Focus on Strangers

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Collectively Unleashing The Rural Potential

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Focus on Strangers

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I miss the company of strangers.

I thought that I was one of the lucky ones because I am blessed with a small boisterous community of friends and family that I get to be part of. They are the bedrock that helped me maintain a sense of normalcy over the last 18 months of COVID insolation.

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And I thought that this was enough.

Now with the summer of 2021 finally upon us, the weather is more welcoming; COVID-related masking restrictions easing, the world is beginning to once again revert to the way it was. It is now that I realize that...

I miss the company of strangers.

I suppose what I miss is the momentary connection that helps validate that our world is moving in the right direction. The momentary eye contact, the banter at the grocery check-out, the sharing, the learning, the smile…

I have been taught since high school that human beings are social creatures. But we know that experience is the best teacher of all.

So I want to thank COVID for helping me rediscover the joy that is the company of strangers.

This is an important revelation for me because I believe that this is also an important theme for our GRO communities. GRO, in essence, is the mechanism by which strangers come together to collectively achieve more than they could as individuals. Those communities that embrace a process that enables strangers to connect, share and contribute are the ones that will progress towards prosperity.

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danny

Mikal Calvert

Hermann, MO

One of the favorite stories that I heard this week came from Hermann, MO. Where a young man, Mikal, recently moved to Hermann. When he arrived, he mentioned to some local people that he was interested in getting involved in the community. Fast forward two months later, Mikal is now not only involved in GRO but, with his expertise in data mapping and analysis, has now taken the lead in helping the community map potential local industrial and commercial sites.

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Watch Video

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Thank you COVID, for helping me rediscover the joys of companionship. There is more that unites us than that which divides. Quote

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- Hrishue Mahalaha, GRO Chief Economic Advisor

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Tips and Tricks:

Engaging the community &; turning strangers into friends

Remember the 3.5% rule: It take 3.5% of the community to engage to change the direction of the community. (Read Full Story)
Step 1: Who are your 3.5%? Make a list.
Step 2: What do you want them to do? Have 3 to 4 areas identified where you can use help. Three categories: Time, Treasure or Talent.
Step 3: Pick up the phone and call.
Bonus steps:
- Make a video (See sample video from Ash Grove)
- Develop a stronger outreach strategy. Sample planning documents: Document 1, Document 2
- Recruit a local high school intern. Intern Document
Want more inspiration: be sure to join our next cross community meeting that focuses on community engagement. (June 1, 9am: X-Community: Community Engagement; See previous recording here

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What's Been Happening

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Cross-Community: Community Outreach

May 4 (9am CST): Cross-Community: Community Outreach | We reviewed the new GRO community outreach outreach process. (Click Here)

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Monthly Business Speaker Series

May 20 (12pm CST): Business Speaker Series: Business Speaker Series: Lauren Carter, Center Director, Missouri SBDC at LU. "Accessing COVID Funding for small Businesses: It's Easier than you think." (Click Here)

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Cross-Community: Economic Development

May 25 (9am CST): Cross-Community: Economic Development | Our guest speaker Corey Mehaffy, Executive Director of Hannibal Regional Economic Development Council, shared interesting best practices. (Click Here)

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Cross-Community: Rural Housing Strategies

May 25 (2pm CST): Cross-Community: Rural Housing Strategies | Sara Khorshidifard, Assistant Professor and Director Center for Community Studies at Hammons School of Architecture at Drury University, shared details about Drury Community engagement program. (Click Here)

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What's Ahead

June 1 (9am CST): Cross-Community: Community Engagement
June 8 (11am CST): Cross-Community: Chamber Consortium
June 15 (9am CST): Cross-Community: Project RISE
June 17 (12pm CST): GRO Small Business Virtual Networking
June 22 (9am CST): Cross-Community: Economic Development
June 29 (3pm CST): Cross Community: Housing Discussion

Discussions will be streamed on GRO Ozarks Facebook page. Click here to join

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Join us for a Business Networking Event!

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More about Business911 →

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Business Highlight

We want to celebrate businesses of all sizes. Nominate a business to be featured in the next newsletter by submitting their information here

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Contact:
GRO Support Team at Innovation Economy Partners

contact@growozarks.org

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