I am a child of the Great Plains I grew up in Red Cloud hometown of Pulitzer
up in Red Cloud hometown of Pulitzer
up in Red Cloud hometown of Pulitzer Prize winning author Willa Cather
Prize winning author Willa Cather
Prize winning author Willa Cather her prose about the plains have inspired
her prose about the plains have inspired
her prose about the plains have inspired people for a generation as a boy I rode
people for a generation as a boy I rode
people for a generation as a boy I rode my Pony spirit nearly every morning and
my Pony spirit nearly every morning and
my Pony spirit nearly every morning and reveled in the opportunity to check the
reveled in the opportunity to check the
reveled in the opportunity to check the cows or ride a fence row greet mulberry
cows or ride a fence row greet mulberry
cows or ride a fence row greet mulberry symmetry as a boy I knew I was cared for
symmetry as a boy I knew I was cared for
symmetry as a boy I knew I was cared for and loved by a large extended family
and loved by a large extended family
and loved by a large extended family friends and a great hometown I’m a
friends and a great hometown I’m a
friends and a great hometown I’m a tag-along a bonus baby I’m the last of
tag-along a bonus baby I’m the last of
tag-along a bonus baby I’m the last of six kids the family story is is that my
six kids the family story is is that my
six kids the family story is is that my folks went to Texas to buy a bowl but
folks went to Texas to buy a bowl but
folks went to Texas to buy a bowl but came home with me
I wish I could make that up Red Cloud’s
I wish I could make that up Red Cloud’s about a thousand people in south central
about a thousand people in south central
about a thousand people in south central Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska there were 23 in my kindergarten class
there were 23 in my kindergarten class
there were 23 in my kindergarten class the same number is in my graduating
the same number is in my graduating
the same number is in my graduating class I got to do everything I got to
class I got to do everything I got to
class I got to do everything I got to play sports I got to be the lead in the
play sports I got to be the lead in the
play sports I got to be the lead in the musical I got to participate in clubs I
musical I got to participate in clubs I
musical I got to participate in clubs I got to go to 4h horse shows I had to be
got to go to 4h horse shows I had to be
got to go to 4h horse shows I had to be really thoughtful about who I might
really thoughtful about who I might
really thoughtful about who I might invite to a movie because the nearest
invite to a movie because the nearest
invite to a movie because the nearest movie theater was 40 miles away as I
movie theater was 40 miles away as I
movie theater was 40 miles away as I grew older and began to understand a bit
grew older and began to understand a bit
grew older and began to understand a bit more about the world I started to get a
more about the world I started to get a
more about the world I started to get a an odd message from my parents and other
an odd message from my parents and other
an odd message from my parents and other adult mentors your future someplace else
nobody ever used those exact words but
nobody ever used those exact words but the message was clear you’re a bright
the message was clear you’re a bright
the message was clear you’re a bright articulate kid with terrific prospects
articulate kid with terrific prospects
articulate kid with terrific prospects we’ll see you for the holidays ish that
we’ll see you for the holidays ish that
we’ll see you for the holidays ish that is that is devastating we love you in
is that is devastating we love you in
is that is devastating we love you in fact we love you so much you should live
fact we love you so much you should live
fact we love you so much you should live someplace else
Nebraska is terrific nearly everything
Nebraska is terrific nearly everything and everyone works comparatively we have
and everyone works comparatively we have
and everyone works comparatively we have great public schools we have an engaged
great public schools we have an engaged
great public schools we have an engaged citizenry the streets are safe and clean
citizenry the streets are safe and clean
citizenry the streets are safe and clean that people are kind and giving earlier
that people are kind and giving earlier
that people are kind and giving earlier this week a website wallet hub said that
this week a website wallet hub said that
this week a website wallet hub said that Nebraska is the fifth happiest state in
Nebraska is the fifth happiest state in
Nebraska is the fifth happiest state in the country Nebraska has what people
the country Nebraska has what people
the country Nebraska has what people want most abrasca know that but
want most abrasca know that but
want most abrasca know that but unfortunately I’ve heard too many times
unfortunately I’ve heard too many times
unfortunately I’ve heard too many times when a community leader proposes a big
when a community leader proposes a big
when a community leader proposes a big idea and the response to that person is
idea and the response to that person is
idea and the response to that person is we can’t do that we can’t dream that we
we can’t do that we can’t dream that we
we can’t do that we can’t dream that we don’t have enough money the truth is our
don’t have enough money the truth is our
don’t have enough money the truth is our abundance goes far beyond our people
abundance goes far beyond our people
abundance goes far beyond our people systems and culture in the next 50 years
systems and culture in the next 50 years
systems and culture in the next 50 years we’re going to see a transfer of wealth
we’re going to see a transfer of wealth
we’re going to see a transfer of wealth of some six hundred billion dollars now
of some six hundred billion dollars now
of some six hundred billion dollars now there’s always a transfer of wealth from
there’s always a transfer of wealth from
there’s always a transfer of wealth from generation to generation as parents pass
generation to generation as parents pass
generation to generation as parents pass away and leave their estates to their
away and leave their estates to their
away and leave their estates to their kids but if the children no longer live
kids but if the children no longer live
kids but if the children no longer live in the communities where that wealth was
in the communities where that wealth was
in the communities where that wealth was made and accumulated we not only lose
made and accumulated we not only lose
made and accumulated we not only lose that human capital we also ultimately
that human capital we also ultimately
that human capital we also ultimately lose that financial capital imagine with
lose that financial capital imagine with
lose that financial capital imagine with me what if just 5% of that six hundred
me what if just 5% of that six hundred
me what if just 5% of that six hundred billion dollars was given back to the
billion dollars was given back to the
billion dollars was given back to the places where it was made and accumulated
places where it was made and accumulated
places where it was made and accumulated that’s 30 billion dollars 30 billion
that’s 30 billion dollars 30 billion
that’s 30 billion dollars 30 billion dollars that could have an exponential
dollars that could have an exponential
dollars that could have an exponential impact on the future of our hometowns in
impact on the future of our hometowns in
impact on the future of our hometowns in the 21st century with new technologies
the 21st century with new technologies
the 21st century with new technologies in the internet more and more people can
in the internet more and more people can
in the internet more and more people can live and work wherever they choose I
live and work wherever they choose I
live and work wherever they choose I think our community I cannot
think our community I cannot
think our community I cannot development question today should be why
development question today should be why
development question today should be why do I want to live and work and raise my
do I want to live and work and raise my
do I want to live and work and raise my kids in this community we need to give
kids in this community we need to give
kids in this community we need to give talented young people good reasons to
talented young people good reasons to
talented young people good reasons to stay to return to join us
stay to return to join us
stay to return to join us people attraction has to be our top
people attraction has to be our top
people attraction has to be our top priority to embrace these opportunities
priority to embrace these opportunities
priority to embrace these opportunities the Nebraska Community Foundation was
the Nebraska Community Foundation was
the Nebraska Community Foundation was formed in 1993 I went to work there in
formed in 1993 I went to work there in
formed in 1993 I went to work there in 1997 the Nebraska Community Foundation
1997 the Nebraska Community Foundation
1997 the Nebraska Community Foundation is not a typical Community Foundation
is not a typical Community Foundation
is not a typical Community Foundation we’re not a charity we don’t make grants
we’re not a charity we don’t make grants
we’re not a charity we don’t make grants we empower people we’re a community
we empower people we’re a community
we empower people we’re a community development organization focused on
development organization focused on
development organization focused on building long-term trusting
building long-term trusting
building long-term trusting relationships with our community
relationships with our community
relationships with our community partners and vesting decision-making
partners and vesting decision-making
partners and vesting decision-making power in local leaders we’ve learned a
power in local leaders we’ve learned a
power in local leaders we’ve learned a lot one of the most important things
lot one of the most important things
lot one of the most important things we’ve learned is this work has to happen
we’ve learned is this work has to happen
we’ve learned is this work has to happen together as partners we don’t do things
together as partners we don’t do things
together as partners we don’t do things for people we don’t do things to people
for people we don’t do things to people
for people we don’t do things to people we walk hand in hand with our volunteer
we walk hand in hand with our volunteer
we walk hand in hand with our volunteer community affiliated fund leaders our
community affiliated fund leaders our
community affiliated fund leaders our flat power with partnership model is
flat power with partnership model is
flat power with partnership model is working it’s held up as a model of rural
working it’s held up as a model of rural
working it’s held up as a model of rural development and we’re asked to share
development and we’re asked to share
development and we’re asked to share this story all across the United States
this story all across the United States
this story all across the United States and internationally community leaders
and internationally community leaders
and internationally community leaders are having more and more optimistic
are having more and more optimistic
are having more and more optimistic conversations with their youth and young
conversations with their youth and young
conversations with their youth and young adults the picture you see on the screen
adults the picture you see on the screen
adults the picture you see on the screen are the graduates of Imperial high
are the graduates of Imperial high
are the graduates of Imperial high school each of them are holding a
school each of them are holding a
school each of them are holding a mailbox in that mailbox is a
mailbox in that mailbox is a
mailbox in that mailbox is a personalized invitation for them to
personalized invitation for them to
personalized invitation for them to return home after they’ve completed
return home after they’ve completed
return home after they’ve completed their education that’s powerful
their education that’s powerful
their education that’s powerful especially if you compare it with
especially if you compare it with
especially if you compare it with what we’ve historically done lots of
what we’ve historically done lots of
what we’ve historically done lots of places and lots of people have this
places and lots of people have this
places and lots of people have this habit of giving high school seniors
habit of giving high school seniors
habit of giving high school seniors luggage for graduation affiliated fund
luggage for graduation affiliated fund
luggage for graduation affiliated fund leaders across the Nebraska Community
leaders across the Nebraska Community
leaders across the Nebraska Community Foundation Network are inviting their
Foundation Network are inviting their
Foundation Network are inviting their friends and neighbors to be a part of
friends and neighbors to be a part of
friends and neighbors to be a part of this last year in CF and its 220
this last year in CF and its 220
this last year in CF and its 220 affiliated funds around the state
affiliated funds around the state
affiliated funds around the state received over 8,500 gifts last year more
received over 8,500 gifts last year more
received over 8,500 gifts last year more than 29 million dollars was reinvested
than 29 million dollars was reinvested
than 29 million dollars was reinvested in our hometowns 290 million since 1994
in our hometowns 290 million since 1994
in our hometowns 290 million since 1994 our network has grown fivefold in the
our network has grown fivefold in the
our network has grown fivefold in the past 10 years and now has a hundred and
past 10 years and now has a hundred and
past 10 years and now has a hundred and thirty million dollars in assets more
thirty million dollars in assets more
thirty million dollars in assets more than 300 people have included their
than 300 people have included their
than 300 people have included their hometown in their estate plan and those
hometown in their estate plan and those
hometown in their estate plan and those plans we estimate to be some 60 million
plans we estimate to be some 60 million
plans we estimate to be some 60 million dollars this is awesome we are totally
dollars this is awesome we are totally
dollars this is awesome we are totally proud of what’s happened and all the
proud of what’s happened and all the
proud of what’s happened and all the progress we’ve made but if we compare
progress we’ve made but if we compare
progress we’ve made but if we compare those numbers with just a tiny fraction
those numbers with just a tiny fraction
those numbers with just a tiny fraction of the transfer of wealth we’re just
of the transfer of wealth we’re just
of the transfer of wealth we’re just seeing the tip of the iceberg remember
seeing the tip of the iceberg remember
seeing the tip of the iceberg remember 5% of 600 billion dollars is thirty
5% of 600 billion dollars is thirty
5% of 600 billion dollars is thirty billion dollars how could we use thirty
billion dollars how could we use thirty
billion dollars how could we use thirty billion dollars invested wisely as a
billion dollars invested wisely as a
billion dollars invested wisely as a margin of excellence in our hometowns to
margin of excellence in our hometowns to
margin of excellence in our hometowns to have better education wellness
have better education wellness
have better education wellness prosperity quality of life that would
prosperity quality of life that would
prosperity quality of life that would attract talent and young people
I totally should have known that one I’m
I totally should have known that one I’m an economist
I’m an economist and economics is a
I’m an economist and economics is a social science so there’s lots of things
social science so there’s lots of things
social science so there’s lots of things we don’t know but a few we do one of
we don’t know but a few we do one of
we don’t know but a few we do one of which is that capital in all of its
which is that capital in all of its
which is that capital in all of its forms flows to certainty and optimism so
forms flows to certainty and optimism so
forms flows to certainty and optimism so if we want capital human capital and
if we want capital human capital and
if we want capital human capital and financial capital to flow to our
financial capital to flow to our
financial capital to flow to our hometowns to flow to the places that we
hometowns to flow to the places that we
hometowns to flow to the places that we live in and love we have to be positive
live in and love we have to be positive
live in and love we have to be positive and optimistic well the good news is
and optimistic well the good news is
and optimistic well the good news is there’s a whole lot of good news out
there’s a whole lot of good news out
there’s a whole lot of good news out there check out these headlines I’m
there check out these headlines I’m
there check out these headlines I’m trying to figure there we go look at
trying to figure there we go look at
trying to figure there we go look at these focus on community bings brings
these focus on community bings brings
these focus on community bings brings big growth to Pender young adults
big growth to Pender young adults
big growth to Pender young adults returning to rural towns young
returning to rural towns young
returning to rural towns young Nebraskans can live and work anywhere
Nebraskans can live and work anywhere
Nebraskans can live and work anywhere Imperial gives them reasons to come home
Imperial gives them reasons to come home
Imperial gives them reasons to come home you can go home again McCook a great
you can go home again McCook a great
you can go home again McCook a great place to be a kid we have the pleasure
place to be a kid we have the pleasure
place to be a kid we have the pleasure of working with dozens and dozens of
of working with dozens and dozens of
of working with dozens and dozens of communities throughout the state where
communities throughout the state where
communities throughout the state where there are many more young families than
there are many more young families than
there are many more young families than there were ten years ago
there were ten years ago
there were ten years ago we’ve surveyed 7,000 middle and high
we’ve surveyed 7,000 middle and high
we’ve surveyed 7,000 middle and high school students about their perceptions
school students about their perceptions
school students about their perceptions of their communities only 12% of those
of their communities only 12% of those
of their communities only 12% of those kids said their hometown is too small
kids said their hometown is too small
kids said their hometown is too small and the majority of them said they would
and the majority of them said they would
and the majority of them said they would be delighted as adults to come back and
be delighted as adults to come back and
be delighted as adults to come back and live and work at home if career
live and work at home if career
live and work at home if career opportunities were available to them
opportunities were available to them
opportunities were available to them this is not the rural narrative we’re
this is not the rural narrative we’re
this is not the rural narrative we’re used to seeing or hearing charitable
used to seeing or hearing charitable
used to seeing or hearing charitable giving has become a big part of helping
giving has become a big part of helping
giving has become a big part of helping communities use people attraction as
communities use people attraction as
communities use people attraction as their primary strategy you know Neil and
their primary strategy you know Neil and
their primary strategy you know Neil and Holt County they have a four million
Holt County they have a four million
Holt County they have a four million dollar endowment that’s helping to
dollar endowment that’s helping to
dollar endowment that’s helping to underwrite their countywide community
underwrite their countywide community
underwrite their countywide community economic development efforts four
economic development efforts four
economic development efforts four hundred and seventy five individuals and
hundred and seventy five individuals and
hundred and seventy five individuals and young families have moved back to Holt
young families have moved back to Holt
young families have moved back to Holt County in the past few years in McCook
County in the past few years in McCook
County in the past few years in McCook there’s a 2.2 million dollar endowment
there’s a 2.2 million dollar endowment
there’s a 2.2 million dollar endowment the payout of which is being used
the payout of which is being used
the payout of which is being used for youth engagement and to work on arts
for youth engagement and to work on arts
for youth engagement and to work on arts and culture last month in Ravenna school
and culture last month in Ravenna school
and culture last month in Ravenna school kids got to experience the Eclipse with
kids got to experience the Eclipse with
kids got to experience the Eclipse with an astronaut and what about my hometown
an astronaut and what about my hometown
an astronaut and what about my hometown a Red Cloud check this headline out 20
a Red Cloud check this headline out 20
a Red Cloud check this headline out 20 years ago Red Cloud seemed all but dead
years ago Red Cloud seemed all but dead
years ago Red Cloud seemed all but dead now the hometown of Willa Cather is
now the hometown of Willa Cather is
now the hometown of Willa Cather is changing its fate heritage tourism and
changing its fate heritage tourism and
changing its fate heritage tourism and early childhood development are two of
early childhood development are two of
early childhood development are two of the primary strategies that Red Cloud is
the primary strategies that Red Cloud is
the primary strategies that Red Cloud is using for people attraction there are
using for people attraction there are
using for people attraction there are many graduates from the late 1990s and
many graduates from the late 1990s and
many graduates from the late 1990s and early 2000s who have moved back home to
early 2000s who have moved back home to
early 2000s who have moved back home to Red Cloud to raise their kids and build
Red Cloud to raise their kids and build
Red Cloud to raise their kids and build their businesses elementary classes are
their businesses elementary classes are
their businesses elementary classes are significantly larger than what they were
significantly larger than what they were
significantly larger than what they were red cloud is focused on its assets eight
red cloud is focused on its assets eight
red cloud is focused on its assets eight thousand people a year come to Red Cloud
thousand people a year come to Red Cloud
thousand people a year come to Red Cloud to visit Cather sites eighty percent of
to visit Cather sites eighty percent of
to visit Cather sites eighty percent of those people live out of state what if
those people live out of state what if
those people live out of state what if just 20 percent of those people spent
just 20 percent of those people spent
just 20 percent of those people spent the weekend as opposed to the day thanks
the weekend as opposed to the day thanks
the weekend as opposed to the day thanks to charitable giving and philanthropy we
to charitable giving and philanthropy we
to charitable giving and philanthropy we now have a full time heritage tourism
now have a full time heritage tourism
now have a full time heritage tourism development director in Red Cloud we
development director in Red Cloud we
development director in Red Cloud we think the economic impact of heritage
think the economic impact of heritage
think the economic impact of heritage tourism and Red Cloud could exceed three
tourism and Red Cloud could exceed three
tourism and Red Cloud could exceed three million dollars a year this December Red
million dollars a year this December Red
million dollars a year this December Red Cloud is going to open a
Cloud is going to open a
Cloud is going to open a state-of-the-art Early Childhood
state-of-the-art Early Childhood
state-of-the-art Early Childhood Development Center to serve 80 students
this 3.5 million dollar project which
this 3.5 million dollar project which includes a 1.5 million dollar endowment
includes a 1.5 million dollar endowment
includes a 1.5 million dollar endowment is going to be an enormous source of
is going to be an enormous source of
is going to be an enormous source of attracting people to say yes we want you
attracting people to say yes we want you
attracting people to say yes we want you to live and work and raise your family
to live and work and raise your family
to live and work and raise your family in our hometown
there is no magic bullet for this work
there is no magic bullet for this work for years and years I’ve said our work
for years and years I’ve said our work
for years and years I’ve said our work is patient and tenacious but there are a
is patient and tenacious but there are a
is patient and tenacious but there are a few things that we’ve learned and some
few things that we’ve learned and some
few things that we’ve learned and some commonalities that we’ve identified in
commonalities that we’ve identified in
commonalities that we’ve identified in communities that are doing this work in
communities that are doing this work in
communities that are doing this work in doing this work well in attracting young
doing this work well in attracting young
doing this work well in attracting young people home when they combine a
people home when they combine a
people home when they combine a collective vision for the future of
collective vision for the future of
collective vision for the future of their community with distributed
their community with distributed
their community with distributed leadership lots and lots of people
leadership lots and lots of people
leadership lots and lots of people rowing in the same direction
rowing in the same direction
rowing in the same direction discretionary capital and by that I mean
discretionary capital and by that I mean
discretionary capital and by that I mean flexible money and lots and lots of
flexible money and lots and lots of
flexible money and lots and lots of citizens and residents engaged in the
citizens and residents engaged in the
citizens and residents engaged in the process people are magnetizing their
process people are magnetizing their
process people are magnetizing their hometowns it is fascinating to watch it
hometowns it is fascinating to watch it
hometowns it is fascinating to watch it is fascinating to be a part of it’s
is fascinating to be a part of it’s
is fascinating to be a part of it’s super encouraging it’s been a long time
super encouraging it’s been a long time
super encouraging it’s been a long time since I sat on the back of my horse and
since I sat on the back of my horse and
since I sat on the back of my horse and ate mulberries Nebraska is a great place
ate mulberries Nebraska is a great place
ate mulberries Nebraska is a great place to live work and raise our families it’s
to live work and raise our families it’s
to live work and raise our families it’s our job to share that with others thank
our job to share that with others thank
our job to share that with others thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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