| | | NPSG12-131 | | Still Starbucks-Free: Rural Main Streets—Small towns need vitality, too! Speakers: Kathy Callies, Acting President, Rural Learning Center; Dennis (Denny) Ross, Mayor, City of Maupin, OR; JoAnne Bush, Mayor, City of Lake Village, AR; Chris Beck, Senior Projects Advisor, U.S.D.A.-Rural Development Given the global economy's demand for greater economic efficiencies (fewer small farmers) and environmentally sound natural resource practices (less extraction), many rural communities are facing a dramatic shift in the economic opportunities available to them. Starbucks may not be coming any time soon, but rural leaders understand that creating great places to live and work is an essential ingredient to their economic future and have requested USDA funding for strategic, place-based investments. This session focuses on three case studies: a new meeting center in Howard, South Dakota, a revived market in Maupin, Oregon, and a historic renovation in Lake Village, Arkansas. | | MP3 | | $10.00 | | $10.00 | |
| | | NPSG12-143 | | Healthy Metropolitan Food Systems Speakers: Dan Carmody, President, Detroit Eastern Market; Malik Yakini, Executive Director, Detroit Black Community Food Security Network; Ashley Atkinson, Director of Urban Agriculture and Openspace, The Greening of Detroit; Michael Sands, Senior Associate, Liberty Prairie Foundation Growing food is an act of empowerment that can build neighborliness, provide experiential learning, improve health residents' health, and promote social justice. Local food production, processing, and distribution can help improve access to healthy and nutritious food in underserved areas while increasing job prospects for residents with a wide variety of skill sets. Panelists share their wide variety of experiences in restoring vitality to metropolitan food systems in Chicago and Detroit. | | MP3 | | $10.00 | | $10.00 | |