9: Are We at a Crossroads?

Here's a sneak peek at our next special episode! Give a listen to the voices and the work of the next generation of rural Americans learning about their communities. Young people living in rural America are just like other American youth: interested in change, thinking about their futures, and ... sometimes feeling like adults aren't interested in what youth have to say. Our episode celebrating youth voices in rural America will be released on March 27. 

You've got to have friends! Personal and professional connections are critical to the development of healthy communities, whether they are rural or urban. In this final episode of our Spark! series, we're examing how two communities innovated around culture and heritage to overcome stagnation and division. In Helper, Utah, the city came together to design their own revitalized main street and plan a future after the coal industry left. In Franklin, North Carolina, the town had to face the past to reconcile with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians so the two communities could work together to preserve the past and build a mutually beneficial future.

In this episode, we're taking a closer look at two very different rural communities that embody technological innovation. In Taos, New Mexico, solar energy is used to power high-speed internet and a jobs training hub for locals that want to stay local. In Chenango County, New York, there's a long history of innovative companies, from aerospace parts manufacturers to Chobani, the famous yogurt brand.

Rural America is full of places of innovation--towns where people work together to conceive new ideas and spark engagement by the community to implement them. Journey with us in this first episode in our look at rural innovation to explore two stories of social innovation, visiting towns that took risks and dreamed big to revitalize their downtowns, and show the community what was possible when they worked together. First up, learn how Hillsboro, Illinois, brought energy and commerce back to Main Street. Then, hear about the creative ways Bethel, Vermont, reinvigorated a sense of community and place.

For many years, the conventional wisdom in the United States has been that rural America is hurting: facing impacts from outmigration, aging populations, and declining economies. The reality is remarkably different. America's small towns are not all the same. Yes, some are struggling, but many more are working together and utilizing the innovation and skills of their people to thrive. Stay tuned for a three-part series on rural innovation inspired by the Smithsonian's traveling exhibition Spark!  Places of Innovation. Hear from people all over the country who have helped breathe new life into their communities.

We're excited to share an episode from our host Hannah Hethmon's podcast Museums in Strange Places. Back in 2019, Museums in Strange Places featured the amazing work of the Smithsonian's state and local partners in rural communities. Starting in Moreland, Georgia (pop. 382) in 1994, the Smithsonian, state humanities councils and local history organizations began a collaboration called Museum on Main Street to bring traveling exhibitions and humanities progams to rural communities. Since that kick-off nearly 30 years ago, more than 2,000 communities (with a median population of 8,300) have participated in the program.

Museum on Main Street is all about local history: rural communities use a Smithsonian exhibition and humanities scholars in their state to immerse their visitors in the stories that make their hometowns unique. In 2011, the program launched Stories from Main Street -- the story collection initiative that helps power this podcast -- to elevate and preserve rural voices and perspectives on important topics.

Did you know that about half of the museums in the United States are in small towns? American history and culture is everywhere! Enjoy this look at the work, resourcefulness, creativity, joy and pride our communities bring to the project.

Be sure to listen to Museums in Strange Places where you get your podcasts or at: https://pod.link/1296895315

Museums in Strange Places and Smithsonian's Museum on Main Street are produced by Better Lemon Creative Audio. Hannah Hethmon is your host.

Apologies friends! This pod is the actual episode titled "My Vote, My Voice," which should have been originally posted back in October. "The Greater Good: Everyday Democracy" was actually uploaded. We're very sorry for this error. The other episode titles have been updated.

Please listen! You have not heard "My Vote, My Voice" yet!

Have you voted? What does voting mean to you? Hear from everyday Americans talking about democracy and what it means to them. In this episode, we're focusing on voting as a right and a responsibility. Listen to stories from first-time voters--young and old; the professionals and volunteers that make elections happen; and activists trying to expand voting access.

Smithsonian's Stories from Main Street is written, produced and edited by Better Lemon Creative Audio. Hannah Hethmon is your host.

What civic responsibilities do we have as Americans? What do we owe to the process of democracy? What is the best way to voice our opinions and shape national and local policy? If we want to give back and do our part, where should we start? These are the questions asked and answered by everyday Americans in this episode.

Smithsonian's Stories from Main Street is produced by Better Lemon Creative Audio. Hannah Hethmon is your host.

Democracy can be messy. Americans share many common values and ideals, but views on how that works out in the democratic process and in public policy can vary widely. In this episode, you'll hear stories from everyday Americans about their experiences with democracy, polarization, unity, and the issues they care about most. Our storytellers grapple with the big questions about democracy: What level of debate and disagreement is proper? What issues matter the most? How do we balance the need for dissent with the need for unity?

Smithsonian's Stories from Main Street is produced by Better Lemon Creative Audio. Hannah Hethmon is your host.

Coming soon! What does "democracy" mean to you? As Election Day 2023 nears and the 2024 presidential campaign is already a daily news story, it is important to reflect on the ties that bind us together. American democracy is complex. It's more than just politics. Our culture, values and history -- national and individual -- play a big role in how we each approach democracy. Listen in as people talk about voting, participation in the democratic process, and the things that motivate them to use their voices in their communities.