duo’s espousal of civil discourse. “We bring people together in the panel and in the audience that don’t normally know each other or hear from each other,” says Stratford. “I call it cross-pollination of ideas and relationships. We want to move out of a parochial-type thinking to really being open to hearing a variety of views.” Parkinson stresses the significance of in-person interaction. “Face-to-face discussion has kind of been lost, but it’s very important that people spend time talking with each other, because that how problems really get solved. Then we usually find out we have more in common. Where Do We Go from Here draws on that. We have to be able to have civil discourse with each other, so we aren’t shouting or causing grief to each other, but actually working with each other.” Parkinson and Stratford land on program topics by following their own advice to engage with their community. “We talk to a lot of people, introduce ourselves to a lot of people,” says Stratford. “We keep our radars up and when we hear an issue that’s particularly passionate for a number of people, that gets distilled into a program.” Details are hammered out around the kitchen
Panelists discuss business trends during Making a Living at the SDPB Sioux Falls Studio.
SDPB reporter Lee Strubinger (second from left) talks with community members about issues that affect South Dakotans at the SDPB Black Hills Studio.
table and Stratford typically contacts panelists. “Suzanne is really our executive producer,” says Parkinson. Held monthly and free to the public, program topics have included discussions of democracy, tolerance, women in public service, the Black Hills’ microbrewery trend, in addition to others. Parkinson says the August program in which high school students candidly weighed in on their school and life experiences jumpstarted his conviction that more young people need to be engaged in civic life. “They’re not actually being taught how to be productive citizens in society by participating in the government system because they just don’t know how,” says Parkinson. “And who better to talk to than the people who are directly impacted? Kids of that age. We need to explore how to help younger people get involved.” Join Where Do We Go for from Here for “Fresh Voices in Pierre: Listening to First-Time State Legislators,” on Wednesday, Dec. 12, noon, at SDPB’s Black Hills Studios, 415 Main Street, Rapid City. Free and open to the public.
Making a Living
with Jackelyn Severin Although Making a Living, SDPB’s business and economic development discussion series, is SDPB’s newest addition to community programming, host Jackie Severin says she’s already learned a great deal on the job. “So many terrific things,” says Severin. “It’s interesting to talk with farmers, for example. I’ve learned how much farming has changed, how much global economics farmers have to know. They’re watching prices, how much commodities are selling for and where. They have to make all these decisions, in addition to producing.” Severin was also struck by the number of small businesses that power South Dakota. “On our program about start-ups, I learned 99% of the businesses in South Dakota are small [under 300 employees, according to the Small Business Administration]. Small businesses are extremely important to our economy.” (Continued on page 21) December 2018
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