If you could be a regional catalyst to encourage thinking in new ways, how would you do it?  Hugh Weber of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, recruits top-notch, creative, national and global entrepreneurs to share how their successes and failures continue to push them toward making change at the annual OTA conference. (The conference is named for the last three letters in MinnesOTA, North DakOTA and South DakOTA.)  ... more

Recently the Bush Foundation’s partnership with the South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development and Dakota Resources on a regional systems engagement pilot was mentioned in the winter 2012 Dakota Resources newsletter Connections. The commentaries by President Beth Davis and Board Chair Jon Farris explained the concepts of community development and community capitals so well, we wanted to reproduce them here for you and also provide more information about the work we’re doing in partnership with these two organizations. ... more

When the federal tax code changed sixty years ago, it opened the doors for those with wealth to establish formal charitable giving organizations. This led to the proliferation of some of the region’s largest private and community philanthropic organizations, including the Bush Foundation in 1953. ... more

Jamestown, North Dakota, played host to the third Bush Fellows Gathering of 2012. It was my first visit to the beautiful campus at Jamestown College. Did you know the President, Robert S. Badal, Ph.D., is a 1982 Bush Fellow? He and 17 other Bush Fellows were on hand to connect and reconnect with one another and with us, as we consider ways to tap into the work Bush Fellows, Native Nation Rebuilders and partners are conducting in their communities. ... more

I recently traveled to the campus of South Dakota State University (SDSU)—home of South Dakota’s State Data Center—to hear about their efforts to make data more accessible and relevant to South Dakotans, as shared by the Center’s staff of four. ... more

Like many a small town under an unpredictable summer sky, my new community of Hosmer, South Dakota, celebrates a major milestone—its 125^thanniversary—with an action-packed weekend of events this weekend (June 29-July 1) called the “Hosmer Quasi." ... more

The many partners in the Black Hills Mental Health and Substance Abuse Collaborative began a recent semi-annual meeting that I attended in Rapid City with a collective “woo hoo” for the hard work they’ve undertaken together. And they sure deserve it! ... more

On my recent trip to Washington, DC, I was reminded that spring was just around the corner; I saw cherry blossoms and flecks of green peeking through the brown carpet of grass and winter grime.  It was a trip about planting the seeds of support for cross-governmental projects among tribes, federal agencies and Congress, and for explaining the Bush Foundation’s work in supporting these efforts with our 23 partner tribes. ... more

Pop Quiz: Through which tribal community in North Dakota do approximately 11,000 vehicles now drive daily?

Answer: New Town! ... more

(Editor's Note: The original blog post was updated on 12/14/11 to include links to photos and to deepen the explanation of activities at the workshop. Please contact communications@bushfoundation.org if you have questions about the original post.) ... more