Designing the Community We Deserve

Here in our rural communities, we deserve spaces we are not just welcome in; we deserve spaces we are worthy of.

Most people who grew up in small towns can picture the local gathering space: a worn down, retro print sofa, a characteristic musty scent that even the liveliest chili feed couldn’t mask, and cupboards filled with mismatched dishes donated by generations of community members. A few grimy decks of cards lay invitingly on doily-adorned tables surrounded by folding chairs dusted with rust. On the far wall hangs the local birthday calendar, centennial memorabilia hanging nearby. Be it a church basement, a senior center, the local Boys and Girls Club or the old school, these spaces often serve as the cornerstones of communities: places where all are welcome to gather across generations. As central to our communities as these gathering places is the value of frugality. Our deep-seated midwestern prudence allows us to thrift our necessities, give benevolently, and accept gifts graciously. These very traits are assets that afford us the privilege of inclusive, community-centered spaces. These traits, however, can also serve as hindrances.

During a conversation last week, I listened carefully as a community member I look up to raved about our newest endeavor: The Rural Collective. Although admittedly flattered by the kind words about this space the Chamber of Commerce poured so much of their time and energy into over the last year, what stuck with me most was a comment she made about how the space is one that we are worthy of. She mused that our midwestern thriftiness at times prevents us from striving for the spaces and communities we deserve. We often think that a donated couch and a thrifted, mismatched set of chairs will do, serving their purpose and saving the bank balance.

But what would happen if we invested in making our buildings, our businesses, our gathering spaces into the places we deserve? What if we spent a little extra time and money on cohesion and design, creating attractive, comfortable, and functional spaces?

Before you stop reading and dismiss me as a spendthrift, I challenge you to think about your home: what factors came into play when you chose what seating to put in the living room? How are your walls decorated? Did you favor comfort or affordability when purchasing your mattress?

Now think about the last time you went on a vacation. When you traveled to your destination, what restaurants did you eat at? Which storefronts drew you in? I suspect that the appearance of these spaces and the comfort they offered were key factors in determining your itinerary. We seek out places that are beautiful, clean, polished. We live in homes that are artfully decorated and carefully crafted. Why is it that we don’t afford these luxuries to our communities?

Sure, money plays a large role in making decisions. This fact won’t likely be changing anytime soon. Thriftiness and tastefulness, however, need not be mutually exclusive. What difference can you make with a little attention to detail and a few extra dollars? What decisions about décor and comfort, function and form can you make within a reasonable budget to give your community members or clients a space they can be proud of? Here in our rural communities, we deserve spaces we are not just welcome in; we deserve spaces we are worthy of.