7 Many rural towns such as Lexington are retaining old traditions as they learn to embrace new demographic realities. Analysis from the Center for American Progress points to a 130 percent growth among foreign-born adult populations in 2,767 rural places since 1990, offsetting a 12 percent decline in these places’ native-born adult populations. Small-town America-once typecast for its indisputable insularity as much as its immutable institutions-is increasingly becoming home to a growing number of immigrants and refugees. Yet multicultural Lexington is hardly an anomaly among rural communities across the country. “Only in Lexington,” Fagot mused to the people sitting next to him on the football field bleachers. Though the mayor couldn’t see the activities on the field-an accident left Fagot blind in the early 1980s-he knew that the night’s homecoming coronation signaled that his small town had arrived at what he calls a demographic “mountain top.” 5Įdvin Ortiz, son of Guatemalan immigrants, and Vanessa Lo, daughter of Cambodian immigrants, were selected by their classmates-a student body of 880 that speaks 30 languages and hails from 40 countries-to represent them as homecoming king and queen. On a Friday night in August 2018, John Fagot, a lifelong resident of Lexington, Nebraska, who has served as its mayor for the past 18 years, sat in the bleachers of the town’s only high school, taking in the pomp and circumstance of the annual homecoming football game. 4 Yet Lexington and Madison offer encouraging examples of how proactivity and practicality-coupled with time-can help communities embrace the nation’s multicultural destiny and emerge stronger for their collective efforts. Oversimplified headlines suggest that small-town America is conflicted about the extent to which its demographic and economic vitality should depend on newcomers. Communities should approach inclusion work with not only a plan and best practices but also a healthy dose of patience. Inclusion efforts are most effective if they promote regional dialogue. Local governments must continuously make themselves accessible to all residents. Investments in the next generation of leadership will reap returns for the sustainability of inclusive civic life. The most effective inclusion efforts are designed to benefit all community members-not just newcomers or longtime residents specifically. Public-private partnerships can be a lifeline when the rate of demographic change outpaces a community’s ability to keep up. Focusing on common core values helps bridge other language or cultural differences. In welcoming newcomers, small towns have innate advantages-intimacy, efficiency, and familiarity-that their big-city counterparts lack. They offer a road map for other small, rural communities at the beginning stages of managing demographic change: The two towns today boast revitalized business districts, booming housing markets, successful schools, and sustainable population growth. 3 It explores the effectiveness of intentional strategies taken by key institutions, the successes and decentralized efforts of dedicated civic leaders, and the power of unique characteristics innate to small towns. Informed by conversations with more than 70 stakeholders in local government, education, faith, business, and nonprofit and civic organizations, along with lifelong residents and newcomers, this report tells the story of change and the successful management of that change in both towns. Well-rounded communication skills are required.This report looks beyond the numbers to understand how Lexington and Madison-communities selected for study based on their rurality, 2 rapid demographic change, and resulting resilience-have adapted to newcomers. The successful candidate will have knowledge of Microsoft Word and the ability to learn other software systems. Gather mail from the post office, mail outgoing items, accept delivered packages Connect customers with appropriate company representatives to address advertising and circulation issues. Type or rewrite press releases for publication.Īnswer questions about advertising, legal notices, obituaries, classified and celebration ads, and billing and delivery of papers. Monitor and respond to emails for customer or business needs including checking for relevant press releases, news tips, story updates and ideas Greet customers who visit the office and assist as ableĪnswer phone calls from customers, assist/direct as needed This position works days approximately 20 hours a week. The Lexington Clipper-Herald is seeking a PT detail-oriented and customer-service-oriented team player to join the news team to handle administrative tasks in the office.
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