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Prairie Cafe 2002
2007-11-04
“Quality of Place—What is Essential for Vibrant Community Life in the 21st Century?” This was the issue discussed during the 2nd Annual Prairie Café, held July 29-30, 2002 at the Neal Smith Wildlife Prairie Learning Center Prairie City, Iowa. Prairie Café is an open, yet informed discussion among selected invitees on a current or timely topic regarding the economic, social, or environmental future of the Northern Great Plains region. This year’s retreat drew 32 attendees from throughout the Region.
Essential Elements for Quality of Place
The first question that Prairie Café raised was, “What are the minimum
essential elements of quality of place that allow people to make choices about where they might live?” The question assumes that without certain minimum levels of services, people cannot or will not choose to live in such a place regardless of lifestyle. Discussion was not centered on desirable
amenities for quality of place. Rather, it focused on essential services for quality of place; the ability to make choices in the 21st century.
Necessary Changes in Policies or Practices
The second question that Prairie Café raised was, “What current policies, rules or practices can be changed to ensure quality of
place in rural areas?” Establishment of a defined set of essential elements for quality of place sets the stage for discussing what policies and
practices will reflect 21st century realities. Will they be policies that are
based on quality of place using available, new technologies and not on quantity
of people, trucks, teachers, or buildings using old technologies? Can the
Region move from late 20th century policy standards to a 21st century system of
people centered and technology driven services? Is the NGP region ready, in
fact, to rewrite the rules?
Change—the Uninvited Guest
The third question Prairie Café raised was, “What changes in values, beliefs or
behaviors will be necessary for the NGP region to make in order to ensure there
is quality of place in the 21st century?” A primary challenge the Region
faces in addressing existing 20th century policies and practices is directly
linked to how we learn and change as humans, as organizations and as
governments. It is our nature to readily accept or adopt a new idea or new
knowledge and support it much faster than we are willing to change or adapt our
behaviors within our organizations, businesses, communities or personal lives
to reflect the new knowledge we have gained. It is this adapting to
change in the form of new practices or policies and the hard work that comes with
moving from idea to practice when doing so requires us to change our behavior,
values or beliefs that challenges us the most. Are we as prairie people
and is the NGP region as a whole ready to make the needed changes to have a
vibrant region in the 21st century?
