Side by Side

RE-RELEASE: Camden Blatchly, Center on Rural Innovation data analyst, explains the complex story behind rural and urban classifications and why place isn't so easily defined

While we’re working on new episodes for Season 3, revisit one of our favorite conversations, originally released on June 18, 2025.  Ellen talks with Camden Blatchley, a data analyst with the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI). Camden discusses the complexities of defining rural and urban areas in the United States, and describes the differences between the two most commonly used definitions: one developed by the Census Bureau and the other by the Office of Management and Budget. Camden explains how these differing definitions can paint different images of rural America and reinforce narratives about rural and urban areas as a binary, when in reality they are a complex, diverse, interconnected continuum of geographies, people, and economic conditions. Camden also highlights his work on the Rural Aperture Project and the necessity for more accurate storytelling and policymaking that reflect the true state of interdependence of rural and urban areas. Episode Highlights: 03:51 The Many Definitions of Rural 10:25 Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Rural America 15:42 Economic Realities and Misconceptions of Rural America 18:09 Rural-Urban Connections More Information: Center on Rural Innovation [https://ruralinnovation.us/], https://ruralinnovation.us/ [https://ruralinnovation.us/] The Rural Aperture Project [https://ruralinnovation.us/resources/mapping-and-data-analytics/the-rural-aperture-project/], https://ruralinnovation.us/resources/mapping-and-data-analytics/the-rural-aperture-project/ [https://ruralinnovation.us/resources/mapping-and-data-analytics/the-rural-aperture-project/] Defining Rural America, The Consequenes of How We Count [https://ruralinnovation.us/blog/defining-rural-america/], https://ruralinnovation.us/blog/defining-rural-america/ [https://ruralinnovation.us/blog/defining-rural-america/] Who lives in rural America? How data shapes (and misshapes) conceptions of diversity in rural America [https://ruralinnovation.us/blog/who-lives-in-rural-america-part-i/], https://ruralinnovation.us/blog/who-lives-in-rural-america-part-i/ [https://ruralinnovation.us/blog/who-lives-in-rural-america-part-i/] Who lives in rural America? The geography of rural race and ethnicity [https://ruralinnovation.us/blog/who-lives-in-rural-america-part-2/], https://ruralinnovation.us/blog/who-lives-in-rural-america-part-2/ [https://ruralinnovation.us/blog/who-lives-in-rural-america-part-2/] The reclassification of rural counties and what it means for rural America [https://ruralinnovation.us/blog/the-reclassification-of-rural-counties-and-what-it-means-for-rural-america/], https://ruralinnovation.us/blog/the-reclassification-of-rural-counties-and-what-it-means-for-rural-america/  [https://ruralinnovation.us/blog/the-reclassification-of-rural-counties-and-what-it-means-for-rural-america/] Questions, comments, want to get in touch?  Email us at sidebyside@umn.edu. We share your feedback with funders and stakeholders about the value of this podcast and how you engage with the insights and information.

Side by Side host Ellen Wolter explains why its important for you to share your feedback

🎧 Side by Side Listeners! We’d love your feedback! Please take five minutes to share your thoughts about the podcast.  Extension relies on participant feedback to understand the impact of our programs—including this podcast—and to share their value with the public and private partners who make them possible. If you enjoy Side by Side, your feedback helps us tell its story and continue bringing these conversations to life. Thank you for taking the time to support this podcast.  👉 Share your feedback via survey here: https://z.umn.edu/sidebysidefeedback  [https://z.umn.edu/sidebysidefeedback] 🎙️ Leave us a virtual voicemail with your feedback here: https://z.umn.edu/sidebysidevirtualmemo [https://z.umn.edu/sidebysidevirtualmemo]   Questions?  Email us at sidebyside@umn.edu.

Civic Bridgers founder Libby Stegger and students Angelina Rueda and Sumaya Yassin share stories about bridging across Minnesota's rural, urban, and suburban communities

In final episode of season two, Ellen talks with Civic Bridgers founder Libby Stegger and students Angelina Rueda and Sumaya Yassin about bridging across rural, urban, and suburban spaces in Minnesota. Angelina and Sumaya discuss their experience in the Rural-Urban Campus Bridging Initiative and Libby shares how the Civic Bridgers organization builds connections across the state. Episode Highlights: 03:14 Civic Bridgers and the Campus Bridging Initiative 08:40 Experiences and Insights from Participants 15:23 Challenges and Rewards of Bridging 26:19 Aspirations and Recommendations for Bridging Work More Information: Civic Bridgers, www.civicbridgers.org [http://www.civicbridgers.org/] Libby Stegger Bio [https://www.civicbridgers.org/meet-the-team], https://www.civicbridgers.org/meet-the-team [https://www.civicbridgers.org/meet-the-team]  Angelina Rueda is a recent graduate from Winona State University with a passion for sociology. Last spring, she participated in the Campus Bridging Initiative to promote the Urban-Rural exchange. Currently, Angelina is a Program Engagement Fellow for Engage Winona as part of a fellowship program with Civic Bridgers and Americorps Vista.  Sumaya Yassin is a third-year student at St. Catherine University, majoring in Public Health with a concentration in Health Sciences and a minor in Aging and Longevity. In the spring of 2025, Sumaya joined the two-weekend exchange program with the Campus Bridging Initiative. This program facilitates exchanges between students from the College of Saint Benedict and St. Catherine's University to engage in discussions about Urban and Rural immersion. Questions, comments, want to get in touch?  Email us at sidebyside@umn.edu. We share your feedback with funders and stakeholders about the value of this podcast and how you engage with the insights and information. Sign up for our newsletter here [https://umn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dm90bvGs5Ad6Ie2].

Jen Ford Reedy unpacks Bush Foundation book club pick, The Power of Bridging, and shares her optimism for how bridging can be a path forward

“Bridging is a practice where members of different social groups are not only brought into contact, but build social connections and rapport.”-john powell “It's not perfect. It's not hypothetical. It's not something you can do all the time. But I think in terms of the kind of world that we are trying to bring into existence, bridging, until we fully realize that we are connected, bridging is necessary.” –john powell “Bridges are made to be walked on.” -bell hooks In this episode, Ellen talks with Jen Ford Reedy, president of the Bush Foundation, about john powell's book, The Power of Bridging. They explore the concepts shared in the book and how they apply to working across rural, urban, and suburban communities. The Bush Foundation is offering free copies of john's book to anyone in their grantmaking region—Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the 23 Native nations that share the same geography. Request your copy here [https://www.bushfoundation.org/bush-book-club/]. Episode Highlights: 03:03 Bush Foundation's Book Club and Its Impact 14:44 Rural and Urban Dynamics 20:08 Bush Foundation's Approach to Bridging 30:29 Challenges and Skills in Bridging 37:46 Optimism and Cultural Change 43:02 The Necessity of Bridging for Change More Information: https://www.bushfoundation.org/people/jen-ford-reedy/ [https://www.bushfoundation.org/people/jen-ford-reedy/] https://belonging.berkeley.edu/ [https://belonging.berkeley.edu/] https://obiu.org/course/bridging-bookclub [https://obiu.org/course/bridging-bookclub] https://communityactionpartnership.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/john-powell.pdf [https://communityactionpartnership.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/john-powell.pdf]  https://belonging.berkeley.edu/practice-bridging [https://belonging.berkeley.edu/practice-bridging]  https://standtogether.org/ [https://standtogether.org/]  Questions, comments, want to get in touch?  Email us at sidebyside@umn.edu. We share your feedback with funders and stakeholders about the value of this podcast and how you engage with the insights and information. Sign up for our newsletter here [https://umn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dm90bvGs5Ad6Ie2].

john a. powell, author of The Power of Bridging, explains what bridging is (and what it isn't) and why it is necessary

Ellen talks with john a. powell about his book, The Power of Bridging, and the concept of bridging and the importance of recognizing our interconnectedness. john explains the harmful practices of breaking and othering and explores the bridging necessary for rural, urban, and suburban communities. john also shares ways individuals and leaders can foster a bridging mindset. Please Note: The Bush Foundation is offering free copies of john's book,The Power of Bridging to anyone in their grantmaking region—Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the 23 Native nations that share the same geography. Request your copy here [https://www.bushfoundation.org/bush-book-club/]. More Information: john a. powell Bio [https://belonging.berkeley.edu/john-powell], https://belonging.berkeley.edu/john-powell [https://belonging.berkeley.edu/john-powell] Othering and Belonging Institute [https://belonging.berkeley.edu/], https://belonging.berkeley.edu/ [https://belonging.berkeley.edu/] Belonging Without Othering: How We Save Ourselves and the World [https://belonging.berkeley.edu/belonging-without-othering], https://belonging.berkeley.edu/belonging-without-othering [https://belonging.berkeley.edu/belonging-without-othering] Belonging Without Othering Podcast with john a. powell and Stephen Menendian [https://belonging.berkeley.edu/podcast-belonging-without-othering], https://belonging.berkeley.edu/podcast-belonging-without-othering [https://belonging.berkeley.edu/podcast-belonging-without-othering] Episode Highlights: 04:20 The Reality of Interconnectedness 11:59 Defining Othering and Breaking 18:41 The Consequences of Othering 35:32 Bridging and Belonging: A Path Forward 44:40 Challenges and Misconceptions of Bridging 54:05 The Role of Leaders in Bridging Questions, comments, want to get in touch?  Email us at sidebyside@umn.edu. We share your feedback with funders and stakeholders about the value of this podcast and how you engage with the insights and information. Sign up for our newsletter here [https://umn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dm90bvGs5Ad6Ie2].