Our approaches, goals and outcomes include concepts adapted from and shaped by the following sources.
If you are interested in learning more, follow the links included with these sources to explore the topics.
“Closing the Opportunity Gap,” a project of The Saguaro Seminar: Civic Engagement in America at Harvard Kennedy School
The Saguaro Seminar is an ongoing initiative of Professor Robert D. Putnam at the Kennedy School of Government. The project focuses on expanding what we know about our levels of trust and community engagement and on developing strategies and efforts to increase this engagement.
US Partnership on Mobility from Poverty
The Partnership’s collective ambition is that all people achieve a reasonable standard of living with the dignity that comes from having power over their lives and being engaged in and valued by their community.
A Profile of Youth Poverty and Opportunity in Southwestern Minnesota
The University of New Hampshire’s Carsey School of Public Policy partnered with community foundations like ours across the country to understand regional data and trends. We commissioned this report on southwest Minnesota youth poverty and opportunity when launching Grow Our Own. The report is authored by Marybeth J. Mattingly, Andrew Schaefer and Douglas Gag.
Cost of Living in Minnesota
The Cost of Living Tool provides a yearly estimate of the basic-needs cost of living in Minnesota by county, region, and statewide. We used this tool to help us understand household incomes and how that relates to the opportunity gap in our region. This online tool is provided by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Minnesota Compass
Data for local city, county, school district or legislative district helps inform decisions for today and plans for tomorrow. We rely on Minnesota Compass to better understand our region and the communities in it. You can use Minnesota Compass’s Build Your Own data tool to find local data.
Minnesota Report Card
The Minnesota Report Card is designed to provide parents, educators, schools, districts and citizens with easy access to important information about schools to help them make decisions and be engaged in the education of Minnesota students. Choose from several reports to learn more about the state of education in your local district, a specific school, or the state as a whole.
