Traditional approaches often fail to address systemic challenges like workforce transitions, business retention, and inclusive growth. Professionals, officials, and volunteers in community and economic development must navigate a complex economic environment. To build resilient communities, leaders need skills in systems thinking, collaboration, and strategic planning.
The Leading Economic Transformation (LET) program aims to enhance civic engagement, inclusive decision-making, and sustainable growth in communities by equipping leaders in systems thinking, network building to engage with communities. Key activities included Ripple Effect Mapping, asset mapping, and public participation strategies. Participants aligned economic goals with community initiatives to promote growth. The program stressed on innovative problem-solving, providing tools to enhance leadership, engage communities, and drive change. Officials and volunteers reported that the program encouraged reflection, strengthened their capacity to tackle challenges, and provided strategies for partnerships. It improved their understanding of systemic issues, leading to better decision-making and collaboration.
Participants gained skills and confidence to lead change in their communities. By equipping leaders with advanced strategies, the LET cohort fosters stronger, more resilient communities prepared to tackle economic challenges and create opportunities. Participants noted that the experience encouraged systems thinking, recognizing cultural, social, economic, and environmental impacts. One participant reflected on complex problems being challenging but not insurmountable. Another noted, “Despite barriers, evaluation and research can empower communities and partners to drive meaningful change, and leading transformation requires commitment to long-term impact and sustainability.”
Additional information:
Leading Economic Transformation (LET) program
University of Minnesota Extension
University of Minnesota Extension – Community Development