Shaping the Future through Conversation and the Arts
“We promote the positives,” exclaims one longtime Mott resident, describing “The Link” section of the Eido Connect serving Mott, North Dakota and other communities throughout the region. “The Link” publishes mini-features about people, activities and businesses. “We fill up the negative space with something different. We get rid of darkness inside and fill it with sunshine and lightness.” Such profiles of people and places offer positive connections among community members who are reinvigorating this small town. Local artists and wordsmiths shape Mott’s future, transforming the community into a place ripe with possibilities. Echoes another resident, “We’re talking about what everyone is doing instead of what we’re not doing.”
Mott natives have long believed in understanding your roots and heritage, and sharing them through the arts. The community’s Mott Gallery of History and Art serves as a showcase for area artisans, and it serves to both preserve and share the rich historical tapestry that has defined the courageous spirit thriving there today. But the gallery is only one of the many venues where area artists exhibit their ideas and visions for the future. “If nothing changes, nothing changes,” quips one resident, recognizing the responsibility for and commitment of community members to solve problems that arise in their locale. In the same vein as the widespread belief that we all create art, Mott’s residents have come to believe that together they all can make a difference and accept leadership roles in their community.
“With all the speakers who came through town, everyone started opening up,” shares one resident, reflecting on the community’s participation in Horizons, a community leadership development program sponsored by the Northwest Area Foundation. “Lots of ideas have been around for a while,” adds another resident. “Now we’re getting serious about making changes.” The tight-knit community is starting to put the pieces of redevelopment together.
Leveraging the love of theater in town, a community play called “Memories of a Hotel” was performed to break down the pervasive negativism in part brought on by a fire that destroyed the town’s Holiday House Hotel. As a focal point for the community, the loss of the historic hotel negatively occupied the thoughts of many in town, lasting for almost two decades. True to the conversational character and artistic ambitions of its residents, Mott crafted a play about the tragedy so that community members could share their feelings and, in so doing, rise above it to move forward.
“Instead of focusing on the big fire in the community, we now talk positively about the play,” shares one resident. Akin to the spirit behind an Amish barn raising, the performance brought out folks from throughout the community to become actors and actresses. The lead roles, hotel owners Mr. and Mrs. Masad, were played by community members in their 80s. Mott’s writers’ group, The Writers’ Enclave, penned the original screenplay.
In their regular gatherings and writings, The Writers’ Enclave has also explored the sometimes-ambiguous dimensions of poverty. “Poverty is a lack of something,” explains one member. “You can have a lack of compassion, values, vision, time or a lack of positive attitudes. It’s a lot more than just a lack of money.” Adds another resident, “So often, people just look at jobs being created and the wages being paid. But addressing poverty is really more about making peoples’ lives better.”
Possessing the knowledge of where they’ve been, the townspeople now come together in a community conversation that offers exciting and dynamic promises for tomorrow. Supported in part by the Horizons program in their community, Mott’s residents are talking more than ever about what lies ahead. “There’s been a change of attitude,” says one resident. “Where the conversations were once filled with negatives and everyone was downtrodden, now they’re positive. Horizons brought about an awareness of our responsibility to change the way things can go in the future.” Talking about things is worth the time; getting involved is worth the energy.
Involvement by community members has more than doubled. Committees have formed to implement the community’s strategic plan, create ways to be more welcoming to new residents or those already in the community, communicate more among each other and reach out to surrounding communities for joint economic development. As is turns out, talk is anything but cheap in Mott. It’s the motivating force for a more prosperous tomorrow.
Many of Mott’s high school students partnered with the local, all-volunteer-operated Playhouse Theater in town to create advertisements for Mott’s growing number of businesses, while also echoing the positive sentiments in town. “What do you see in your mind’s eye?” asks the voice-over in a student-filmed, student-edited community advertisement that precedes the business ads. “Is it the dying deterioration that you concentrate on, or the rebirth of a small town? … Do you see dwindling numbers (in classrooms), or one-of-a-kind opportunities for our youth? … An empty church, or the faith that burns within?” Again, it’s through the arts, regardless of an artist’s age, that stirs the emotions and commitment of all to grow this small town.
To become a more welcoming community that embraces change, another community group is spearheading initiatives to make Mott friendlier to new arrivals or visitors. A community index features the latest listing of services and companies. Businesses join in with coupons or offers intended to introduce their business to potential customers. No questions go unanswered now.
With funding for “study circles” — a gathering of six to 10 people to discuss a topic, with a facilitator to keep things on track — community members are better equipped to address the challenges and opportunities that often arise. Reaching a greater cross section of the community and often addressing poverty, the study circles help move from two-person arguments to multiperson sharing of ideas and perspectives, building greater consensus and support. More leadership training for an even larger and more diverse group of residents is planned. With these forward-thinking, positive conversations held throughout town, Mott’s residents hope to revisit and update the strategic plan to serve all those in town.
What happens in Mott, however, is not disconnected from the broader county and region. The notoriety of the Enchanted Highway, a series of huge metal sculptures lining the road about 15 miles away, offers opportunities to both partner with the nearby town of Regent and to create some enchantment of their own, perhaps through the arts. A collaborative bicycle trail from Mott to Regent has long been seen as an opportunity for joint growth. “It would be a good short-term success story,” says one resident. “Its completion means we’re here to stay and ready and willing to get to work.” Let the conversations begin between communities and among landowners that straddle the Cannonball River, the best route for the bike trail.
One thing is for sure, Mott’s ever-changing future rests with its townspeople who know how to talk it up and artistically create a place that celebrates those very assets that make it special to live, work and recreate in their town. Be it with theater, writing or paintings, Mott’s residents will craft their future the best way they know how — through creativity, hard work and old fashioned cafe conversations.