Hollowing Out the Middle: The Rural Brain Drain and What It

Hollowing Out the Middle: The Rural Brain Drain and What It Means for America
- Used Book in Good Condition
In 2001, with funding from the MacArthur Foundation, sociologists Patrick J. Carr and Maria J. Kefalas moved to Iowa to understand the rural brain drain and the exodus of young people from Americaâ€™s countryside. They met and followed working-class â€œstayersâ€; ambitious and college-bound â€œachieversâ€; â€œseekers,â€ who head off to war to see what the world beyond offers; and â€œreturners,â€ who eventually circle back to their hometowns. What surprised them most was that adults in the community were playing a pivotal part in the townâ€™s decline by pushing the best and brightest young people to leave.

In a timely, new afterword, Carr and Kefalas address the question â€œso what can be done to save our communities?â€ They profile the efforts of dedicated community leaders actively resisting the hollowing out of Middle America. These individuals have creatively engaged small town youthâ€”stayers and returners, seekers and achieversâ€”and have implemented a variety of programs to combat the rural brain drain.Â These stories of civic engagement will certainly inspire and encourage readers struggling to defend their communities.
Country USA
Brand Beacon Press
Manufacturer Beacon Press
Binding Paperback
Color Grey
ReleaseDate 2010-07-27
UnitCount 1
Format Illustrated
EANs 9780807006146

Hollowing Out the Middle: The Rural Brain Drain and What It Means for America