Emerging Projects & Ideas

As a result of dialogue among various members of the initial phase of the Global Rural Network, the following projects and ideas are in various stages of emerging:

Communiversity

A concept of “Communiversity” is evolving under the leadership of a core “master capacity builder” group in Potter County, PA. The concept is based on the idea that there is a need for communities to learn how to think about issues within a “futures context.” Every rural area need to have a culture that supports continuous innovation. This can be accomplished by building small neighborhood networks so that citizens can learn about trends and weak signals and how communities will be impacted. This COTF idea of 21st Century Neighborhood Academies will be one of the key concepts within the umbrella of the Communiversity concept. Another idea is to create a network of people in communities in different states who help each other think creatively to seed new ideas.

Community Innovators

The NC Step Project has established the concept of Community Innovators. These are rural leaders who have volunteered to be coached in the principles and skills of how to become a “master capacity builder” as well as developing “future groups” of citizen leaders who will identify and study the potential impact of trends and weak signals.

Reducing Energy Consumption Contests

Due to the challenges of peaking oil production and the rising cost of energy, one of the GRN ideas emerging is a friendly competitive contest among rural areas in different states to reduce per/capita energy consumption.

Bioplastics

The concept of growing “bioplastics” is being considered as one way to help the family farm survive and be sustainable.

Home Learning Coterie

Valdese, NC will connect with other rural areas in different states to develop the concept of “home learning coteries.” The concept of learning groups was established as “coteries” in Scotland in the late 18th century. This concept of community learning groups is being updated with the connection to fiber optic networks and videoconferencing capacities. One of the most important objectives is to identify emerging ideas and technologies that may be important in the next five to ten years, and connect with individuals throughout the U.S. and other countries who are experts in these new and emerging fields.

Visioning 2026 Communities

Norfolk,NE has focused on a Visioning 2026 community based planning process that is focused on new concepts such as a Millennium Center, a multistory downtown building refurbished with broadband technology, apartments for living, green energy savings, and community rooms that would be a new economic development method to attract people to live downtown. Another idea that is emerging is a 21st Century Riverwalk that combines greenspace, children attractions and tourist attractions to bring people to Norfolk.In addition, a core group of Master Capacity Builders are using the new technology of Second Life, a “virtual world” to help citizens envision future ideas to include what an updated downtown would look

Virtual Worlds

Larry Wenzl of Norfolk, NE is coaching members of the GRN in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Ohio in the use o Second Life as an economic development capacity building tool.