SAY HELLO TO THE LEARNING NETWORK
A LIGHT IN THE HILLS
MEET OUR AMAZING GRADS
OUR FELLOWS DO IT ALL SEE YOU AT #RURALX17
JOIN OUR LEARNING NETWORKS AND CONNECT LIKE NEVER BEFORE.
You told us what you wanted: more connections, more flexibility, more partners and more opportunities to learn.
The good news?
That’s exactly what we want to give you.
Your interest and input is helping us connect more rural South Dakota communities to each other, to resources, and to us, with options to participate even on a small scale. While most of what we’re offering has always been available, we are doubling down on our learning networks and making them even better. Our learning networks are the foundation of our community interaction, and are now more accessible to communities not in a long-term partnership with Dakota Resources.
By joining one or more of our learning networks, your community can focus on one or more topics, such as housing (Home Address Plus), entrepreneurship/business development (Dakota Rising), leadership/civic engagement (Empower!) and financial development.
“Any rural community can become part of our learning networks. We are here to facilitate valuable connections and help communities learn together and support each other,” explains Joe Bartmann, VP of Community Innovation.
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They dreamed big and achieved even bigger. Meet the 2016 Dakota Rising graduates and read how the fellowship experience changed their lives for the better.
See page 4.
BLOGS//FORUMS
The learning networks include a host of resources and tools, including online blogs and forums, an online resource bank, peer-topeer video conferences, webinars and training, and face-to-face retreats and conferences.
RESOURCE BANK
VIDEO CONFERENCES
WEBINARS//TRAINING
RETREATS//CONFERENCES
“We are part of a learning network that shares a common goal of wanting to engage more entrepreneurs and support and grow our local businesses. Being involved in the network helps me feel less isolated as an economic development director. I can bounce ideas off people who understand the work. I can share struggles as well as successes. It’s been great for our community and for me personally,” explains Andrea Powers, Executive Director of Southern Hills Economic Development.
While the networks become the centerpiece of Dakota Resources’ community work, communities still have the option for a deeper level of community coaching.
Networks are revolutionizing the way businesses do business and the way people get things done.
–MIKE KNUTSON–
Here are options for working with Dakota Resources:
Any rural community in South Dakota is welcome to join one or more of the learning networks. This is an affordable way for a community team to access a network of peers and take advantage of action-oriented opportunities including retreats, conferences, video conferences and webinars specific to their challenges and opportunities.
Communities that are ready and committed to changing the way they organize and make decisions through a guided year-long process may want to add community engagement and professional coaching to the mix. There are three levels to choose from, each designed to help communities better understand their needs and how to meet them.
All communities are also invited to add “on-demand” coaching and facilitation options to their learning networks membership. Even non-members can purchase on-demand coaching and facilitation.
“The more communities that become part of the networks, the more opportunities there are to learn from one another and share similar struggles and successes. I’ve witnessed the seeds for real projects, like DeSmet’s townhouse project, take hold during a networking event that revolved around housing,” says Mike Knutson, Community Coach for the Home Address Plus Learning Network. “Networks are revolutionizing the way businesses do business and the way people get things done. There is power in the personal relationships developed by the network. Community leaders take ideas home with them and help each other overcome obstacles and create successes.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT JOINING THE LEARNING NETWORKS, CONTACT JOE BARTMANN @ JOE@DAKOTARESOURCES.ORG OR CALL 605-937-8257.
A LIGHT BURNS BRIGHT IN THE BLACK HILLS
“We’re all just little lighthouses that need a chance to shine,” explains Jamie Gilcrease-Heupel, a 2016 Dakota Rising graduate and community volunteer in Lead-Deadwood.
Jamie doesn’t just shine. She radiates.
Prior to becoming a Dakota Rising Fellow, Jamie was leasing a small coffee shop space in Lead and was just coming into her own as a community volunteer. Now she’s on the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center board of directors, Lead Chamber of Commerce board, Lead Kiwanis board, Boys and Girls Club Resource Development Team and multiple local committees.
“Once I became involved with Dakota Rising, I really found my voice,” explains Jamie. “It was like someone lit a match. I realized that getting involved with my community was really important to me, and that I could make a difference.”
Not only did Jamie build a beautiful new space for Lotus Up Espresso and Deli, double her profits and grow her business, but her list of community involvement projects also grew…and grew…and grew. One of her favorite projects is called “Souper Starz” and it combines the very best of Jamie’s passions: food, dreamers, networking and the Lead Kiwanis Club.
“I was inspired after the folks at Dakota Rising urged me to attend OTA and I heard about a similar idea,” she explains. “I’m a dreamer and I love other dreamers. I have had so much great support in my own adventure, and I wanted to help others get off the ground.”
The idea behind Souper Starz is simple.
Each month, people pay $10 to enjoy a hot bowl of soup while up to six applicants are given a five minute platform for presenting their dreams. Each applicant is encouraged to invite as many people as possible to support them. Five dollars goes into the grant fund and five dollars goes to the Lead Kiwanis Club—so more people equals more funding.
After the presentations, all of the people in the room vote on their favorite idea. The winner wins a $200+ grant to help fund their dreams (the project was kick started with a $1,000 grant from Goldcorp Wharf and is sponsored by the Lead Kiwanis Club). However, the real prize is usually much more than that. According to Jamie, approximately 85 people attend each gathering and some of the people in the crowd are spurred to provide help beyond the grant.
“The ripple effect is amazing. People listening in the crowd might grab hold of one of the dreams and provide support, even if that particular idea didn’t win the votes,” she explains. “I’ve seen some amazing things happen in our community, from teenagers making a difference to organizations joining together for good. It’s awesome. This whole experience just makes me so proud of our community.”
RON WALDNER
SNOWFLAKE METALWORKS,
DAKOTA RISING GOALS
» Purchase new equipment
» Bring on an independent contractor or hire an employee
» Pursue continuing education opportunities
» Expand specialty services
» Become more business savvy
AFTER DAKOTA RISING
» Purchased an orthotics machine to help provide custom orthotics, which has been a huge addition to the business
» Purchased an upgraded table to aid with in-depth maneuvers
» Pursuing continuing education in the area of Craniosacral Therapy
» Hired part-time massage therapists to provide temporary workload relief, currently seeking possible full-time person
» Created Facebook page and online appointment system, learning Quickbooks
“There are things I have done I don’t think I would have considered without the support of Dakota Rising. The people in my group eased my fears about hiring an employee or bringing on an independent contractor and gave me the confidence to take some classes and learn more about the business side of my business. On the other side, they also helped me decide against a few business decisions I was about to make. I appreciate having honest, smart people to talk to about being a business owner. Dakota Rising is a time commitment, but you will get out of it what you put into it. I have big goals and my work is not done—three years is the blink of an eye, but those three years gave me a strong foundation for the years ahead. I look forward to seeing what the future holds.”
DAKOTA RISING GOALS
» Grow Snowflake Metalworks out of his home and into its own facility
» Hire more employees
» Increase focus on Snowflake Metalworks and move away from Ron Waldner Signature Homes
AFTER DAKOTA RISING
» Doubled employees between the two businesses and saw increased sales and growth
» Broke ground on new Snowflake Metalworks facility in January 2017
» Has a renewed focus and energy on Ron Waldner Signature Homes
“Through Dakota Rising, you build deep, meaningful relationships with other business owners very quickly. Some of the businesses in my cohort had nothing in common with my business, but I learned that all business owners face the same challenges and frustrations. Having a sharp group of people to talk to about business decisions has given me more confidence and less anxiety as a business owner, with access to a network of people I trust. Through some of the coaching, I learned better ways to interact with my employees and I feel I am a better leader. Before Dakota Rising, I was an island on my own. Now, I have people. It’s the biggest and best benefit of the program.”
