Leadership Journey in America’s Heartland

When Midwestern leaders gathered on video conference to talk about developing and sustaining leadership, it was no surprise that the themes of community, connections, and supporting leaders dominated the conversation. Community values run deep in America’s heartland.

Leadership is not without its challenges, especially during a pandemic. Covid-19 has compounded inequities. Rural leaders often play many roles and are stretched thin. In 2020, they faced unprecedented challenges, like record unemployment and food scarcity. Leaders discussed challenges such as expecting children to attend virtual school when they may not have internet or even running water at home. 

Connie Loden, who is a strategist driving economic development in Green Bay, Wisconsin, stresses that the importance of leadership starts with the very spark of an idea, and from there, they catalyze action. “Leadership provides a vision for others to see and understand … making it come to life.”

Being a Good Relative: Leading with the People, not for the People

Ted Hibbeler, Tribal Engagement Educator for Nebraska Extension, S. Sioux City, Nebraska, discussed being a good relative to the earth, to all living things, a holistic viewpoint. In Lakota, everything is measured by being a good relative to people, the earth and all living things. He also shared a common saying among indigenous elders, “We are our own medicine”. 

Marginalized communities within the Midwest need to be supported and lifted up. One participant said it best: “Change happens at the speed of trust, or the speed of relationships.”

Ted encouraged us to look at the earth as we would our grandmothers: “We don’t own the earth just like we don’t own our grandmothers. Our job is to care for it. The elders talk to us, they tell us to look at the earth as our grandmother. How would you treat your grandmother? It’s how she treats you. It’s a reciprocal relationship with the earth and all living things.”

Leaders Walk Behind Their People

Ted also shared that traditionally, Tribal leaders walk behind their people. This is symbolic because humility is an important value. This helps the leaders see what issues impact the community. You can’t understand your people if you walk in front of them. 

Malissa Bahr of Blandin/Grand Rapids agreed, “When you approach something from a good place, you can find people to go with you.”

Always Say Yes, but Know When to Say No

Rick Smith discussed the balance between saying yes to your community and taking care of yourself.

A good leader usually says yes to helping community members. However, a mark of a good leader also knows when to say no–whether it’s due to family commitments or just mental health. Leaders are often stretched too thin.

A Vision of the Future of Leadership

Midwest leaders emphasized the importance of building up youth leadership. 

The pathway to leadership starts at a young age,” Connie Loden explains. It starts when a mentor or someone else in the community see promise in young people.

Chris Sramek, a meteorologist from Kansas, told a story of getting two local boys involved in a volunteer project after they had a physical altercation. The incident had caused a rift between their families and within the community. After the boys were involved in the volunteer work, they began to show signs of leadership and taking agency for their behavior. One boy reached out to apologize, and the healing process was able to begin. 

Shelly Heideman, a community organizer from Illinois, shared: “It takes courage and time to develop deep relationships with others. [Which] is not how our society operates—the society says ‘me‘ is most important, not others.”

Milan Wall of the Heartland Center shared a story he heard from a town in Missouri. Instead of the traditional gift of luggage to graduating high school seniors, this town gives mailboxes as a gift. The message? You have a home here when you need it. We’d love to have you back as part of the community. As a common challenge in rural communities is getting younger people to stay, this town has changed their messaging to encourage young people to invest in the towns they were raised in. 

About the Heartland Center for Leadership Development

The Heartland Center for Leadership Development, based in Lincoln, Nebraska, is an independent, nonprofit organization developing local leadership that responds to the challenges of the future of small towns and rural communities.

RuraLead’s Midwest Journey was produced by Milan Wall of the Heartland Center and Matt Rezac of Blue Dot Consulting.