Winona County residents to develop responses to extreme weather in Winona Climate Dialogue, March 3-5, 2016
Winona County community members will come together March 3-5 on the Winona State University campus for a three-day deliberative forum to study and discuss changes in the area’s climate and weather. Participants in the Dialogue will develop a community-based response outlining concerns, opportunities, and actions to address challenges the community faces.
The Winona Climate Dialogue is open to the public and is being organized by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy and the Jefferson Center. The Dialogue will invite a randomly selected but demographically balanced group of 18 individuals from the county. Participants will have access to resources and experts to produce their own independent recommendations that respond to Winona County’s needs, priorities, values, and ambitions.
Students at Winona Senior High School will participate in a student Dialogue in late February, before the community Dialogue takes place. Students will hear from local experts and discuss their own priorities and concerns around climate and weather issues.
This Rural Climate Dialogue is the third in a series of Dialogues happening around the state, and will be followed by a statewide convening of participants from all three Dialogues in late 2016. The Dialogues are intended to spur rural leadership and build resiliency in the face of extreme weather conditions and a changing climate. You can learn more about the Rural Climate Dialogues at: http://ruralclimatenetwork.org/content/rural-climate-dialogues
The event will be held at the Tau Center, room 214, on the Winona State University Campus. The three-day Dialogue will take place March 3 – 5 from 8:30am – 5:00pm each day. Please contact Andrew Rockway ([email protected] or 651-209-7672) for more information.