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About Paula Jensen

The Community Coach. Having a passion for community leadership and development is what drives Paula Jensen’s personal and professional life. Paula resides in her hometown of Langford, South Dakota, population 348+. She serves as a Strategic Doing practitioner, grant writer and community coach with Dakota Resources based in Renner, South Dakota. Dakota Resources is a mission-driven 501c3 Community Development Financial Institution working to connect capital and capacity to empower rural communities. Contact her at paula@dakotaresources.org.

An embarrassing story about community engagement and dialogue

By Paula Jensen

Chairs and tables set up for a town board or city council type meeting

By Paula Jensen Quite simply, community dialogue is an exchange of ideas and experiences through listening, sharing, and questioning. At its best, community dialogue is created in a safe environment where a diverse group of people gather to talk and understand each other. Community dialogue at its worst looks something like the embarrassing story I […]

April 1, 2022 Filed Under: community, economic development, rural Tagged With: community engagement, guest post, leaders, officials, Paula Jensen

The Role of Public Policy in Rural Community Economic Development

By Paula Jensen

Mechanic wiping down a wrench

By Paula Jensen My husband is a mechanic. The tools of his trade are important to his work. He has a large toolbox with many drawers lined in soft black padding. His tools lay clean and organized inside each drawer for easy access when he needs the right tool for a job. Yet, when things […]

October 16, 2021 Filed Under: community, economic development, rural Tagged With: community development, economic development, guest post, Paula Jensen, public policy, rural, rural policy

Sometimes, YOU just need to make your town a good place to live!

By Paula Jensen

Paula Jensen

Guest post by Paula Jensen I watched Jon Stewart’s Political Comedy ‘Irresistible’. The story is set in small-town Wisconsin. The community has recently suffered a devastating loss of their main employer. In response, a failed political consultant from Washington, D.C. lands himself a gig helping a local veteran run for Mayor against the long-time incumbent. […]

August 24, 2020 Filed Under: community, mistakes, POV, rural Tagged With: guest post, negativity, Paula Jensen, stereotypes

What would you be doing this weekend, if the world hadn’t fallen apart?

By Paula Jensen

Paula Jensen

Guest post by Paula Jensen I was on my second video conference of the day earlier last week and a peer in the meeting said, “Time-out! I need to ask everyone a question.” We all agreed, and he said, “What would you be doing this weekend, if the world hadn’t fallen apart?” Some people answered […]

April 12, 2020 Filed Under: community, planning, rural Tagged With: #Iamrural, guest post

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