot more competitive than folks think it is.”</p>
  1704.  
  1705.  
  1706.  
  1707. <p>The organization of the course is a masterclass in rural ingenuity. By using technology, the course eliminates long distance travel to the university campus in Laramie on the southern border of the state. It allows students to remain in their local communities, while still being connected to the state’s CTE teacher network.</p>
  1708.  
  1709.  
  1710.  
  1711. <figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped is-style-rectangular wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex">
  1712. <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="489" data-id="130354" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-student-affiliation-1-1.png?resize=780%2C489&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-130354" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-student-affiliation-1-1.png?w=862&amp;ssl=1 862w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-student-affiliation-1-1.png?resize=760%2C476&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-student-affiliation-1-1.png?resize=768%2C481&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-student-affiliation-1-1.png?resize=400%2C251&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-student-affiliation-1-1.png?resize=706%2C442&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-student-affiliation-1-1.png?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></figure>
  1713.  
  1714.  
  1715.  
  1716. <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="535" data-id="130355" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-student-backgrounds-2.png?resize=780%2C535&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-130355" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-student-backgrounds-2.png?w=782&amp;ssl=1 782w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-student-backgrounds-2.png?resize=760%2C521&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-student-backgrounds-2.png?resize=768%2C526&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-student-backgrounds-2.png?resize=400%2C274&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-student-backgrounds-2.png?resize=706%2C484&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/wyoming-cte-student-backgrounds-2.png?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></figure>
  1717. <figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption">Of the 22 students currently enrolled in the program, just half are traditional community college students. The other half of the class consists of veterans, community college instructors, K-12 instructors, and paraprofessionals. (Illustrations from University of Wyoming College of Education)</figcaption></figure>
  1718.  
  1719.  
  1720.  
  1721. <p>“We knew we had a statewide problem and we needed to create a statewide solution, or in this case, a local solution for a statewide problem,” Hill said. “This is about connecting people in Wyoming. Because we have these vast distances between us, we have to have a way to connect people.”</p>
  1722.  
  1723.  
  1724.  
  1725. <p>Twenty-two students are currently enrolled in the pilot course. Half of the inaugural cohort are community college students. The other half includes veterans, community college instructors, K-12 instructors, and paraprofessionals who are exploring their future career options.</p>
  1726.  
  1727.  
  1728.  
  1729. <p>The course has garnered support from state legislators, the university, the colleges, local high schools, local business, and from the students themselves.&nbsp;</p>
  1730.  
  1731.  
  1732.  
  1733. <p>Each of the enrolled students is taking the course tuition-free, thanks to scholarships from local businesses and private donors.</p>
  1734.  
  1735.  
  1736.  
  1737. <p>“Word is getting out,” Shim said. “I think that’s a testimony for how important this work is.”</p>
  1738.  
  1739.  
  1740.  
  1741. <p>Strong CTE programs lead to strong communities, Shim and Hill said. A lot of high school CTE programs are embedded into community culture. Organizations like FFA provide opportunities for social gathering and community service, for example.&nbsp;</p>
  1742.  
  1743.  
  1744.  
  1745. <p>“We&#8217;ve come up with a mutually beneficial solution and this takes a partnership and teamwork,” Hill said. “No significant advances take place without a group of us working together in a mutually beneficial system.”</p>
  1746. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/repairing-the-pipeline-for-rural-career-and-technical-educators-in-wyoming/2024/04/15/">Repairing the Pipeline for Rural Career and Technical Educators in Wyoming</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
  1747. ]]></content:encoded>
  1749. <wfw:commentRss>https://dailyyonder.com/repairing-the-pipeline-for-rural-career-and-technical-educators-in-wyoming/2024/04/15/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
  1750. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  1753. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">130336</post-id> </item>
  1754. <item>
  1755. <title>Millions May Lose Internet Benefits If Lawmakers Don’t Act</title>
  1756. <link>https://dailyyonder.com/millions-may-lose-internet-benefits-if-lawmakers-dont-act/2024/04/15/</link>
  1757. <comments>https://dailyyonder.com/millions-may-lose-internet-benefits-if-lawmakers-dont-act/2024/04/15/#respond</comments>
  1759. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Aallyah Wright / Capital B]]></dc:creator>
  1760. <pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2024 09:59:00 +0000</pubDate>
  1761. <category><![CDATA[Broadband and Technology]]></category>
  1762. <category><![CDATA[repub]]></category>
  1763. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dailyyonder.com/?p=130000</guid>
  1764.  
  1765. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?fit=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?w=2048&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=760%2C570&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=1296%2C972&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=1568%2C1176&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=2000%2C1500&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=706%2C530&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?fit=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  1766. <p>This story was originally published by Capital B News. For years, Leon Hudson struggled to get high quality home internet in the countryside of Selma, Alabama.&#160; If he wanted the service, he would “have to get a petition, go to the neighborhood, and get people to sign it for them to put their stuff there,” [&#8230;]</p>
  1767. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/millions-may-lose-internet-benefits-if-lawmakers-dont-act/2024/04/15/">Millions May Lose Internet Benefits If Lawmakers Don’t Act</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
  1768. ]]></description>
  1769. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?fit=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?w=2048&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=760%2C570&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=1296%2C972&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=1568%2C1176&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=2000%2C1500&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=706%2C530&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Evelyn-Washington-Backyard-Aallyah-Wright.webp?fit=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  1770. <p class="has-text-align-center"><em>This story was originally published by <a href="https://capitalbnews.org/affordable-connectivity-program-funding/">Capital B News.</a></em></p>
  1771.  
  1772.  
  1773.  
  1774. <p>For years, Leon Hudson struggled to get high quality home internet in the countryside of Selma, Alabama.&nbsp;</p>
  1775.  
  1776.  
  1777.  
  1778. <p>If he wanted the service, he would “have to get a petition, go to the neighborhood, and get people to sign it for them to put their stuff there,” the 50-year-old recalled last fall about what internet service providers told him.</p>
  1779.  
  1780.  
  1781.  
  1782. <p>Hudson lives in a remote area with few neighbors. It wouldn’t be enough to satisfy a petition, let alone persuade internet providers to build infrastructure that’s costly and not economically feasible. Communities in rural areas shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to get a service that’s readily available in non-rural areas, residents have told Capital B<strong>.</strong></p>
  1783.  
  1784.  
  1785.  
  1786. <p>The only two providers available to him were HughesNet and Viasat, and they only provide satellite dish service. He signed up for HughesNet, which cost $200. The service was slow, unreliable, and expensive, he said, so he cut it off. But, he needed the internet to get his business off the ground.&nbsp;</p>
  1787.  
  1788.  
  1789. <div class="wp-block-image">
  1790. <figure class="alignleft size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="1040" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/High-Speed-sign-in-Sparta-GA-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=780%2C1040&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-130002" style="width:390px;height:auto" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/High-Speed-sign-in-Sparta-GA-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=972%2C1296&amp;ssl=1 972w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/High-Speed-sign-in-Sparta-GA-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=570%2C760&amp;ssl=1 570w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/High-Speed-sign-in-Sparta-GA-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=768%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/High-Speed-sign-in-Sparta-GA-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=1152%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1152w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/High-Speed-sign-in-Sparta-GA-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=900%2C1200&amp;ssl=1 900w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/High-Speed-sign-in-Sparta-GA-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=600%2C800&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/High-Speed-sign-in-Sparta-GA-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=450%2C600&amp;ssl=1 450w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/High-Speed-sign-in-Sparta-GA-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=300%2C400&amp;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/High-Speed-sign-in-Sparta-GA-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=150%2C200&amp;ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/High-Speed-sign-in-Sparta-GA-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=1200%2C1600&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/High-Speed-sign-in-Sparta-GA-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=400%2C533&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/High-Speed-sign-in-Sparta-GA-Aallyah-Wright.webp?resize=706%2C941&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/High-Speed-sign-in-Sparta-GA-Aallyah-Wright.webp?w=1536&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/High-Speed-sign-in-Sparta-GA-Aallyah-Wright-972x1296.webp?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The discount provided through the federal Affordable Connectivity Program can often mean the difference between having reliable internet service or not for many households. (Aallyah Wright/Capital B)</figcaption></figure></div>
  1791.  
  1792.  
  1793. <p>Last fall, he applied for the federal government’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fcc.gov/acp">Affordable Connectivity Program</a>&nbsp;through Xfinity, his mobile phone provider. The program, administered by the Federal Communications Commission, provides a discount of up to $30 per month ($75 for tribal households) toward internet service and mobile services, and a one-time discount up to $100 toward a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet for eligible low-income households.&nbsp;</p>
  1794.  
  1795.  
  1796.  
  1797. <p>He now pays only $30 per month for mobile hotspot and cellular service, but he received a notice in March that his benefit will soon be suspended. Without the discount, he can’t afford to pay the monthly expense. When asked last week how he will pay for the additional costs, Hudson told Capital B: “I have no choice but to figure it out.”</p>
  1798.  
  1799.  
  1800.  
  1801. <p>Hudson is one of the 23 million Americans who are at risk of losing internet access or forced to pay higher prices to keep subscriptions. The funds for the ACP program are drying up. With the program ending in May, it’s unclear whether Congress will&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fcc.gov/affordable-connectivity-program-consumer-faq#:~:text=May%202024%3A%20If%20Congress%20does,longer%20receive%20the%20ACP%20benefit.">reauthorize funding for the program</a>.</p>
  1802.  
  1803.  
  1804.  
  1805. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/>
  1806.  
  1807.  
  1808.  
  1809. <div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-11 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex">
  1810. <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
  1811. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="780" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-09-at-5.21.29-AM.png?resize=780%2C780&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-130589" style="width:396px;height:auto" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-09-at-5.21.29-AM.png?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-09-at-5.21.29-AM.png?resize=760%2C760&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-09-at-5.21.29-AM.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-09-at-5.21.29-AM.png?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-09-at-5.21.29-AM.png?resize=600%2C600&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-09-at-5.21.29-AM.png?resize=400%2C400&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-09-at-5.21.29-AM.png?resize=200%2C200&amp;ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-09-at-5.21.29-AM.png?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-09-at-5.21.29-AM.png?resize=706%2C706&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-09-at-5.21.29-AM.png?resize=100%2C100&amp;ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-09-at-5.21.29-AM.png?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></figure>
  1812. </div>
  1813.  
  1814.  
  1815.  
  1816. <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
  1817. <h1 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://dailyyonder.com/commentary-fcc-commissioner-we-cant-afford-to-lose-the-affordable-connectivity-program/2024/02/14/">Commentary: FCC Commissioner – ‘We Can’t Afford to Lose the Affordable Connectivity Program’</a></h1>
  1818. </div>
  1819. </div>
  1820.  
  1821.  
  1822.  
  1823. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/>
  1824.  
  1825.  
  1826.  
  1827. <p>Several organizations, including the&nbsp;<a href="https://naacp.org/resources/affordable-connectivity-program-supporting-affordable-internet-access">NAACP</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://colorofchange.org/press_release/color-of-change-pens-open-letter-to-biden-harris-administration-on-affordable-connectivity-program/">Color of Change</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://ourmayors.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/AAMA-ACP-Support-Letter.pdf">African American Mayors Association</a>, have urged Congress to pass the bipartisan Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024, which would provide $7 billion for the ACP program. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/3565">bill</a>&nbsp;has been referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee. If it passes, it will move to the U.S. Senate for discussion.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
  1828.  
  1829.  
  1830.  
  1831. <p>Brandon Forester, national organizer for internet rights at&nbsp;<a href="https://mediajustice.org/">MediaJustice</a>, fears the<strong>&nbsp;</strong>temporary lapse of the ACP could create additional hardships for individuals beyond being disconnected. In addition to the $7 billion, there needs to be more discussion about sustainability and&nbsp;<a href="https://capitalbnews.org/broadband-internet-black-rural-south/">addressing the root causes of the digital divide</a>. Partly, how federal funds go directly to the internet providers who refused to make infrastructure investments in the first place.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
  1832.  
  1833.  
  1834.  
  1835. <p>“I’m not saying we shouldn’t have the ACP, but it’s a Band-Aid — not a structural fix — that doesn’t go towards addressing the core issue,” Forester said. “In some ways, it inflames the core issue and inflates the issue of affordability.”&nbsp;</p>
  1836.  
  1837.  
  1838.  
  1839. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-it-s-so-much-more-than-the-internet">“It’s so much more than the internet”</h3>
  1840.  
  1841.  
  1842.  
  1843. <p>The program has been particularly helpful for low-income households in the rural South, where about 38% of Black households don’t have home internet — a higher percentage than white people in the same region and the national average.&nbsp;</p>
  1844.  
  1845.  
  1846.  
  1847. <p>Almost half of the households that enrolled in the program are military families, and nearly half were over the age of 50, according to a White House&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/02/06/fact-sheet-as-affordable-connectivity-program-hits-milestone-of-providing-affordable-high-speed-internet-to-23-million-households-nationwide-biden-harris-administration-calls-on-congress-t/#:~:text=1%2Din%2D4%20households%20participating,internet%20is%20generally%20more%20expensive.">fact sheet</a>. At least one in four households were African Americans.</p>
  1848.  
  1849.  
  1850.  
  1851. <p>Although 5.4 million rural households were eligible for the program, only 37% had enrolled, the lowest percentage of all geographies, an&nbsp;<a href="https://dailyyonder.com/rural-americans-were-less-likely-to-enroll-in-a-federal-broadband-assistance-program-now-its-too-late-to-sign-up/2024/02/13/?ref=broadbandbreakfast.com">analysis</a>&nbsp;by the Daily Yonder shows. Despite this, the rural South, where folks are least connected, had the best participation rates. About 41% of eligible rural households in the South enrolled, whereas about half of eligible urban households signed up.&nbsp;</p>
  1852.  
  1853.  
  1854.  
  1855. <p>Through The Black Churches 4 Digital Equity initiative, Pamela Price, deputy director of The Balm in Gilead in Virginia, made it a priority to enroll residents into the ACP program. She recalled their eagerness and genuine desire to learn and engage digitally. It wasn’t just about having the internet, but using it as a “launching pad” to connect with the larger world and improve their lives, she said.&nbsp;</p>
  1856.  
  1857.  
  1858.  
  1859. <p>“They were extremely excited to see all that could be done with a fully functioning laptop and quality broadband. They then could be able to improve their well-being and economic statuses for their family,” she added. “We showed them just by having one digital skill — knowing that 92% of all jobs today require you to have at least one digital skill — increases your earning potential. It’s so much more than the internet.”</p>
  1860.  
  1861.  
  1862.  
  1863. <iframe title="Southern Households Benefit Most from ACP" aria-label="Map" id="datawrapper-chart-4LIPI" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/4LIPI/4/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="502" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();</script>
  1864.  
  1865.  
  1866.  
  1867. <p>Despite the program’s success, outreach remained an issue.&nbsp;</p>
  1868.  
  1869.  
  1870.  
  1871. <p>Whether the program dies or gets a new life, organizers caution that the suspension of the benefits will erode trust they’ve worked so hard to build with Black communities, who already don’t trust the government.&nbsp;</p>
  1872.  
  1873.  
  1874.  
  1875. <p>“This was one that they volunteered for … and to now perhaps tell them, ‘Well you can keep it, but you’re going to have to pay what everybody else will be paying for it’ … it’s extremely disheartening,” Price said. “[We] consider how we will exhaust funds and find ways to pay for certain programs and activities for certain people in this country, as well as people outside of this country, but when it comes to something like the ACP, we can’t do it.”&nbsp;</p>
  1876.  
  1877.  
  1878.  
  1879. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/>
  1880.  
  1881.  
  1882.  
  1883. <div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-12 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex">
  1884. <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
  1885. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="459" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-09-at-5.22.55-AM.png?resize=780%2C459&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-130591" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-09-at-5.22.55-AM.png?w=1288&amp;ssl=1 1288w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-09-at-5.22.55-AM.png?resize=760%2C447&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-09-at-5.22.55-AM.png?resize=768%2C452&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-09-at-5.22.55-AM.png?resize=1200%2C706&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-09-at-5.22.55-AM.png?resize=1024%2C603&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-09-at-5.22.55-AM.png?resize=400%2C235&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-09-at-5.22.55-AM.png?resize=706%2C415&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-09-at-5.22.55-AM.png?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></figure>
  1886. </div>
  1887.  
  1888.  
  1889.  
  1890. <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
  1891. <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://dailyyonder.com/report-only-a-fraction-of-eligible-households-signed-up-for-emergency-broadband-benefit-service/2022/01/06/">Report: Only a Fraction of Eligible Households Signed up for Emergency Broadband Benefit Service<br></a></h2>
  1892. </div>
  1893. </div>
  1894.  
  1895.  
  1896.  
  1897. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/>
  1898.  
  1899.  
  1900.  
  1901. <p>They also wonder whether people will reapply for the program — a process that is tedious and requires participants to share sensitive information. Individuals must complete verification, find a provider who accepts ACP, and apply the subsidy to the internet plan.</p>
  1902.  
  1903.  
  1904.  
  1905. <p>The process can take up to 45 minutes. In some instances, it can take longer&nbsp;to get approval if the applicant runs into issues with documentation, said&nbsp;<a href="http://jointcenter.org/staff/#danielledavis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Danielle Davis</a>, director of technology policy at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.</p>
  1906.  
  1907.  
  1908.  
  1909. <p>Capital B submitted a FOIA request to the FCC requesting the complaints regarding the Affordable Connectivity Program from January 2022 to November 2023. Of 7,000 complaints filed, Capital B reviewed a sample of 900. We found that customers had challenges verifying documentation, receiving the subsidy, or reapplying for the benefits. Some people mentioned their internet service provider tried to upcharge them for the service.</p>
  1910.  
  1911.  
  1912.  
  1913. <p>“Approval is not always immediate; about 45% of applicants are actually rejected,” Davis told Capital B. “Additionally, many applicants just abandon their application before submitting them.”&nbsp;</p>
  1914.  
  1915.  
  1916.  
  1917. <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Other Options to Consider&nbsp;</h3>
  1918.  
  1919.  
  1920.  
  1921. <p>Although affordability is one of the largest barriers to broadband access, there hasn’t been enough focus on it, said Alisa Valentin, broadband policy director for&nbsp;<a href="https://publicknowledge.org/team_member/alisa-valentin/">Public Knowledge</a>. It wasn’t until the coronavirus pandemic hit that Congress instituted the Emergency Broadband Benefit program, a short-term emergency program to give up to $50 on internet service. That program ended in 2021 when the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law created the Affordable Connectivity Program.&nbsp;</p>
  1922.  
  1923.  
  1924.  
  1925. <p>Prior to that, the only program that existed for low-income residents was the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fcc.gov/lifeline-consumers">Lifeline program</a>, which was created in 1985 through the Universal Service Fund to provide monthly discounts to either telephone or broadband internet, or bundled services. But the subsidy, a $9.25 discount for eligible subscribers and up to $34 for tribal members, isn’t helpful for families, advocates told Capital B.&nbsp;</p>
  1926.  
  1927.  
  1928.  
  1929. <p>Advocates, organizers, and public interest groups aren’t giving up, as there are other legislative avenues to pursue if the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 doesn’t pass, Valentin said. One option: reform the Universal Service Fund and fold the ACP into the Lifeline program. On the state level, lawmakers can find ways to continue to fund the program.</p>
  1930.  
  1931.  
  1932.  
  1933. <p>The government isn’t alone in solving the problem. More pressure needs to be put on internet service providers, too, said Jillian Morrison, Delta Legal Fellow with the Delta Directions Consortium, a network of individuals, academic institutions, groups and foundations to create solutions and positive change for communities in the Mississippi Delta region. She has hosted ACP signup events in Mississippi.</p>
  1934.  
  1935.  
  1936.  
  1937. <p>Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, $42.5 billion went to states through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program to build out infrastructure. The infrastructure is contingent on people affording the service.</p>
  1938.  
  1939.  
  1940.  
  1941. <p>“It’s not good enough to just have the actual infrastructure, people have to be able to adopt it. So affordability is key,” Valentin added. “We know that a new digital divide can occur in the future, especially when you’re talking about artificial intelligence. We do not want communities to be behind because they don’t have an affordable, reliable broadband connection. There’s a lot at risk.”</p>
  1942.  
  1943.  
  1944.  
  1945. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots"/>
  1946.  
  1947.  
  1948.  
  1949. <p><em>Aallyah Wright is Capital B's rural issues reporter. Twitter @aallyahpatrice</em></p>
  1950. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/millions-may-lose-internet-benefits-if-lawmakers-dont-act/2024/04/15/">Millions May Lose Internet Benefits If Lawmakers Don’t Act</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
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  1957. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">130000</post-id> </item>
  1958. <item>
  1959. <title>Accidental Rancher: Shearer’s Dilemma </title>
  1960. <link>https://dailyyonder.com/accidental-rancher-shearers-dilemma/2024/04/12/</link>
  1961. <comments>https://dailyyonder.com/accidental-rancher-shearers-dilemma/2024/04/12/#respond</comments>
  1963. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliza Blue]]></dc:creator>
  1964. <pubDate>Fri, 12 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  1965. <category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
  1966. <category><![CDATA[Rural Life]]></category>
  1967. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dailyyonder.com/?p=128790</guid>
  1968.  
  1969. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="683" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?w=2304&amp;ssl=1 2304w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?resize=760%2C507&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?resize=1296%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?resize=400%2C267&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?resize=706%2C471&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  1970. <p>The annual sheep haircuts occurred this week, the earliest we’ve ever done them, and not a moment too soon. With the new miniature flock I brought home recently scheduled to start lambing in just under a month, it was either shear now, or wait until after lambing. Different shepherds have different opinions about shearing as [&#8230;]</p>
  1971. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/accidental-rancher-shearers-dilemma/2024/04/12/">Accidental Rancher: Shearer’s Dilemma </a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
  1972. ]]></description>
  1973. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="683" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?w=2304&amp;ssl=1 2304w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?resize=760%2C507&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?resize=1296%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?resize=400%2C267&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?resize=706%2C471&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ardiss-hutaff-_dnDJ_qbgkg-unsplash.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  1974. <p>The annual sheep haircuts occurred this week, the earliest we’ve ever done them, and not a moment too soon. With the new miniature flock I brought home recently scheduled to start lambing in just under a month, it was either shear now, or wait until after lambing.</p>
  1975.  
  1976.  
  1977.  
  1978. <p>Different shepherds have different opinions about shearing as it relates to pregnancy and lambing. Amongst my neighbors, most people chose to shear before they lamb. A few prefer to wait until after the babies arrive. For better or for worse, I don’t usually get to decide.</p>
  1979.  
  1980.  
  1981.  
  1982. <p>Most flocks around here are huge–they number in the hundreds–whereas I’ve never had more than 70 head (and most years, including this one, considerably less than that.) For a shearing crew that covers huge swaths of countryside during shearing season, setting aside a day to come to us when it’s only a few hours of work is a money losing proposition. So we wait until someone has a free morning or afternoon and we are thankful for their time.</p>
  1983.  
  1984.  
  1985.  
  1986. <p>Which brings me to the real topic of this column: Sheep shearers.&nbsp;</p>
  1987.  
  1988.  
  1989.  
  1990. <p>If you’ve ever watched a sheep shearer work, you know it is about as labor intensive a job as exists. These folks work hard, and it’s not just the physical prowess involved in the shearing, it’s dealing with the varied personalities of individual animals before and after the actual shearing takes place. Some sheep don’t mind being sheared (or at least don’t make a fuss) while others really, really mind, and aren’t afraid to let their feelings be known. Sheep are also sensitive and easily frightened, so the best shearers need to be strong, nimble, and efficient, moving quickly but gently. They also spend most of the procedure bent over, which makes my back hurt just watching from my position on the sidelines.</p>
  1991.  
  1992.  
  1993.  
  1994. <p>In truth, the whole process makes me feel more depressed every year. The price of wool is so low some producers don’t even bother to take it to a mill. Shearers can’t really charge what their time is worth, and consequently there are less and less people willing to do the job and do it well. Similarly, hair breeds are growing in popularity because they don’t need to be shorn at all.&nbsp;</p>
  1995.  
  1996.  
  1997.  
  1998. <p>Meanwhile, wool is awesome in the truest sense of the word. It’s biodegradable and it’s renewable for as long as there’s grass to graze and sheep breeds that keep needing haircuts. It’s breathable because of the way the individual fibers create tiny pockets of air that absorb and release moisture. Just as it does for the sheep wearing it, wool reacts to your body to keep you warm when it’s cold and cools you when it’s warm. It’s static and wrinkle and odor resistant. Wool is the result of thousands of years of collaboration between Mother Nature and human experimentation and even the advent of high tech synthetic fabrics hasn’t been able to fully replicate its wonders.</p>
  1999.  
  2000.  
  2001.  
  2002. <p>Because of the intricacies of supply chain economics, however, wool is now less desirable than vastly inferior products. And, just like almost everything else, the profit margin later in the supply chain is much larger than it is at the beginning. In other words, the ranchers, the farmers, and the shearers are making very little money, but chain stores do just fine selling you blended wool sweaters. </p>
  2003.  
  2004.  
  2005.  
  2006. <p>The detailed politics of the ag economy is hardly the purview of this column. I’ll leave that to those with a deeper knowledge of policy than my own. But I reserve the right to be sad and a little angry when I look at my sheep, the shearer, and those bags of wool lined up by the barn. It’s a darn shame, and I wish I knew how to change it.&nbsp;</p>
  2007.  
  2008.  
  2009.  
  2010. <p>For now, I’ll continue to brainstorm about the regional fibershed empire I am someday going to help create, because while I may not know how to solve this yet, I’m not giving up!</p>
  2011. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/accidental-rancher-shearers-dilemma/2024/04/12/">Accidental Rancher: Shearer’s Dilemma </a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
  2012. ]]></content:encoded>
  2014. <wfw:commentRss>https://dailyyonder.com/accidental-rancher-shearers-dilemma/2024/04/12/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
  2015. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  2018. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">128790</post-id> </item>
  2019. <item>
  2020. <title>Q&#038;A: Can a Small-Town Food Co-op Survive?</title>
  2021. <link>https://dailyyonder.com/qa-can-a-small-town-food-co-op-survive/2024/04/12/</link>
  2022. <comments>https://dailyyonder.com/qa-can-a-small-town-food-co-op-survive/2024/04/12/#respond</comments>
  2024. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Olivia Weeks]]></dc:creator>
  2025. <pubDate>Fri, 12 Apr 2024 09:59:00 +0000</pubDate>
  2026. <category><![CDATA[Rural Life]]></category>
  2027. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dailyyonder.com/?p=130787</guid>
  2028.  
  2029. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="576" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-5.png?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-5.png?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-5.png?resize=760%2C428&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-5.png?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-5.png?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-5.png?resize=400%2C225&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-5.png?resize=706%2C397&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-5.png?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  2030. <p>Editor’s Note: This interview first appeared in&#160;Path Finders, an email newsletter from the Daily Yonder. Each week, Path Finders features a Q&#38;A with a rural thinker, creator, or doer. Like what you see here? You can&#160;join the mailing list at the bottom of this article&#160;and receive more conversations like this in your inbox each week. [&#8230;]</p>
  2031. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/qa-can-a-small-town-food-co-op-survive/2024/04/12/">Q&amp;A: Can a Small-Town Food Co-op Survive?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
  2032. ]]></description>
  2033. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="576" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-5.png?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-5.png?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-5.png?resize=760%2C428&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-5.png?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-5.png?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-5.png?resize=400%2C225&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-5.png?resize=706%2C397&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-5.png?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  2034. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
  2035.  
  2036.  
  2037.  
  2038. <p><em>Editor’s Note: This interview first appeared in&nbsp;<a href="https://dailyyonder.com/path-finders/">Path Finders</a>, an email newsletter from the Daily Yonder. Each week, Path Finders features a Q&amp;A with a rural thinker, creator, or doer. Like what you see here? You can&nbsp;<a href="https://dailyyonder.com/qa-whos-making-black-country-music/2024/03/08/#signup">join the mailing list at the bottom of this article</a>&nbsp;and receive more conversations like this in your inbox each week.</em></p>
  2039.  
  2040.  
  2041.  
  2042. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
  2043.  
  2044.  
  2045.  
  2046. <p>Cathy Stanton is a former romance novelist, arts administrator, and ethnographer. Today, she lives in Orange, Massachusetts where she helps run her local food cooperative, Quabbin Harvest Food Market. She also commutes to Tufts University where she teaches courses in Anthropology and Environmental Studies. Her forthcoming book, “<a href="https://www.umasspress.com/9781625348050/food-margins/">Food Margins: Lessons from an Unlikely Grocer</a>,” is based on her experiences trying to build a more sustainable local food system from the ground up.</p>
  2047.  
  2048.  
  2049.  
  2050. <p>Enjoy our conversation about the origins of the supermarket, the irony of rural food deserts, and the beauty of being rooted, below.</p>
  2051.  
  2052.  
  2053.  
  2054. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="585" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Quabbin-Harvest-store-exterior.jpeg?resize=780%2C585&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-130249" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Quabbin-Harvest-store-exterior.jpeg?w=1000&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Quabbin-Harvest-store-exterior.jpeg?resize=760%2C570&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Quabbin-Harvest-store-exterior.jpeg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Quabbin-Harvest-store-exterior.jpeg?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Quabbin-Harvest-store-exterior.jpeg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Quabbin-Harvest-store-exterior.jpeg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Quabbin-Harvest-store-exterior.jpeg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Quabbin-Harvest-store-exterior.jpeg?resize=706%2C530&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Quabbin-Harvest-store-exterior.jpeg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Quabbin Harvest Food Co-op is located in rural Orange, Massachusetts (pop. 7,569). (All images provided by Stanton)</figcaption></figure>
  2055.  
  2056.  
  2057.  
  2058. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
  2059.  
  2060.  
  2061.  
  2062. <p><strong>Olivia Weeks, The Daily Yonder: Can we start with your bio? Tell me a little bit about yourself.</strong></p>
  2063.  
  2064.  
  2065.  
  2066. <p><strong>Cathy Stanton: </strong>Sure, where to start? I teach Anthropology and Environmental Studies at Tufts University. I&#8217;m an interdisciplinary scholar and I call myself a late-blooming academic. I started this career quite late in my life. And so I teach in Boston, and I live on the edge of the Connecticut River Valley, about 75 miles to the west. The book that I&#8217;ve written is about the rural community that I live in. And before that, I&#8217;ve been an arts administrator, adult educator, musician, and various other things.</p>
  2067.  
  2068.  
  2069.  
  2070. <p><strong>DY: So in the beginning of the book, you wrote about how you grew up in a small town and watched the food supply system there change over the course of your upbringing. Can you talk about how that connects to your writing and your current work?</strong></p>
  2071.  
  2072.  
  2073.  
  2074. <p><strong>CS: </strong>Sure. So I grew up in what was a small town in southern Ontario and is now part of the gigantic suburban sprawl around the Greater Toronto Area. I&#8217;m in my 60s and the starting story in the book was about the fact that supermarkets really weren&#8217;t the way that everybody got all their food. Even within my memory and within my lifetime, supermarkets have become ubiquitous and the main engine of the food system that feeds most of us. So in town when I was a kid, there were still dairy farms around the edge and there was still some milk delivery. There were a lot of farms actually, and they&#8217;re just all gone now, so that part of the world has lost its agricultural base entirely. So it&#8217;s kind of exemplary of what&#8217;s happened to the food system more generally, although it&#8217;s uneven. It happens in different ways, in different places, but in general, even in rural places now, supermarkets are the way that most people get most of their food.</p>
  2075.  
  2076.  
  2077.  
  2078. <p><strong>DY:</strong> <strong>Yeah, I was interested in the problem that you laid out at the start of the book, which is that it&#8217;s only profitable to feed people at the very largest of scales. I was hoping you could elaborate on that point.</strong></p>
  2079.  
  2080.  
  2081.  
  2082. <div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-13 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex">
  2083. <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
  2084. <p><strong>CS: </strong>So that&#8217;s actually one of the main reasons I wanted to write the book. I got involved in this little grocery business not knowing anything about the economics of the food system. I knew something about the politics of it and the history of it, but I had no idea what it was like to try to make money selling food and I have really come to think that more people need to understand this. Because it&#8217;s something that makes it so intractable to actually make big changes in the food system.&nbsp;</p>
  2085. </div>
  2086.  
  2087.  
  2088.  
  2089. <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
  2090. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="596" height="894" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Food-Margins-cover.jpeg?resize=596%2C894&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-130250" style="width:240px;height:auto" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Food-Margins-cover.jpeg?w=596&amp;ssl=1 596w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Food-Margins-cover.jpeg?resize=507%2C760&amp;ssl=1 507w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Food-Margins-cover.jpeg?resize=400%2C600&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Food-Margins-cover.jpeg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 596px) 100vw, 596px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">“Food Margins: Lessons from an Unlikely Grocer” is out in May 2024 from University of Massachusetts Press.</figcaption></figure>
  2091. </div>
  2092. </div>
  2093.  
  2094.  
  2095.  
  2096. <p>Once you&#8217;ve industrialized a food system, which is really what&#8217;s happened in a lot of parts of the so-called developed world, it produces food very, very efficiently. It&#8217;s amazing and hyper-abundant. But what that does, in a market system, is drive the prices down. Industrial food is very, very cheap per item, per individual tomato or whatever, because it’s produced so efficiently and at such a large scale. And so small farmers and retailers who are trying to sell in small markets find themselves caught in this squeeze where they can&#8217;t possibly compete with how cheap it is for a supermarket to sell food or a big, big industrial producer.&nbsp;</p>
  2097.  
  2098.  
  2099.  
  2100. <p>That creates this fundamental dilemma for making change, because almost anything that we would do that would change the food system would make food more expensive. Even before inflation and the current moment when people are freaking out about food having gotten more expensive, there was no tolerance for food to get more expensive again for a whole bunch of good reasons and some bad reasons.</p>
  2101.  
  2102.  
  2103.  
  2104. <p><strong><strong>DY:</strong></strong> <strong>It&#8217;s interesting to hear you point out that, even in rural places, most people get their groceries from supermarkets. There&#8217;s an irony to this problem of scale, which is that large cities can support farmers markets often much more successfully than small towns can, even if the small towns are where the produce is being grown.</strong></p>
  2105.  
  2106.  
  2107.  
  2108. <p><strong>CS: </strong>Exactly. There are a lot of weird disconnects. One is that cities used to need farms more because essentially the fresh perishable food was coming into the cities from places that were relatively close, before the infrastructure of refrigeration and transportation was quite so extensive. And now it&#8217;s like farmers – and especially the people who are trying to grow at a small scale – really need those cities because that&#8217;s where the density and often the affluence is that can support the alternatives to large-scale corporate agriculture, because that food is more expensive. It&#8217;s great food, but it&#8217;s not accessible to everybody.&nbsp;</p>
  2109.  
  2110.  
  2111.  
  2112. <p>And then meanwhile, you&#8217;ve got these rural places that are still very agricultural but people are not growing for themselves or growing for their communities. They&#8217;re growing industrial raw materials to feed into this gigantic food system. They are ultimately feeding themselves but it comes back to them through the supermarket. They&#8217;re not directly feeding themselves, but they&#8217;re feeding the system that eventually does feed pretty much everybody.</p>
  2113.  
  2114.  
  2115.  
  2116. <p><strong>DY:</strong> <strong>So, for instance, in your work with your local co-op, are there small-scale ways of addressing those ironies or those paradoxes? Have you developed any solutions or reversals?</strong></p>
  2117.  
  2118.  
  2119.  
  2120. <p><strong>CS: </strong>I don&#8217;t know if we&#8217;ve gotten to a solution yet, but we have some strategies. So one of them is not to expect this little store to completely pay for itself with food sales. We&#8217;re very little. There are lots of really good, solid, profitable co-ops, but they tend to be larger. At a small scale, in an area that&#8217;s not wealthy, I think it&#8217;s unrealistic to say the store should cover all its own costs. So we partner with nonprofits and agencies and municipalities to do some grant funded work. That helps to get food bundles to low-wealth families in the area, which helps the store because we are essentially selling that food. It means that we can tap into the nonprofit resources that are there to help people with food access and food insecurity. And that also serves our mission, which is to try to make this good food as available as we can to everybody, not just the people who can afford to pay the premium prices for it.&nbsp;</p>
  2121.  
  2122.  
  2123.  
  2124. <p>The other side of that is I&#8217;m just really interested in finding ways to get more people to understand this to see that it&#8217;s not just about price. And that it&#8217;s actually quite complicated how we&#8217;ve created the society that we have. It’s tricky to do because we&#8217;re also trying to sell food and have a business. One of the reasons I wrote this book is that I’m interested in the food communications piece of it. How do we bring more people into an understanding of why our little store charges more for food? People ask “Why is this so difficult? Why are you continually fundraising? Why are you not able to cover your own costs?” It feels to me like a teaching moment to move beyond that first generation of enthusiasm for local food and farmers markets and little farms. That stuff is great, but a lot of newer food ventures have found that they can&#8217;t stay in business. It&#8217;s not sustainable. It&#8217;s backbreaking work, often it&#8217;s heartbreaking how quickly you can burn out a young farmer. So how do we get to a deeper understanding of what it would take to change the system as a whole?</p>
  2125.  
  2126.  
  2127.  
  2128. <p><strong>DY:</strong> <strong>Do you feel like you&#8217;ve seen more consensus and more understanding build up in your town because of the co-op?</strong></p>
  2129.  
  2130.  
  2131.  
  2132. <p><strong>CS: </strong>I do think it&#8217;s spreading. It&#8217;s very gradual and kind of uneven. In the last couple of years, food prices have gone up and people have gotten mad. So support is not really deep and solid yet. But I will say that one of the most interesting and heartening things that has happened for me since I&#8217;ve been involved there is, when Covid-19 first came along and the lockdowns were happening and people were freaking out about where they were going to get food and whether the supermarkets were safe, people suddenly flocked to our little store because they felt safe there. It felt transparent. It felt like they were supporting somebody in the community and they knew where the food was coming from. The store was a lot smaller than the big supermarkets. And what that said to me was that people recognize the value of small scale production and rebuilding these kinds of local food economies. It just took a lot of stimulus to get people to act on it and not just do the convenient thing, which is go to the supermarket. And that waxes and wanes. It’s waning at the moment because people are convinced that the food prices are just too high, so we&#8217;re struggling with trying to communicate again that we can&#8217;t lower prices. But neither can the supermarkets, you know, that&#8217;s that&#8217;s the thing. They&#8217;re also right on the edge of that very thin profit margin.</p>
  2133.  
  2134.  
  2135.  
  2136. <p><strong>DY:</strong> <strong>I think a lot about how convenience can&#8217;t really be put back in the bottle. It’s really difficult to make people go backwards from a certain level of ease. This seems like an example of that.&nbsp;</strong></p>
  2137.  
  2138.  
  2139.  
  2140. <p><strong>CS: </strong>I think that’s right and that&#8217;s a good metaphor for it. It’s been over a hundred years now since the advent of processed food and chain stores and mass advertising of food, all of those things that create this abundance and the sense we should be able to get whatever we want whenever we want it. The supermarket is constructed to give us that experience and it&#8217;s lovely, right? And so how do you get people to voluntarily walk some of that back? You see people doing it who have the means to go to a food co-op and pay more for good, ethical, sustainable food. And people did it really readily when Covid-19 came about and suddenly it was this crisis and the circumstances were different. I don&#8217;t know how you get them to do it under normal circumstances. That&#8217;s a huge challenge.&nbsp;</p>
  2141.  
  2142.  
  2143.  
  2144. <p>So the book is one way to try to get out there and to take a moment and look at the origins of how we got to this point where it feels so natural to go into a supermarket and just be able to get anything we want from anywhere we want. That&#8217;s actually pretty weird.&nbsp;</p>
  2145.  
  2146.  
  2147.  
  2148. <p><strong>DY:</strong> <strong>On the other hand, your writing seems really concerned with the fact that your co-op operates in a post-industrial, high-poverty town, where potentially there are lots of people who really cannot make those choices. And so I wonder whether you think about high-quality, ethical food as a luxury good or not.</strong>&nbsp;</p>
  2149.  
  2150.  
  2151.  
  2152. <p><strong>CS: </strong>It&#8217;s sort of bizarre that good-quality, nutritious, nourishing food is a luxury in the U.S. One of the things I thought was interesting about the story of this little co-op was that it&#8217;s the kind of venture that tends to happen in college towns or places where there are really affluent suburbs or a concentration of wealthier locavore eaters who can afford to subsidize that kind of eating. So what&#8217;s interesting about our little store to me is its location in a depressed mill town.</p>
  2153.  
  2154.  
  2155.  
  2156. <p>I wouldn&#8217;t say that Orange is post-industrial yet. I think we&#8217;re still in the de-industrialized phase. Post-industrial to me would mean that there’s a new form of economic prosperity. Orange hasn’t figured that out yet, although people are always trying. But I think our store is a test case for pushing out beyond the usual suspects and strategies. This is something really different. It’s really on the bleeding edge of rural poverty, which brings its own particular set of challenges. How can a venture like this succeed in a place like this?</p>
  2157.  
  2158.  
  2159.  
  2160. <p><strong>DY:</strong> <strong>The title of your book is “Food Margins: Lessons From an Unlikely Grocer.” Can you talk about some of the lessons?</strong></p>
  2161.  
  2162.  
  2163.  
  2164. <p><strong>CS: </strong>Some of it has to do with the play on words in the title about margins, meaning both the margins of society but also the point about the profit margins and how hard it is to make money selling food at any scale. That’s one of the lessons I’ve learned, is that the equation is really rigged against the small scale, especially in an area that&#8217;s not wealthy. And then the other big lesson I think, is how much strength there is in having a deep network and a sense of roots. I’ve been here 35 years, so I’m still a transplant, but I&#8217;ve been transplanted for a while. The ability to mobilize and to move through the many layers of a place like this is what has kept the store alive. Because it really does take a whole community being committed. So I guess it&#8217;s retaught me that lesson, of how much I value living in a place with these close knit and overlapping networks that make up a rural life.</p>
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  2185. <p>This interview first appeared in <strong>Path Finders</strong>, a weekly email newsletter from the Daily Yonder. Each Monday, Path Finders features a Q&amp;A with a rural thinker, creator, or doer. Join the mailing list today, to have these illuminating conversations delivered straight to your inbox. </p>
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  2224. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/qa-can-a-small-town-food-co-op-survive/2024/04/12/">Q&amp;A: Can a Small-Town Food Co-op Survive?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
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  2231. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">130787</post-id> </item>
  2232. <item>
  2233. <title>Teacher Shortages (and Dog Sledding) in Northwest Alaska</title>
  2234. <link>https://dailyyonder.com/teacher-shortages-and-dog-sledding-in-northwest-alaska/2024/04/11/</link>
  2235. <comments>https://dailyyonder.com/teacher-shortages-and-dog-sledding-in-northwest-alaska/2024/04/11/#respond</comments>
  2237. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Nick Fouriezos / Open Campus]]></dc:creator>
  2238. <pubDate>Thu, 11 Apr 2024 22:01:00 +0000</pubDate>
  2239. <category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
  2240. <category><![CDATA[Mile Markers]]></category>
  2241. <category><![CDATA[repub]]></category>
  2242. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dailyyonder.com/?p=130695</guid>
  2243.  
  2244. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="683" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="A dogseld team racing in the 2022 Kobuk 440 mushes over the snowy open tundra between the villages of Selawik and Ambler, crossing the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge." decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?w=2560&amp;ssl=1 2560w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?resize=760%2C507&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?resize=1296%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1025&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1366&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?resize=1568%2C1046&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1334&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C267&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?resize=706%2C471&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?w=2340&amp;ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  2245. <p>Editor’s Note: A version of this story first appeared in Mile Markers, a twice monthly newsletter from Open Campus about the role of colleges in rural America. You can join the mailing list at the bottom of this article to receive future editions in your inbox. Jeff Alexander was settling into retired life, after three decades as a [&#8230;]</p>
  2246. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/teacher-shortages-and-dog-sledding-in-northwest-alaska/2024/04/11/">Teacher Shortages (and Dog Sledding) in Northwest Alaska</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
  2247. ]]></description>
  2248. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="683" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="A dogseld team racing in the 2022 Kobuk 440 mushes over the snowy open tundra between the villages of Selawik and Ambler, crossing the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge." decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?w=2560&amp;ssl=1 2560w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?resize=760%2C507&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?resize=1296%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1025&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1366&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?resize=1568%2C1046&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1334&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C267&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?resize=706%2C471&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?w=2340&amp;ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/52828335223_cd8d21bf0c_o-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  2249. <p style="font-size:14px"><em>Editor’s Note: A version of this story first appeared in <strong>Mile Markers</strong>, a twice monthly newsletter from Open Campus about the role of colleges in rural America. You can </em><a href="#signup"><em>join the mailing list at the bottom of this article</em></a><em> to receive future editions in your inbox.</em></p>
  2250.  
  2251.  
  2252.  
  2253. <p>Jeff Alexander was settling into retired life, after three decades as a teacher, principal, and superintendent in Arkansas — that is, until a friend called with a unique opportunity.</p>
  2254.  
  2255.  
  2256.  
  2257. <p>He took the virtual interview on a Wednesday in January of 2023, and received his letter of intent that afternoon.</p>
  2258.  
  2259.  
  2260.  
  2261. <p>He hopped on a plane that Saturday. On Sunday afternoon, he stepped off of it … and onto a snowmobile that escorted him to his new home.</p>
  2262.  
  2263.  
  2264.  
  2265. <p>The very next morning, he was working with students in Kotzebue, Alaska, the beginning of a semester that would include him teaching social studies, reading, and physical education at various times.&nbsp;</p>
  2266.  
  2267.  
  2268.  
  2269. <p>“It was a little bit of a culture shock,” Alexander chuckles.&nbsp;</p>
  2270.  
  2271.  
  2272.  
  2273. <p>The 3,000-person town is the seat of the Northwest Arctic Borough School District, a district charged with teaching roughly 2,000 K-12 students across an arctic land mass the size of the state of Indiana.</p>
  2274.  
  2275.  
  2276.  
  2277. <p>To say the district is remote is an understatement. Educators must go by plane or, in the summer, by boat, to reach 11 schools in villages outside of Kotzebue, where enrollments range from roughly 50 to 250 students.</p>
  2278.  
  2279.  
  2280.  
  2281. <p>Their biggest challenge? “Keeping teachers coming up here,” says Alexander, who notes that the 140-employee district is currently seven or eight certified teachers short of where it would like to be.&nbsp;</p>
  2282.  
  2283.  
  2284.  
  2285. <p>After finishing his first semester of teaching last spring, Alexander took an open position as Director of Human Resources for the district, where nearly 82% of all students are American Indian &amp; Alaska Native.</p>
  2286.  
  2287.  
  2288.  
  2289. <p>In this interview, edited and condensed for clarity, the longtime educator discusses the realities of attracting educators to a community as rural as northwest Alaska.</p>
  2290.  
  2291.  
  2292.  
  2293. <p><strong>Nick Fouriezos: What’s daily life here in northwest Alaska?</strong></p>
  2294.  
  2295.  
  2296.  
  2297. <p><strong>Jeff Alexander: </strong>I was attracted to come here because of the adventure of going to Alaska. But once I got up here, and visited some of the small communities here — like Selawik, which had around 225 students last year — I really loved the feeling that this is more like a family than a community.</p>
  2298.  
  2299.  
  2300.  
  2301. <p>Locals in places like Selawik want you to participate. Ninety percent of everything that goes on in Selawik goes through the school, so if you attend as a teacher, it makes a real impression on the people there.</p>
  2302.  
  2303.  
  2304.  
  2305. <p>People will feed you, and I’m talking about all kinds of different foods that I never had tried before: caribou soup, moose burgers.&nbsp;</p>
  2306.  
  2307.  
  2308.  
  2309. <p>I wasn’t a big fan of whale — it tasted the way you think it would: mostly fat. I liked the seal though. They dip the meat into a special oil and that was really good.&nbsp;</p>
  2310.  
  2311.  
  2312.  
  2313. <p>We also tell prospective students that they’ll see at least two dogsledding events come through Selawik and some other villages, and the students really love putting up posters and participating in that.&nbsp;</p>
  2314.  
  2315.  
  2316.  
  2317. <p><strong>What are you doing to address your teaching shortage?</strong></p>
  2318.  
  2319.  
  2320.  
  2321. <p>We have all our classes covered, thanks to long-term subs right now, but you don’t get the same quality from them as with a certified teacher.&nbsp;</p>
  2322.  
  2323.  
  2324.  
  2325. <p>We also keep a list of certified teachers who are willing to come for at least a nine-week period. We fly them up here and give them a roundtrip ticket to go back home. Some stay longer, as long as a whole year.</p>
  2326.  
  2327.  
  2328.  
  2329. <p>In the meantime, we’ll try to get our next batch through groups like Alaska Teacher Placement (ATP) or the Handshake jobs platform, where we host virtual recruitment events every 10 weeks or so for anybody who might be interested in teaching right after college.</p>
  2330.  
  2331.  
  2332.  
  2333. <p>I started in June with Handshake, and we’ve probably hired at least 8 teachers through it. We want to increase it up to 20 for this next school year. </p>
  2334.  
  2335.  
  2336.  
  2337. <p><strong>How do salary and living costs play a role in your recruiting challenge?</strong></p>
  2338.  
  2339.  
  2340.  
  2341. <p>Our average is just a hair over $61,000 for a brand new teacher with no experience, and around $109,000 for somebody who is topped out on their experience.</p>
  2342.  
  2343.  
  2344.  
  2345. <p>A lot of the West Coast states are very close to the same salaries that we are, so we&#8217;re not being as competitive as we need to be.&nbsp;</p>
  2346.  
  2347.  
  2348.  
  2349. <p>Housing here is very difficult to find, especially in Kotzebue.&nbsp;</p>
  2350.  
  2351.  
  2352.  
  2353. <p>We give all our teachers a $500/month rent stipend, and when we hire a new teacher, we give them subsidized housing for a year, so the most they’ll pay in utilities, rent, and everything else is between $600 to $1,000 a month.</p>
  2354.  
  2355.  
  2356.  
  2357. <p>It’s a constant battle trying to keep teachers: You’ll lose a few within a few weeks of them arriving, and typically a few over the Christmas break too.</p>
  2358.  
  2359.  
  2360.  
  2361. <p><strong>How do your students pursue postsecondary certificates or degrees locally?</strong></p>
  2362.  
  2363.  
  2364.  
  2365. <p>We’re especially supporting students who are interested in going into education or technical fields, like welding or nursing, into our Star of the Northwest charter school that is connected to the&nbsp;<a href="https://flight.beehiiv.net/v2/clicks/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5ud2FyY3RpYy5vcmcvc2Nob29scy9hbGFza2FfdGVjaG5pY2FsX2NlbnRlcj91dG1fc291cmNlPW1pbGUtbWFya2Vycy5iZWVoaWl2LmNvbSZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPXJlZmVycmFsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1kb2ctc2xlZGRpbmctYW5kLXRlYWNoZXItc2hvcnRhZ2VzLWluLW5vcnRod2VzdC1hbGFza2EiLCJwb3N0X2lkIjoiMjExMzY4ZWItNmI0Zi00OWJiLTg0YTAtOGRjYWZhOTllZDQyIiwicHVibGljYXRpb25faWQiOiJhNjc2MTVhZi0xN2Q4LTQ3NGEtODA0MS02OWNkNTg1ZjAwN2MiLCJ2aXNpdF90b2tlbiI6IjA3OWQ3ZTNhLTkyZGUtNGFhMi05MzJjLTNlZDY5MWQwMDdlZCIsImlhdCI6MTcxMjc2NjU4MywiaXNzIjoib3JjaGlkIn0.VtaWNWcxOOtIpl7abuF2Doim3makIIbcsjp6xym8fV4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alaska Technical College</a>&nbsp;in Kotzebue.</p>
  2366.  
  2367.  
  2368.  
  2369. <p>We have a college dorm and a high school dorm, so we’ll have 12, 15, up to 30 district students there at a time doing different classes. </p>
  2370.  
  2371.  
  2372.  
  2373. <div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-15 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex">
  2374. <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
  2375. <p>We house them here while they focus on whatever vocational-techincal classes they need, while doing most of their basic classes online in their own community. </p>
  2376.  
  2377.  
  2378.  
  2379. <p><strong>What are some of the highlights for your teachers?</strong></p>
  2380.  
  2381.  
  2382.  
  2383. <p>Our teachers in Selawik do a fall camp and a spring camp with the students. They stay overnight for a couple of days, and will take the students hunting or fishing. </p>
  2384.  
  2385.  
  2386.  
  2387. <p>It’s a lot of fun — talk about connecting with students as a teacher!</p>
  2388.  
  2389.  
  2390.  
  2391. <p>On those trips, the students often become teachers themselves, because they are so familiar with subsistence lifestyles, and they love teaching us about it. </p>
  2392.  
  2393.  
  2394.  
  2395. <p>That was probably the best teacher-student bonding experience I’ve had in my 30-some-odd years in education. </p>
  2396.  
  2397.  
  2398.  
  2399. <p>It’s a key thing to get involved in the community. And if a teacher will do that, I think they’ll wind up staying, I really do.</p>
  2400. </div>
  2401.  
  2402.  
  2403.  
  2404. <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
  2405. <div class="wp-block-group has-light-gray-background-color has-background"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained">
  2406. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">More Rural Higher Ed News</h2>
  2407.  
  2408.  
  2409.  
  2410. <p style="font-size:14px"><strong>Rural ed initiative wins funding in Texas.</strong>The <a href="https://edu-nation.org/?utm_source=mile-markers.beehiiv.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=dog-sledding-and-teacher-shortages-in-northwest-alaska" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Collegiate Edu-Nation Rural HOPE Project</a>, spearheaded by West Texas A&amp;M University, earned a $200,000 grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York to help rural students earn bachelor’s degrees while staying in their hometowns.</p>
  2411.  
  2412.  
  2413.  
  2414. <p style="font-size:14px"><strong>From college to college-going charity. </strong>Jon Marcus writes <a href="https://hechingerreport.org/after-its-college-closes-a-rural-community-fights-to-keep-the-doors-to-education-open/?utm_source=mile-markers.beehiiv.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=dog-sledding-and-teacher-shortages-in-northwest-alaska" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in the Hechinger Report</a> about how the now-closed Chatfield College is converting its assets into a nonprofit to help local students pursue higher education.</p>
  2415.  
  2416.  
  2417.  
  2418. <ul>
  2419. <li style="font-size:14px"><em>“It’s among a fast-growing number of closed colleges in rural America, stripping communities of nearby higher education options to which young people can aspire and eventually go. In this case, however, something unusual has happened: The assets left by the defunct college are being used to help at least some local students continue their educations past high school.”</em></li>
  2420. </ul>
  2421.  
  2422.  
  2423.  
  2424. <p style="font-size:14px"><strong>Bridging the Divide.</strong> In a <a href="https://politics.uchicago.edu/get-involved/bridging-the-divide?utm_source=mile-markers.beehiiv.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=dog-sledding-and-teacher-shortages-in-northwest-alaska" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conference from April 10-12</a>, the University of Chicago Institute of Politics will convene students from across the nation to explore the root causes of, and develop solutions to, urban-rural polarization.</p>
  2425. </div></div>
  2426. </div>
  2427. </div>
  2428.  
  2429.  
  2430.  
  2431. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
  2432.  
  2433.  
  2434.  
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  2436. <div style="height:1px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>
  2437.  
  2438.  
  2439.  
  2440. <div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-16 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex">
  2441. <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow" style="flex-basis:40%">
  2442. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="780" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/mile-markers-higher-ed-newsletter-logo.png?resize=780%2C780&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-84653" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/mile-markers-higher-ed-newsletter-logo.png?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/mile-markers-higher-ed-newsletter-logo.png?resize=760%2C760&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/mile-markers-higher-ed-newsletter-logo.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/mile-markers-higher-ed-newsletter-logo.png?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/mile-markers-higher-ed-newsletter-logo.png?resize=400%2C400&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/mile-markers-higher-ed-newsletter-logo.png?resize=200%2C200&amp;ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/mile-markers-higher-ed-newsletter-logo.png?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/mile-markers-higher-ed-newsletter-logo.png?resize=706%2C706&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/mile-markers-higher-ed-newsletter-logo.png?resize=100%2C100&amp;ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/mile-markers-higher-ed-newsletter-logo.png?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></figure>
  2443. </div>
  2444.  
  2445.  
  2446.  
  2447. <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow" style="flex-basis:60%">
  2448. <p>This article first appeared in <strong>Mile Markers</strong>, a twice monthly newsletter from <a href="https://www.opencampusmedia.org/">Open Campus</a> about the role of colleges in rural America.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opencampusmedia.org/category/newsletters/mile-markers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Join the mailing list today</a> to have future editions delivered to your inbox.</p>
  2449.  
  2450.  
  2451.  
  2452. <div class="wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex">
  2453. <div class="wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-100"><a class="wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button" href="https://www.opencampusmedia.org/category/newsletters/mile-markers/" style="background-color:#022b4e" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get Mile Markers</a></div>
  2454. </div>
  2455. </div>
  2456. </div>
  2457. </div></div>
  2458.  
  2459.  
  2460.  
  2461. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots"/>
  2462. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/teacher-shortages-and-dog-sledding-in-northwest-alaska/2024/04/11/">Teacher Shortages (and Dog Sledding) in Northwest Alaska</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
  2463. ]]></content:encoded>
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  2469. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">130695</post-id> </item>
  2470. <item>
  2471. <title>Review: Book on Rural ‘Rage’ Is a Grindstone in Search of an Ax</title>
  2472. <link>https://dailyyonder.com/review-book-on-rural-rage-is-a-grindstone-in-search-of-an-ax/2024/04/11/</link>
  2473. <comments>https://dailyyonder.com/review-book-on-rural-rage-is-a-grindstone-in-search-of-an-ax/2024/04/11/#respond</comments>
  2475. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dee Davis]]></dc:creator>
  2476. <pubDate>Thu, 11 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  2477. <category><![CDATA[Media]]></category>
  2478. <category><![CDATA[Politics and Government]]></category>
  2479. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dailyyonder.com/?p=130699</guid>
  2480.  
  2481. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="684" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?w=2560&amp;ssl=1 2560w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?resize=760%2C508&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?resize=1296%2C866&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C513&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1026&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1368&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C802&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C684&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?resize=1568%2C1048&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1336&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C267&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?resize=706%2C472&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?w=2340&amp;ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  2482. <p>In White Rural Rage the Threat to American Democracy, Tom Schaller and Paul Waldman carry a grindstone in search of an ax. They just don’t like rural America. They contend that white rural America has too much power, that it is too highly regarded, and that the anger of white rural citizens is spilling over [&#8230;]</p>
  2483. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/review-book-on-rural-rage-is-a-grindstone-in-search-of-an-ax/2024/04/11/">Review: Book on Rural ‘Rage’ Is a Grindstone in Search of an Ax</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
  2484. ]]></description>
  2485. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="684" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?w=2560&amp;ssl=1 2560w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?resize=760%2C508&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?resize=1296%2C866&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C513&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1026&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1368&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C802&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C684&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?resize=1568%2C1048&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1336&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C267&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?resize=706%2C472&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?w=2340&amp;ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/grindstone-grinding-museum-antiques-germany-machine-1576881-pxhere.com_-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  2486. <p class="has-drop-cap">In<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/734507/white-rural-rage-by-tom-schaller-and-paul-waldman/"> <em>White Rural Rage the Threat to American Democracy</em></a>, Tom Schaller and Paul Waldman carry a grindstone in search of an ax. They just don’t like rural America. They contend that white rural America has too much power, that it is too highly regarded, and that the anger of white rural citizens is spilling over in a way that is driving the country to the brink.</p>
  2487.  
  2488.  
  2489.  
  2490. <p>Citing a patchwork of public polls, the authors make a case that in rural America there is distrust of government, fear of socialism, and that rural residents, when compared to city and suburban dwellers, polled as more prejudiced against people of color, LGBTQ community, and political progressives. The authors repeatedly point out rural violence, addiction, poverty, illness, and hypocrisy. Schaller and Waldman also write that rural voters have moved boldly to the GOP since 2000, becoming a significant part of Donald Trump’s voter base, and that Trump himself represents existential peril to America continuing as a democratic republic.</p>
  2491.  
  2492.  
  2493.  
  2494. <p>They do not talk about national Democratic Party decisions in 2000 and 2004 to move resources away from the rural battleground and to metropolitan strongholds, opting for base strategies over outreach. Or how Obama reversed that strategy in 2008, when rural voters came back. They do not mention that Trump actually won the suburban vote in 2016, and that the suburbs are where 60% of Americans live.&nbsp; And though it might just be me, they seem to show some smug satisfaction that the suicide rates and covid deaths were measurably higher in rural America.</p>
  2495.  
  2496.  
  2497.  
  2498. <p>They keep using straw men to debunk the idea of a “rural ethos,” and they use irony to smirk at rural as the “essential minority,” a term I hadn’t heard in my career in rural work. They are convinced that rural America is extolled in the media and throughout U.S. intelligentsia. They even believe commercial media caters to the shrinking pool of rural consumers in programs driven by advertising revenues. It might be a lot easier to believe that the results are rigged in favor of rural places if you live where the downtowns are not shuttered and the teachers aren’t using their own money to send home peanut butter sandwiches to kids living without.</p>
  2499.  
  2500.  
  2501.  
  2502. <p>Schaller and Waldman make a central argument that white rural communities have an oversized political reach, and in large part that’s due to the design of the U.S. Senate, and because of gerrymandering in the U.S. House of Representatives. They contend that the Senate now skews Republican because of self-sorting migration to higher population states, and that in turn gives small states too much clout. Here the authors seem to have a beef with the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and the Connecticut Compromise that broke the impasse threatening to kill the United States before it started.</p>
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  2512. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="472" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-10-at-11.09.54-AM.png?resize=780%2C472&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-130715" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-10-at-11.09.54-AM.png?w=1154&amp;ssl=1 1154w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-10-at-11.09.54-AM.png?resize=760%2C460&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-10-at-11.09.54-AM.png?resize=768%2C465&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-10-at-11.09.54-AM.png?resize=1024%2C619&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-10-at-11.09.54-AM.png?resize=400%2C242&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-10-at-11.09.54-AM.png?resize=706%2C427&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-10-at-11.09.54-AM.png?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></figure>
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  2518. <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://dailyyonder.com/commentary-white-rural-rage-which-came-first-the-title-or-the-research/2024/03/06/">Commentary – New Book on Rural America Started with a False Conclusion, Then Looked for Evidence</a></h2>
  2519. </div>
  2520. </div>
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  2524. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/>
  2525.  
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  2528. <p>I was surprised to see myself quoted in the book from an interview in<a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/hillary-clinton-rural-voters-trump-231266"> Politico</a> in 2016 talking about political speech and intonation. In <em>White Rural Rage</em> I seem to be giving an excuse for rural people to vote for Trump and against Clinton. But I did vote for Hillary. I share the authors’ misgivings about Donald Trump, though I am less in the camp that says he’s Pol Pot and more settled into the belief that he is a sneak thief. If someone like Trump lived in my hometown, I am pretty sure no one would sell him a dinette set on credit. And if he was your next-door neighbor, you’d make sure the tool shed was locked at night or you’d see your shop vac in his yard sale on Saturday. But I digress.</p>
  2529.  
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  2532. <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="520" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AP23187567346036.jpg?resize=780%2C520&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-130708" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AP23187567346036-scaled.jpg?resize=1296%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AP23187567346036-scaled.jpg?resize=760%2C507&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AP23187567346036-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AP23187567346036-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AP23187567346036-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AP23187567346036-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AP23187567346036-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AP23187567346036-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AP23187567346036-scaled.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AP23187567346036-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AP23187567346036-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C267&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AP23187567346036-scaled.jpg?resize=706%2C471&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AP23187567346036-scaled.jpg?w=2340&amp;ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AP23187567346036-1296x864.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rioters loyal to President Donald Trump rally at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021.  Those arrested in the national investigation into the event are no more likely to be rural than the overall population. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)</figcaption></figure>
  2533.  
  2534.  
  2535.  
  2536. <p>I understand the authors’ challenges in sorting what is rural and what is not. But they spend a good deal of time obscuring who is which. For example, they detail the early antipathy to Obamacare, the outright racism characterizing the public debate, and states’ resistance to expanding Medicaid as part of adoption. They lay out that intransigence sometimes as rural, other times as general opposition. But then the authors say that rural states made a show by rejecting Obamacare even though their residents were less healthy, under-insured, and needed the coverage most. What Schaller and Waldman do not point out is that of the 10 most rural states, only Mississippi and Alabama have rejected expanding Medicaid. Nor do they mention that Texas which is 83% metropolitan, and Florida, which is 91% metropolitan, both rejected Obamacare.</p>
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  2546. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="756" height="512" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-10-at-11.07.40-AM.png?resize=756%2C512&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-130714" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-10-at-11.07.40-AM.png?w=756&amp;ssl=1 756w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-10-at-11.07.40-AM.png?resize=400%2C271&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-10-at-11.07.40-AM.png?resize=706%2C478&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-10-at-11.07.40-AM.png?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 756px) 100vw, 756px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></figure>
  2547. </div>
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  2549.  
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  2552. <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://dailyyonder.com/commentary-lack-of-political-competition-harms-rural-americans/2024/03/06/">Commentary: Lack of Political Competition Harms Rural Americans</a></h2>
  2553. </div>
  2554. </div>
  2555.  
  2556.  
  2557.  
  2558. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/>
  2559.  
  2560.  
  2561.  
  2562. <p>There are other small examples that are hard to swallow. They talk about the failed attempt to kidnap and kill Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer as a rural terrorism plot. But their focus is on two ringleaders, one born in a small town who’d moved to Grand Rapids, and another living in the largest county in Delaware just outside Wilmington. Two would-be terrorists living in major metropolitan urban areas with over a million residents each, yet the rage narrative is about rural insurrection.</p>
  2563.  
  2564.  
  2565.  
  2566. <p>It is probably not that big a deal in the long run to print this detail wrong here or to conflate suburban and rural there. <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/04/05/white-rural-rage-myth-00150395"> Politico</a>,<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/04/white-rural-rage-criticism/677967/"> The Atlantic</a>, and the<a href="https://thedemocraticstrategist.org/_memos/tds_SM_Levison_Rural_Voters.pdf"> Democratic Strategist</a> have weighed in on the misleading way the data is meted out in <em>White Rural Rage</em>. I am reminded of the line in <em>Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy</em>: “Barrabas was a bookseller.” And I completely agree that no one is served by painting a romanticized view of rural life. We have lost a lot. Wealth, agency, trajectory. And there is way too much meanness and bigotry going around. But I also think of the Reverend Everett Parker, who successfully challenged the broadcasting license of WLBT-TV in Jackson, Mississippi. The station was a beacon for segregation in the 1960s and used its nightly news cast to showcase images of African-Americans accused of crimes. It wasn’t that African-Americans never committed crimes in Mississippi, rather it was that the station used its platform and agency to skew the public’s understanding of criminality and of danger. It seems Schaller and Waldman are also using their platform and agency to reframe the American political struggle to make rural people the chief threat because they changed from voting for Democrats to voting for Trump. The authors are pointing at what they see as a series of flaws in the character of white rural Americans, not at a political calculation.&nbsp;</p>
  2567.  
  2568.  
  2569.  
  2570. <p>My rural Appalachian county is in the corner of Kentucky, one county over from Mingo County, West Virginia, where the authors spend time interviewing locals about a sudden rightward political shift. My county is majority Democrat and voted 4-1 for Trump. Even closer to me than West Virginia is Wise County, Virginia. I can see it from my back door. Wise, like Mingo, has flipped big for Trump. Virginia is a blue state however, and even though Virginians cast more Trump votes than Kentucky or West Virginia, they don’t seem to threaten American Democracy in the same way. Similarly there were more Trump voters in California than in Texas, but the threat of MAGA California seems more a curiosity than a threat to the union. We often fret over the health of the democracy as part of talking about the next election cycle and our candidate’s prospects. The campaigns always say the stakes have never been higher, with little regard for how so much breathless rhetoric itself drives division and deadens common purpose.</p>
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  2580. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="698" height="488" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-10-at-11.06.24-AM.png?resize=698%2C488&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-130713" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-10-at-11.06.24-AM.png?w=698&amp;ssl=1 698w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-10-at-11.06.24-AM.png?resize=400%2C280&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-10-at-11.06.24-AM.png?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 698px) 100vw, 698px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></figure>
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  2582.  
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  2586. <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://dailyyonder.com/commentary-carl-albert-didnt-fall-for-the-white-rural-rage-stereotype-we-shouldnt-either/2024/02/26/">Commentary: Carl Albert Didn’t Fall for the ‘White, Rural Rage’ Stereotype. We Shouldn’t Either.<br></a></h2>
  2587. </div>
  2588. </div>
  2589.  
  2590.  
  2591.  
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  2593.  
  2594.  
  2595.  
  2596. <p>When I lived in the city I saw some pretty frightening racist behavior. And here in the countryside, I’ve witnessed some extraordinary selflessness that crossed color lines to help folks in trouble. I would never pretend either of those was a rule, and I do not have a set of online polls to give me clarity. I have, however, commissioned enough polls to get a sense of what surveys can teach us and what they can’t.</p>
  2597.  
  2598.  
  2599.  
  2600. <p>A different perspective is that it was a mere 2,000 people who rushed into the Capitol on January 6, 2020, and nearly stopped the transfer of power. Those relatively few Capitol insurrectionists were <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/by-the-numbers-capitol-arrestees-and-rural-america/2021/02/03/">disproportionately metropolitan</a>, not rural, but who’s from what Zip code is not what’s alarming.&nbsp; The scary part is the fragility of the American system and our weakened capacity to maintain consent of the governed. Everybody is aggravated. And there is plenty enough resentment out there to mess it all up both in the city and in the town. As former Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn said, “It takes a special kind of man to build a barn, but any jackass with a box of matches can burn one down.” If we let ourselves think those jackasses are confined to rural America, the barn is in great peril.</p>
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  2607.  
  2608. <p><em>Dee Davis is publisher of the Daily Yonder and president of the Center for Rural Strategies.</em></p>
  2609. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/review-book-on-rural-rage-is-a-grindstone-in-search-of-an-ax/2024/04/11/">Review: Book on Rural ‘Rage’ Is a Grindstone in Search of an Ax</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
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  2616. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">130699</post-id> </item>
  2617. <item>
  2618. <title>What a Borderland Church Taught Me About Belonging</title>
  2619. <link>https://dailyyonder.com/what-a-borderland-church-taught-me-about-belonging/2024/04/11/</link>
  2620. <comments>https://dailyyonder.com/what-a-borderland-church-taught-me-about-belonging/2024/04/11/#respond</comments>
  2622. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Sarah Melotte]]></dc:creator>
  2623. <pubDate>Thu, 11 Apr 2024 09:59:00 +0000</pubDate>
  2624. <category><![CDATA[Immigration]]></category>
  2625. <category><![CDATA[Religion and Faith]]></category>
  2626. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://dailyyonder.com/?p=129859</guid>
  2627.  
  2628. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="576" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/RVG-Column-Feature-Art55.png?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/RVG-Column-Feature-Art55.png?w=1366&amp;ssl=1 1366w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/RVG-Column-Feature-Art55.png?resize=760%2C427&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/RVG-Column-Feature-Art55.png?resize=1296%2C729&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/RVG-Column-Feature-Art55.png?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/RVG-Column-Feature-Art55.png?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/RVG-Column-Feature-Art55.png?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/RVG-Column-Feature-Art55.png?resize=400%2C225&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/RVG-Column-Feature-Art55.png?resize=706%2C397&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/RVG-Column-Feature-Art55.png?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  2629. <p>In South Texas’ Hidalgo County, about half a mile due north of the Rio Grande, there’s a one-room United Methodist Church next to an old family cemetery. The church is white with wooden board and batten siding and a small red steeple. It’s a quintessential country church if there ever was one. The chapel was [&#8230;]</p>
  2630. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/what-a-borderland-church-taught-me-about-belonging/2024/04/11/">What a Borderland Church Taught Me About Belonging</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
  2631. ]]></description>
  2632. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="576" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/RVG-Column-Feature-Art55.png?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/RVG-Column-Feature-Art55.png?w=1366&amp;ssl=1 1366w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/RVG-Column-Feature-Art55.png?resize=760%2C427&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/RVG-Column-Feature-Art55.png?resize=1296%2C729&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/RVG-Column-Feature-Art55.png?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/RVG-Column-Feature-Art55.png?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/RVG-Column-Feature-Art55.png?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/RVG-Column-Feature-Art55.png?resize=400%2C225&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/RVG-Column-Feature-Art55.png?resize=706%2C397&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/RVG-Column-Feature-Art55.png?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  2633. <p>In South Texas’ Hidalgo County, about half a mile due north of the Rio Grande, there’s a one-room United Methodist Church next to an old family cemetery. The church is white with wooden board and batten siding and a small red steeple. It’s a quintessential country church if there ever was one.</p>
  2634.  
  2635.  
  2636.  
  2637. <p>The chapel was built in 1884 by Martin Jackson, son of Nathaniel Jackson and Matilda Hicks, <a href="https://www.utrgv.edu/civilwar-trail/civil-war-trail/hidalgo-county/jackson-ranch/index.htm">an interracial couple who fled discrimination in Alabama in the 1850s</a> and whose ranch land (on which the church now stands) was a refuge for runaway enslaved people from the deep south.&nbsp;</p>
  2638.  
  2639.  
  2640. <div class="wp-block-image">
  2641. <figure class="alignleft size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="1040" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/church.jpg?resize=780%2C1040&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-129861" style="width:319px;height:auto" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/church-scaled.jpg?resize=972%2C1296&amp;ssl=1 972w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/church-scaled.jpg?resize=570%2C760&amp;ssl=1 570w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/church-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/church-scaled.jpg?resize=1152%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1152w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/church-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/church-scaled.jpg?resize=900%2C1200&amp;ssl=1 900w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/church-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C800&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/church-scaled.jpg?resize=450%2C600&amp;ssl=1 450w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/church-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C400&amp;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/church-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C200&amp;ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/church-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C1600&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/church-scaled.jpg?resize=1568%2C2091&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/church-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C2667&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/church-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C533&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/church-scaled.jpg?resize=706%2C941&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/church-scaled.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/church-972x1296.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">This United Methodist Church on the Jackson Family Ranch was built in 1884. (Photo by Joel Cohen)<br></figcaption></figure></div>
  2642.  
  2643.  
  2644. <p>Arriving from all over the country, four of my colleagues and I had flown into Hidalgo County to visit rural organizing partners in several small towns of the Rio Grande Valley, the southern point of Texas that makes up the floodplain of the Rio Grande.&nbsp;</p>
  2645.  
  2646.  
  2647.  
  2648. <p>We passed border patrol officers and surveillance balloons on our way to the Jackson Family Ranch, where Nathaniel Jackson descendent and keeper of the property, Ramiro Ramirez, invited us to spend the afternoon. Ramiro parked his truck in the dirt driveway in front of the church, opened the chain-link fence, and welcomed us onto his family’s property.&nbsp;</p>
  2649.  
  2650.  
  2651.  
  2652. <p>If you face the front of the church and squint your eyes, you’ll see what looks like rust-colored toothpicks sticking up out of the dusty Texas soil. We crossed the border wall through a gate to get to the Jackson family property.&nbsp; The gate stays open all the time because the Rio Grande, which forms the border between the United States and Mexico, is actually half a mile to the south.</p>
  2653.  
  2654.  
  2655.  
  2656. <p>It was never more apparent to me that the wall serves more of an imaginary function than a physical one than when we drove straight through that wide-open gate. If the wall is necessary to keep dangerous criminals out of the United States, as some politicians would have you believe, then why are there portions of it indiscriminately open to anyone who might pass by, half a mile away from the official border?&nbsp;</p>
  2657.  
  2658.  
  2659.  
  2660. <p>Homes and farms are scattered around that half-mile-wide strip of land in between the border wall and the actual border, and it’s land that belongs to American citizens. Although I can’t speak for the residents, it would come as no surprise to me if the people living in between the border and the border wall felt like they existed in between two different worlds. That theme of in-betweenness is something that kept coming up throughout our visit.</p>
  2661.  
  2662.  
  2663. <div class="wp-block-image">
  2664. <figure class="alignleft size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="1040" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Ramiro.jpg?resize=780%2C1040&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-129862" style="width:310px;height:auto" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Ramiro-scaled.jpg?resize=972%2C1296&amp;ssl=1 972w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Ramiro-scaled.jpg?resize=570%2C760&amp;ssl=1 570w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Ramiro-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Ramiro-scaled.jpg?resize=1152%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1152w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Ramiro-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Ramiro-scaled.jpg?resize=900%2C1200&amp;ssl=1 900w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Ramiro-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C800&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Ramiro-scaled.jpg?resize=450%2C600&amp;ssl=1 450w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Ramiro-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C400&amp;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Ramiro-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C200&amp;ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Ramiro-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C1600&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Ramiro-scaled.jpg?resize=1568%2C2091&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Ramiro-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C2667&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Ramiro-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C533&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Ramiro-scaled.jpg?resize=706%2C941&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Ramiro-scaled.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Ramiro-972x1296.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ramiro Ramirez, a descendant of the original owners of the Jackson Family Ranch, is the current custodian of the property. (Photo by Joel Cohen)</figcaption></figure></div>
  2665.  
  2666.  
  2667. <p>On our first day, we spent the morning with employees of the South Texas Museum of History conducting a story circle, an exercise in which individuals sitting in a circle take turns telling personal tales based on a prompt. Ben Fink, my colleague who facilitated the story circle, started with the prompt, “share a moment that complicates where you come from.”&nbsp;</p>
  2668.  
  2669.  
  2670.  
  2671. <p>Two Mexican-American participants shared that they experienced anxiety over feeling neither Mexican nor American enough to fit neatly into one of the categories.</p>
  2672.  
  2673.  
  2674.  
  2675. <p>The feeling of being pulled between two conflicting labels is one that I can empathize with. I dedicated my life to Christ at a youth retreat when I was fourteen years old and I took my faith very seriously throughout my teens and early twenties. But when I came out of the closet as a lesbian in my mid-twenties, I felt too gay for church and too out of the loop to be at home in a gay bar.&nbsp;</p>
  2676.  
  2677.  
  2678.  
  2679. <p>It would be easy for me to rattle off the ways bad theology hurt me (and people close to me know I like to fume about it). But the truth is more complex than that. When I think back on my time in the church, what comes to mind first aren’t the sermons that made me sweat through my Sunday best.</p>
  2680.  
  2681.  
  2682.  
  2683. <p>I think about the earthy smell of the wooden pews and the cookies I stole out of the parish hall in the first church my family attended. I think of crawdad boils and the soft yellow paper in my grandmother’s prayer book. I hum in my head the opening verse of my favorite hymn, “All Creatures of Our God and King.”&nbsp;</p>
  2684.  
  2685.  
  2686.  
  2687. <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="395" src="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/border_wall.jpg?resize=780%2C395&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-129863" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/border_wall-scaled.jpg?resize=1296%2C656&amp;ssl=1 1296w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/border_wall-scaled.jpg?resize=760%2C384&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/border_wall-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C389&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/border_wall-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C777&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/border_wall-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1036&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/border_wall-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C607&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/border_wall-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C518&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/border_wall-scaled.jpg?resize=1568%2C793&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/border_wall-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1012&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/border_wall-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C202&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/border_wall-scaled.jpg?resize=706%2C357&amp;ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/border_wall-scaled.jpg?w=2340&amp;ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/dailyyonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/border_wall-1296x656.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" data-recalc-dims="1" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The border wall in southern Hidalgo County, Texas is about half a mile away from the Rio Grande, which forms the border between the U.S. and Mexico. (Photo by Joel Cohen)<br></figcaption></figure>
  2688.  
  2689.  
  2690.  
  2691. <p>Stale pizza, laughter, the soft pink of sunset when I walked out of youth group on Sunday night, those things often come to mind before sermons about sin and death and the gnashing of teeth.&nbsp;</p>
  2692.  
  2693.  
  2694.  
  2695. <p>Even though I look back with fond memories, practicing my faith in the way I used to doesn’t feel tenable for me anymore. As a gay woman, I feel like I’m not allowed to love hymns, scripture, or liturgy. But as a Christian, I feel like I’m not allowed to love my girlfriend.</p>
  2696.  
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  2699. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/>
  2700.  
  2701.  
  2702.  
  2703. <p>Ramiro stepped out of the chapel to get something from his truck. And when he came back in, he handed a red hymnal to two of my colleagues, who I’ll refer to as friends here, since that feels more accurate. Both of them are vocalists and hymn fans (one of them is even a self-avowed historical hymnal nerd). Without missing a literal beat, my friends opened the book and sang, in harmony, “There is a Fountain Filled with Blood.”</p>
  2704.  
  2705.  
  2706.  
  2707. <p>They didn’t realize it at the time, but their singing gave me a kind of permission I didn’t know I needed. My friends have their own complex personal relationships with religious communities, but listening to them sing with their whole hearts, despite their backgrounds, reminded me that it was okay to embrace things I felt like I wasn’t allowed to. And I like to think it couldn’t have happened anywhere else but that tiny borderland church, the perfect embodiment of uncomfortable in-betweenness.</p>
  2708. <p>The post <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/what-a-borderland-church-taught-me-about-belonging/2024/04/11/">What a Borderland Church Taught Me About Belonging</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dailyyonder.com">The Daily Yonder</a>.</p>
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