Welcome Back to the Rural Realities Blog

Welcome back to the Rural Realities Blog,

I am excited to introduce myself. I am one of the new Rural SART Coordinators at MNCASA, and I have over a decade of experience in advocacy, community services, case management, support groups, housing, and restorative practices. Whether working or volunteering, my focus has always been on empowering individuals and communities. When I’m not engaged in this work, I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, or enjoying the outdoors.

Today, I’d like to explore a real and common problem related to our rural communities and team dynamics: the significance of long memories in small towns. I recall once asking a woman I was volunteering with if she was a local to the area. She replied, “No, I moved here in 1962.” This simple response highlights an important aspect of rural communities—the deep and lasting connections people have to their histories and each other.

When working in or with rural communities, it’s vital that we recognize the nuances of these long memories and connections. In our communities, past events, whether they involve collaboration between law enforcement or the creation of community-based advocacy services, often remain present in the lore of that town. These past experiences may create an undercurrent of tension or distrust if not addressed.

We have a variety of tools at our disposal to navigate these dynamics and chart a path forward:

• Acknowledge the past – It is essential to recognize and address past challenges and hurts. Avoiding them only allows these concerns to fester, becoming more deeply embedded in the team’s dynamics.
• Be transparent – Involve everyone in the process to eliminate fears around information withholding, past challenges, or different worldviews. Have honest discussions about strategies, challenges, and goals to build trust and accountability within the team.
• Storytelling – Storytelling and sharing are powerful tools to help people understand the underlying reasons for change and its significance.

It is crucial to understand that newcomers or external organizations might not immediately be aware of these dynamics. If we fail to recognize the weight of memories and past experiences, it can impede efforts to build cohesive teams or collaboration. These are challenges we can overcome. Despite turnover, evolving circumstances, and lingering disappointments, it’s possible to move forward. Facilitating a successful SART requires intentional work to address past tensions and guide the team through the discomfort of unresolved histories. In doing so, we can build stronger, more resilient teams, capable of fostering meaningful change in communities.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss navigating these dynamics further, please contact us at svji@mncasa.org.

This project was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-22-GK-04024-RURA awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.