Editor’s Note: This interview first appeared in Path Finders, an email newsletter from the Daily Yonder. Each week, Path Finders features a Q&A with a rural thinker, creator, or doer. Like what you see here? You can join the mailing list at the bottom of this article and receive more conversations like this in your inbox each week.
Courtney Bergey Swanson joined the Department of Public Transformation Activate Rural team in November and brings more than 15 years of experience in creative, place-based community development. Raised on a farm in southeastern Minnesota, Swanson has spent her career reimagining historic spaces, integrating art into public infrastructure, and designing programs that engage residents in shaping their own places.
Now, as associate director of Activate Rural, she is working with the team and its partners to develop new models for investment in rural communities. Swanson shared with me how her rural roots continue to shape her approach to community development and her vision for rural places.
This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
The Daily Yonder: What was your path to joining the Department of Public Transformation?
Courtney Bergey Swanson: I was raised on my great-grandparents’ farm in southeast Minnesota, and during college I did a summer internship just down the road at Lanesboro Arts, a nonprofit arts organization in my region that just happened to be doing nationally-recognized placemaking work. I didn’t grow up going to arts events with my family, but I was always a creative kid and I loved being able to create experiences for my community. During my time there I gained valuable experience in grant proposal writing and working with local government, and got to immerse myself in the rural arts ecosystem.
My interest in rural community development ultimately led me to a regionally-based nonprofit that provides fractional staffing for rural cities. One of the small towns I was working for, Spring Grove, was selected to be part of DoPT’s inaugural Activate Rural Cohort – our one-screen movie theater in town was in danger of closing, so our goal was to develop new revenue streams and a business succession plan. Our team created new programming and partnerships to activate the space, and now one of our artist team members owns and operates the theater. I’m thrilled to now have the opportunity to work on this side of the Activate Rural program!
DY: In what ways has your rural upbringing, and your relationship to creativity and the arts, shaped your approach to community transformation?
CBS: When I reflect on my rural upbringing, one of the strongest collective descriptors that comes to mind is pride. People were proud. Farmers like my dad were proud of their work and felt very passionate about that identity. My mom was a proud graduate of Harmony High School, and even after the school merged with another neighboring school, I grew up hearing her old cheerleader chants and lore of the state football championship win in 1984. My grandparents moved into town after they handed the farm over to my parents, and my grandpa was constantly pruning his petunias because he took such pride in them. People were proud of their churches and schools and Main Streets and volunteer fire departments and local businesses, and a lot of creativity and community connection happened in these places.
After I returned from college and began working as a professional, my approach to community transformation really has been focused on making that pride visible. How do we turn that deep sense of history and connection into real, sustainable assets that the next generation will be proud of? Just one restored building or new public space can catapult a renewed sense of place and pride, and I want to help communities access the resources to do that.
DY: How would you define a ‘third space’? Based on your experiences, what unique benefits have you seen third spaces bring to rural communities and the people who gather in them?
CBS: To me, a third space is a place you simply want to go when you’re not beholden to your domestic (home) and professional (work) duties. It’s a place that gives you a chance to bump into someone, to hear the town happenings, and I firmly believe that these organic encounters are not only fun, but essential for a healthy community. It’s so much easier to humanize your neighbor when you get to hold the door open for them on the way into the coffeeshop. These little moments of humanization build trust. And if someone feels like they can trust their community, they are so much more likely to be an active and positive member of that community.
One other major benefit of third spaces is the way they provide unique identities for communities. When I tell people about the communities I’ve lived or worked in, they will say things like “oh that town with the funky mini golf course!” or “I went to that great barbecue place there last summer!” These spaces are front doors and first impressions, and that has a real economic benefit to small towns.
DY: As a member of the first Activate Rural cohort with the Spring Grove Cinema project, what were the most valuable lessons you gained from that experience, and how have they shaped the way you will approach supporting future cohorts?
CBS: What a great question. My participation in the Spring Grove Cinema project was through my role as the city’s Economic Development Authority (EDA) director, and I have always said that I know I’m doing my job well when people trust me with their ideas. And while rural communities often feel like their money and resources are scarce, they are never short on ideas.
So when community members began to brainstorm about new uses for the Cinema, it was so amazing to have a little grant money to try things. It helped people think creatively and test things out with very little financial risk. Rural city halls are often overwhelmed and understaffed, so I am excited to be able to “speak the language” of local government and help them understand the value of these third spaces in their town.
And though the grant funding helped us try new ideas, even more important was the validation and accountability from the DoPT team. It was so helpful to have someone to say “this is an idea worth trying, here are some things to think about.”. We learned a lot! Some lessons were small (the ice machine in the lobby is loud, so don’t schedule meetings during ice-making time!) and some were big (people are inherently quiet in movie theaters, so you have to be really strategic if you want audience interaction). All this is to say, I am very excited to encourage the next cohort, support them as they test things out, and celebrate with them when they see what sticks.
DY: Looking ahead, what projects or ideas are you most energized to explore in the coming year? What possibilities feel most exciting or urgent to you right now?
CBS: I just had a baby this year and also have a four-year-old, and parenthood has given me so many new perspectives on third spaces. I never realized how important it is for maternal mental health to have a space where you feel comfortable bringing your child! Just getting out of the house is so important, and our weekends often center around an outing to some of our favorite third spaces. Our society has shifted inwards, where folks shop from their phones and experience culture from their couch; and while I love these modern conveniences of grocery delivery and Netflix, I want my children to feel comfortable at the cafe and library and theater. These are the places where they will get to know their community and learn how to interact with their neighbors. These places are intergenerational and intercultural, and being part of that builds values of respect and curiosity. Motherhood has taught me a lot about how to care for communities (my “village”!) and I am looking forward to bringing this perspective to my work.
Another passion of mine is finding capital for rural communities, so I’m looking forward to working with our team and our partners to develop new models for investment. Rural communities can be wonderfully nimble and have unique opportunities for local ownership and wealth-building; I’m excited to see what creative approaches we can take to get things done.
DY: How can people get involved?
CBS: The Activate Rural Learning Lab applications are now open, and as a former participant I cannot recommend this opportunity enough. Please reach out for more information if your community is interested in applying!
This interview first appeared in Path Finders, a weekly email newsletter from the Daily Yonder. Each Monday, Path Finders features a Q&A with a rural thinker, creator, or doer. Join the mailing list today, to have these illuminating conversations delivered straight to your inbox.
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The post Q&A: Courtney Bergey Swanson on Third Spaces and Investing in Rural appeared first on The Daily Yonder.
