A special recap from ROI’s VP of Economic and Community Development, Julie Halbig.
In May, IU’s Center for Rural Engagement delivered a stellar two-day conference focused on the issues of greatest importance to Indiana’s rural communities. Leaders from across Indiana, IU researchers, and colleagues from various fields were able to network, learn, and share their perspectives on the opportunities and needs facing rural Indiana. Conference topics focused on health, education, housing, arts and culture, and resilience.
A highlight of this year’s conference was the breakfast plenary session on day two, where the audience heard from Ash Hanson, Creative Executive Officer with the Department of Public Transformation, who shared a unique perspective on quality of place.
Ash’s premise for her presentation was: How Do Artists Help Us Fall in Love (with Rural Places)?
She then posed to the audience, “What would it look and feel like to intentionally invest in cultivating an alluring sense of place? What role can artists play in increasing a community’s desire to tend to it?”
Ash then challenged the group to think about how each of us would define our relationship with the place (city, town, or community) we call home. She likened our relationship with “Place” to feelings that can define any human relationship. Are we in love with our place, do we like it, despise it, or are we bored with it and not putting any effort into it?
Again, harkening to the adage: “No one will love me if I don’t love myself,” Ash espoused that this relates to Place and our relationship with it. As rural citizens, we have to love our Place for others (outsiders and newcomers) to fall in love with it. We show up for things we care about, and we come back to them as well.
The dynamic session concluded with the following scenario presented to the group of rural leaders in the audience: What would a first date look like with your Place? Where would you go to spend time and money? What would you do? How would you introduce your place to a newcomer?
The language we use to describe our Place is essential and carries significance in attracting outsiders and newcomers to consider moving to our area. As we continue to promote the Indiana Uplands, we will also reflect on Ash’s approach and encourage other Uplanders to consider this scenario, capturing what we love about the Uplands region.