Community Forum meeting on rural inequality

POMEROY–The Southeast Washington Economic Development Association (SEWEDA) Community Forum meeting is scheduled at the Pataha Flour Mill on Tuesday, November 15 at 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

The Pomeroy Community Forum meeting is a working lunch provided by SEWEDA, and a presentation by the author of Dividing Paradise: Rural Inequality and the Diminishing American Dream, Jennifer Sherman, Ph.D., Sociology Professor, WSU. The book focuses on the social changes in rural gentrification and class inequalities occurring in rural communities as new comers settle the area.

“Washington rural communities are rapidly changing. Formerly reliant on working-class industries like mining, oil, and agriculture, an influx of wealthy urbanites is looking for a different kind of experience that includes natural amenities, outdoor recreation, and cultural activities. But in doing so, these newcomers are casing new inequalities.

She will discuss both the glaring and the hidden effects of rural gentrification. Through the lens of a rural Washington community, Sherman explains how, “class blindness: protects those with more privilege from fully recognizing social class inequalities. She advocates for the importance of getting to know the neighbors who are least like us so that we can minimize destructive social divides together.”

There will be time for a question-and-answer session for the speaker as well as community updates.