Celebrating Rural Innovation and 10 Years of Community Heart & Soul in the Midwest

Last month, community builders and leaders from across Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin gathered in Dubuque for the 2026 Iowa Rural Summit hosted by the Iowa Rural Development Council. Over two energizing days, attendees shared ideas and practical ways to help rural communities grow stronger, bring people together, and create a positive future for their towns.

For Community Heart & Soul, the summit was especially meaningful as it coincided with a celebration of a major milestone: 10 years of successful partnership with the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque.

Rural Communities Leading with Heart

The Iowa Rural Summit brought together residents, elected officials, nonprofit leaders, and community development practitioners committed to creating vibrant rural places where people want to live, work, and play. Throughout the conference, one central message rang clear: rural communities thrive when residents are genuinely engaged in shaping their future.

That sentiment was further amplified during a packed Community Heart & Soul breakout session:

Heart & Soul: Engaged Communities with Bright Futures

Moderated by Jason Neises, Community Development Officer at the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, the session highlighted how Community Heart & Soul helps communities strengthen relationships, uncover shared priorities, and turn local voices into action.

Rather than a traditional panel discussion, the session encouraged interaction and storytelling among participants. Community leaders then shared firsthand experiences from their Heart & Soul efforts, including:

• Amy Brewer representing Reimagine Mendota described how Mendota, Illinois residents utilized Community Heart & Soul after devastating fires and major job losses to help transform hardship into a stronger, more vibrant future.
• Denise Grant from Peosta: Today, Tomorrow, Together discussed Peosta, Iowa’s rapid growth from a tiny rural town into a thriving hub, and how longtime residents and newcomers are uniting around a shared vision that preserves small-town connection while shaping the city’s future with purpose.
• LeAnne Philips of Akron-Westfield Heart & Soul related how Akron and Westfield, Iowa turned resident ideas into visible community improvements, deeper regional collaboration, and revitalized longstanding local events.
• Andy Sokolovich from Energize Clinton spoke about a variety of efforts to engage the community in Clinton, Iowa to forge a path and build an endowment to fund their Heart & Soul Action Plan.

Together, the panelists reflected on the power of resident-driven engagement to activate volunteers, bridge divides, and inspire long-term impact in communities. Session attendees explored practical strategies for building trust, elevating local voices, and involving everyone—all hallmarks of the Community Heart & Soul model.

Celebrating a Decade of Impact

The summit’s biggest celebration came during a rooftop reception at the Dupaco Voices building in downtown Dubuque, recognizing the 10th anniversary of Community Heart & Soul in Iowa and the Midwest.

Hosted in partnership with the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, the event honored the many communities that have embraced the Community Heart & Soul model over the past ten years. Community leaders, volunteers, and supporters from across Iowa and Illinois attended, including Bellevue, Cascade, Clinton, Mendota, Mercer County, Monticello, Peosta, Postville, Strawberry Point, Akron-Westfield, and Red Oak.

The evening created space for storytelling, reconnection, and reflection on the relationships and local leadership that have shaped Heart & Soul efforts across the region. Interactive storytelling and practice stations invited attendees to share their experiences and imagine the next chapter of rural community building together.

The message throughout the celebration was clear: the Midwest has become a national leader in helping small towns grow stronger through resident-driven community engagement.

Since bringing Community Heart & Soul to Iowa in 2016, the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque has helped rural residents throughout the region build stronger, more connected communities. Certified Heart & Soul Coach Jason Neises’s leadership and facilitation were repeatedly recognized throughout the celebration as instrumental in helping residents become leaders who can engage neighbors in charting positive paths forward for their towns.

Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque President and CEO Nancy Van Milligen and Community Heart & Soul Vice President of Programs (and Iowa native) Sara Lightner offered remarks celebrating the partnership’s impact and acknowledging the local leaders who have helped bring the model to life across the Midwest.

Over the past decade, Community Heart & Soul communities across the Midwest have engaged residents in meaningful conversations about what matters most to them, helping build stronger local leadership, deepen civic participation, and strengthen community pride. Through resident-driven action planning these communities have developed stronger social connections and created lasting momentum.

A Closing Message Rooted in Community

The Iowa Rural Summit concluded with a closing keynote from Nancy Van Milligen whose leadership has helped position the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque as a national model for rural community engagement and collaborative philanthropy.

Her remarks reinforced a theme woven throughout the summit: creating opportunities for people to engage meaningfully with their communities can help bridge differences while building stronger, more resilient towns.

As attendees departed Dubuque, there was a shared sense that rural communities continue to hold tremendous potential — especially when residents are inspired to lead. The conversations and connections sparked during the Iowa Rural Summit reaffirmed what Heart & Soul communities already know: when people come together around what matters most about their community, bridges are built, and bright futures become possible.

Community Heart & Soul extends gratitude to the Iowa Rural Development Council, the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, Dupaco Community Credit Union, the Grand River Center, national Community Heart & Soul partners, and the many local leaders and residents whose dedication made the summit and anniversary celebration such a success.