Group teaches people in low-population areas how to run for office and become civic leaders

In west-central Minnesota, an effort is under way to get more people involved in political and civic leadership. The nonpartisan rural democracy initiative runs programs that help people learn how to run for office or take action in areas deemed “leadership distressed.”

“We have the same amount of local units of government and way fewer people in rural Minnesota,” said Celeste Koppe, who works for West Central Initiative, the organization behind the effort.

The organization launched the multi-pronged effort last year to address the pressures felt by cities and the loss of other leadership development programs in the area.

The programs work to reduce barriers to leadership by teaching people about the nuts and bolts of how to run a campaign and fundraise or design a community impact project.

So far, early results show that the people who have participated come from many different walks of life and emerge with a greater interest and capacity to serve their communities.

“We know that we have this overall need for more leaders, and we’re also paying really close attention to building leadership that reflects community,” Koppe said.

For more on the rural democracy initiative, click the play button on the player above.

• Police monitor says MPD making progress on court-ordered overhaul
• State grants extension for Hennepin County to reduce its jail population
• Art Hounds: Songbirds and snails onstage
• Longtime south Minneapolis resident brings deep experience to historic panel