Darryl L. Birkenfeld, Ph.D. - Director, Ogallala Commons

Excerpt from Program:
"If our ranches and farms are resilient, shouldn't our towns be more vibrant, as well? Over the past 20 years, rural communities of the Great Plains and Interior West have witnessed recurring scenes of population loss, stagnant economies, youth out-migration, and degradation of natural resources...anything but the picture of resilience. In recent years, residents in communities are beginning to rediscover that any community already has in place 12 foundational assets known as commonwealths. In this session, community developer and educator Darryl Birkenfeld, will identify and describe 12 commonwealths, and engage participants in visualizing these key founts of resilience for their communities. He will also illustrate how Ogallala Commons (www.ogallalacommons.org), a non-profit community development resource network, uses the commonwealth approach to build vibrant communities in Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas."