Few research projects have examined sustainability in a rural (not urban) setting. This session showcases the Rural Sustainability Index, a new tool developed by the Carl Small Town Center to help rural areas measure their sustainable potential in comparison to state and national measures. Find out how even the smallest towns have used sustainable practices in transportation, economic development, and other areas to solve some of the most common problems plaguing rural communities.
Speaker Details
Dewey Thorbeck
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Bio: Founder and Director, Center for Rural Design, University of Minnesota. the Center is the first in the world to bring design as a problem-solving process to rural issues and challenges. It is sponsored by the College of Design and the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. Owner of award-winning, Thorbeck Architects
Education: Bachelor of Architecture, University of Minnesota Master of Architecture, Yale University Fellowship to American Academy in Rome
Key Publications: "Rural Design: A New Design Discipline" (Routledge, 2012) Paper: "Establishing the Research Foundation for a New Design Discipline" (ARCC/EAAE 20120)
Other Publications: ARQA - Portuguese Architecture and Art, Interview about rural design in "Rural Persistencies" (March/April 2012) AIA Minnesota - article on "Dewey Thorbeck" (November/December 2012)
Past Assignments: Association for Community Design 2011 National Conference Exhibit: "Rural Design" by Goldstein Museum of Design at University of Minnesota, 2013
John Poros
Director, Carl Small Town Center
Carl Small Town Center
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Bio: Director, Carl Small Town Center
Education: M. Arch., Harvard University, 1990 B.A., Columbia College, 1985
Key Publications: APA Small Town and Rural Planning Newsletter, "Measuring Rural Sustainability - A Research Project", Summer 2012
Past Assignments: "Rural Sustainability, Measuring the Future", Tennessee Chapter of American Planning Association 2012 Fall Conference "Practicing Rural Design" Association for Community Design 2012 Conference, Salt Lake City, UT “Rural Community Collaborations” Session organizer, Association for Community Design 2011 National Conference, Philadelphia, PA
Anna Read
Project Manager
State of Missouri
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Bio: Project manager for MoBroadbandNow, the State of Missouri's broadband initiative. Prior to joining MoBroadbandNow, project manager for ICMA's Center for Sustainable Communities, focusing on rural sustainability.
Education: MRP, Cornell University; B.A. Bryn Mawr College
Key Publications: "Putting Smart Growth to Work in Rural Communities" I\(ICMA, 2010).
Other Publications: “Asset-based Economic Development and Building Sustainable Rural Communities" (ICMA, 2012); “Breaking New Ground: Promoting Environmental and Energy Programs in Local Government” (IBM Center for the Business of Government 2011).
Past Assignments: New Partners for Smart Growth(2012); APA Virginia Annual Conference (2011); National Building Museum Smart Growth Speaker Series (2011).
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