Challenges and opportunity – rural Minnesota communities face both, usually at the same time.

Community leadership programs offered by the Blandin Foundation help rural leaders develop and enhance the skills, knowledge and relationships they need to build and sustain healthy communities – ones that thrive in times of challenge and opportunity.

Blandin leadership programs are developed by a team of people with backgrounds in sociology, psychology, communication, adult and leadership education, government, and community and business development.  The curriculum, and its training, is always evolving to reflect current rural developments.

Our programs aim to build leadership capacity – that is, to develop people’s knowledge and skills, to work together, and to find common ground so they can address their community’s issues and opportunities.

 “We are the ones we have been waiting for.”  Following the wisdom of June Jordan, we believe that community leaders, by using their own skills, employing the right tools, and empowering others, are in the best position to tackle the job themselves.  Rather than waiting for change to happen, community leaders are uniquely positioned to create positive change and work for inclusive good.

The Blandin leadership programs are designed to help make that happen.