Story courtesy of the Rainy Lake Gazette.

At the Rotary Club of International Falls, we take immense pride in the strides we’ve made through our Welcoming Community Initiative.

Our community is known for its natural beauty and close-knit spirit but also faces challenges like a declining population and unfilled job positions. The Rotary Club formed the Welcoming Community Initiative in the fall of 2022 to encourage interest in our area, rebuild our population, and fulfill the economic and social needs of our community.

Club members feel it can provide leadership in addressing these regional needs by continuing to build a more welcoming community for all. Welcoming communities are safer, stronger, and more vibrant. They are inclusive places where neighbors get to know one another. Being a welcoming community is about inviting everyone to join us in building a strong community and finding strength in diversity.

In 2023, the Welcoming Community Initiative organized a speaker series, inviting different speakers to talk on topics ranging from changes in demographics of people living in Minnesota to different perspectives of under-represented groups in the northland.

In 2024, we have been working with Northspan as part of their Inclusion Learning Cohort. It included a series of workshops meant to identify different areas where the Welcoming Community Initiative could have a positive impact.

One of the identified programs to develop is an International Falls Welcoming Ambassador Program with the aim of connecting with new Minnesota North – Rainy River Campus students to build community growth. Each semester at the campus brings new students and residents to our community. They represent a corps of residents in our area that can contribute significantly to the local economy, culture, and our overall vitality. The project will aim to find ways that local businesses can actively support these students and cultivate a mutually beneficial relationship that enhances both student life and the local business environment.

In the future, we will build on lessons learned to broaden our scope to connect with new residents to our area beyond just the Rainy River Campus.

The Rotary Club of International Falls meets weekly on Wednesdays at noon at the Library Bistro in International Falls and over Zoom. If you are interested in joining Rotary, attending a meeting, or volunteering in one of the club’s service projects, including our Welcoming Community Initiative, reach out to club president Kim Usery at 828-337-8991 or email at ifallsrotary@gmail.com. More information on the club is available at www.ifallsrotary.org.