Rewriting the Rural Narrative with Benjamin Winchester
We're inviting all stakeholders in our region to join us for a thought-provoking virtual event: Rewriting the Rural Narrative with Benjamin Winchester
📅 Date: Friday, April 25, 2025
🕦 Time: 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
📍 Location: Zoom (link provided upon RSVP)
The story of rural America is often told through the lens of decline: closing businesses, shrinking populations, and limited opportunities. But what if that narrative is incomplete? Join us as Benjamin Winchester, Rural Sociologist with the University of Minnesota Extension, shares data-driven insights that challenge these assumptions. Learn how positive trends in migration, community engagement, and economic development are reshaping rural communities in ways that often go unnoticed.
Benjamin Winchester has dedicated over 25 years to studying and working with small towns across the Midwest. As a Rural Sociologist at the University of Minnesota Extension’s Center for Community Vitality, he conducts applied research on economic, social, and demographic trends. In 2021, he was awarded the Rural Renewal Research Prize for his work in reframing the rural narrative. Ben specializes in community development, demographic analysis, and data visualization, helping communities move away from "anecdata" toward meaningful, research-based strategies.
