Recent Events:

"Have more of these. It was great!" was just one of the glowing comments that resulted from WHF's most recent dialogue dinner "The 2008 Farm Bill" on Thursday, June 26. Jointly sponsored by WHF and the Henry A. Wallace Country Life Center near Greenfield, IA, the event began with a brief summary of the 2008 legislation by Dr. Neil Harl, Emeritus Professor of Economics at Iowa State University and consultant on some sections of the bill. About 50 people from as far away as Des Moines (60 miles) broke into small groups to discuss three questions about the Farm Bill with a facilitator and an agriculture expert. Experts included Mark Reisinger, USDA Rural Development State Director in Iowa; Rich Hall, SW Iowa Egg Co-op Manager; George Naylor, past President of National Family Farm Coalition; Dave Nichols, Owner and Operator, Nichols Farms; Kevin Kuhn, Adair County Soil and Water Conservation Service; and Tade Sullivan, Sullivan and Associates.

At the close of the discussion, the facilitators summarized each table's discussion. Facilitators included Keith Booth, Wallace Research Farm; Deb Hall, Adair County Extension Director; Willard Olesen, Howe & Olesen Law Firm; Catherine Howe, Community Volunteer; Tom Walton, Nyemaster Law Firm; and Kent Zimmerman, Wallace House Foundation.

Participants reported that they enjoyed the "very diverse group of attendees, opinions, and experiences." Many people commented that they liked the format of the discussion and the opportunity to talk about world affairs and be exposed to a broad set of ideas.

At the end of the evening, each person decided on his or her own future course of action. Commitments ranged from "think, think, think" to "pay closer attention to food/fuel/water policy issues" to "continue to be informed of the food-ethanol-national resources our country faces and to help foster positive changes where I can make an impact."

This event was a part of the African American Museum of Iowa's year-long project, "Iowa Roots, Global Impact: The Life and Legacy of George Washington Carver." This project includes a major exhibition at the African American Museum of Iowa, traveling exhibits, programs, and more. Project sponsors include the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, the State Historical Society of Iowa, Humanities Iowa and the National Endowment for the Humanities, General Mills, Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area, Pioneer Hi-Bred, and others.

Nationally Recognized Community Development Expert Speaks in Des Moines

Dr. Suzanne W. Morse (above), president of the Pew Partnership for Civic Change in Charlottesville, Virginia, presented "Smart Communities: What Makes the Difference" at the Des Moines Central Library on Thursday, October 11. Sponsored by the Wallace House Foundation, the Federal Home Loan Bank, and the Des Moines Public Library, the lecture attracted more than 40 community development professionals, elected officials, and neighborhood association members. Wallace House Foundation President & CEO Kent Zimmerman (pictured left) welcomed the crowd, and Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie (pictured below) introduced the speaker. (At the beginning of her talk, Dr. Morse spontaneously named Mayor Cownie "America's Mayor.")

Using examples of large cities and small towns, Dr. Morse outlined seven key leverage points critical to creating successful communities:

• Investing right the first time
• Working together
• Building on community strengths
• Practicing democracy
• Preserving the past
• Growing leaders
• Inventing a brighter future

Dr. Morse's book, Smart Communities: How Citizens and Local Leaders Can Build a Brighter Future, further expands on her inspiring message. Copies of her book can be purchased from the Wallace House Foundation ($35 plus S & H). A DVD of her lecture will be available soon.

After the lecture, Dr. Morse posted this review on her web blog:

"Last night I spoke at a symposium sponsored by the Wallace House Foundation in Des Moines. The Foundation's tagline is "Building Community through Conversation about Contemporary Issues." As a believer of the importance of dialogue and deliberation to a healthy democracy, I can only cheer for the work of the Wallace House Foundation. After spending a few days at the Kettering Foundation en route to Des Moines and hearing about the latest research on deliberation, I am all the more enthusiastic. I spent a chapter in Smart Communities talking about that very topic. I can now add Des Moines to the list of communities that really get this. Others are Grand Rapids, Jacksonville, and Owensboro to name only a few."