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In the final episode of Side by Side's first season, Ellen talks with photographer John Noltner, founder of ‘A Peace of My Mind,’ a storytelling project that captures personal stories and portraits to foster dialogue across divides. John discusses the human tendency to avoid challenging preconceived notions and how storytelling deepens our understanding of each other and breaks down stereotypes. John reflects on his experiences from Skid Row in Los Angeles to the deep South of Mississippi and border towns in Texas, highlighting the interconnectedness of rural, urban, and suburban communities and the immense pride that individuals have for their communities.

Episode Highlights:
03:44 John's Background and Origins of "A Piece of My Mind"

07:51 The Impact of Feeling Seen

10:50 Common Ground in Rural and Urban Communities

18:46 The Danger of a Single Story

20:40 Surprising Stories from Mississippi and LA

27:45 Sharing Stories and Creating Impact

More Information:
A Peace of My Mind, https://apeaceofmymind.org/

Stories from New York Mills, MN:

https://apeaceofmymind.org/2023/12/20/belonging-2-0/

Stories from skid row in Los Angeles, CA, https://apeaceofmymind.org/2021/07/06/vincent-turner/

Stories from Oxford, MI, https://apeaceofmymind.org/2023/04/18/duncan-gray/

Questions, comments, want to get in touch? Email us at sidebyside@umn.edu

Side by Side Listeners!
We would love to learn what you have valued about the podcast.

Below is a link to a brief survey to share your thoughts:
https://z.umn.edu/9wtp

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In this episode, Ellen welcomes colleague Brigid Tuck, an economist at the University of Minnesota Extension, who sheds light on a 2011 study demonstrating economic interdependence between rural and urban areas in Minnesota. Conducted in collaboration with Minnesota Rural Partners, the study highlights how economic changes in either region can significantly impact the other, particularly in the agribusiness and manufacturing sectors. Brigid describes how Minnesota's urban areas benefit economically from improved prosperity among its rural neighbors and vice versa. Additionally, the discussion covers the ever-evolving definitions of 'rural and 'urban' that affect research methodologies and policy decisions. Brigid also shares her insights into what people get wrong about rural and urban communities in Minnesota.

Episode Highlights:

05:04 Key Findings from An Economic Rural-Urban Interdependence Study

11:22 Defining Rural and Urban Areas

18:09 Common Misconceptions About Rural and Urban Areas

More Information:
Brigid Tuck Bio, https://experts.umn.edu/en/persons/brigid-a-tuck

Urban vs. rural? More like urban and rural together, study says | UMN Extension, https://extension.umn.edu/vital-connections/urban-vs-rural-more-urban-and-rural-together-study-says

Greater Minnesota and Twin Cities 7-County Metro Area Jobs by Industry, 2024, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wEhyR3CMPD7E91dYdNzj9W_8ky00yL4j/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments, want to get in touch? Email us at sidebyside@umn.edu

Side by Side Listeners!
We would love to learn what you have valued about the podcast.

Below is a link to a brief survey to share your thoughts:
https://z.umn.edu/9wtp

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In this week's episode, Ellen talks with Tony Pipa senior fellow at the Brookings Institution about the significance of rural policy and its outdated approaches. Tony discusses the essential role rural areas play in providing energy, food, and manufacturing for urban centers, emphasizing the need for a cohesive national rural strategy. Tony also highlights the Reimagining Rural Initiative at Brookings, which seeks to modernize rural policy. He underscores the importance of understanding rural-urban interconnectivity in policy-making and shares experiences from international settings where rural-urban ties are better integrated. The episode also explores how regional coalitions and economic projects can foster collaboration between rural and urban areas to ensure sustainable growth and economic vitality.

Episode Highlights:

02:51 Reimagining Rural Policy

05:07 Challenges and Opportunities in Rural Policy

11:59 Building Rural-Urban Connections

25:17 International Perspectives on Rural-Urban Interdependence

31:30 Changing the Narrative: Rural and Urban Interdependence

35:57 Tony's Podcast: Reimagine Rural

More Information:
Tony Pipa Bio, https://www.brookings.edu/people/anthony-f-pipa/
Reimagine Rural Policy Initiative, https://www.brookings.edu/collection/reimagining-rural-policy/
Tony's Reimagine Rural Podcast Series, https://www.brookings.edu/tags/reimagine-rural/

Questions, comments, want to get in touch? Email us at sidebyside@umn.edu