I recently spent three days in Fargo, North Dakota and I returned inspired to do more for my community in Kansas City. In my opinion, Fargo is home to some of the best community builders in the country who are actively demonstrating how a small group of dedicated community champions can dramatically shape the future of a city. More than anything else, Fargo’s not waiting around for permission. They are actively creating the changes they want to see in their city today, and the rest of the country is noticing.

Over the past two years, I’ve spent time working with over thirty different communities around the United States and I can tell you that Fargo’s approach to revamping education, culture, art, community spaces, the fusion of all these things with a community-wide mindset towards furthering creativity and innovation is truly unique.

Here are some of the lessons I learned from my friends in Fargo, and I hope you can apply them in your community. Consider paying a visit the next time you’re up north. You may even get on the front page of the paper.

Artists & Instigators Create Culture.

“The simple fact is that in most areas of the world, for most of recorded history, there has been no division of art from life and no segregation of the artist from the living community.” Graham Pitts

The funny thing about the statement above is that in the Western world, we tend to keep our artists at the fringe of our society. For thousands of years, artists have created the amazing spaces that lead community cultural development often defining what is relevant and exciting within a community. When everyone recognizes what the artists are doing that is so fresh and exciting, people naturally flood towards it. We see this in Kansas City: What used to be a bunch of run down buildings and cheap studio space for artists in our Crossroads District has now turned into high-end artist studios, trendy lofts, gourmet restaurants and artisanal cocktail joints. I’m not suggesting that this is a bad thing by any means, however, the prices for studio space have skyrocketed and many of the artists have largely moved out to the West Bottoms where the same process is beginning.

Without even realizing it, we are pushing out the culture creators from the very place we need them most. Cities need to realize that if we can beautifully blend artists & entrepreneurs together that we maximize the opportunity for a cultural & startup explosion. This my friends is what Fargo is doing so brilliantly well. My good buddy Greg Tehven, one of Fargo’s greatest evangelists and community developers, intentionally hosts all startup events in artist spaces. This intentional approach to community allows a social fabric between entrepreneurs and artists to form. There lies the opportunity for a creative eruption, and it’s happening in Fargo.

If you want to rebrand your city… Let entrepreneurs do it.

One lesson learned traveling the country for the past two years is that every community has baggage. Many people outside of your city have misconceptions of what it is like in your community. It’s frustrating.

In the movie Fargo, the Coen Brothers painted a very desolate picture of what life is like in North Dakota. Isn’t it crazy that we would let a 18 year old dark comedy tell us everything we think we need to know about this place? Well for a long time, the Fargo community has been trying to change that misperception.

One local entrepreneur & designer, Melissa Leon, decided to rebrand the city as a community for misfits and posted the design on a billboard in the heart of downtown Fargo. While blending beautiful design with a love for one’s community they’ve taken the first steps to spread the message they want to send to themselves. “Fargo you are awesome!” To me this says, “If you’re a nonconformist, builder, creator, artist or instigator… Fargo is the place for you.” Thank you Jeff Knight for the photo!

More importantly, the way that you rebrand a city to the outside world is through individual experiences. I’m writing this piece for Fargo because I love the people there and the way they treated me. I was picked up at the airport from a friend of a friend who showed me around, then given hugs upon my arrival from several acquaintances, then ushered on stage to speak at an event, taken to lunch, wined & dined, and honestly just genuinely cared for. The people in Fargo are some of the most genuine, smart, ambitious people I’ve ever known. And that’s why I’m a Fargo evangelist.

The Economic Development Groups Get It

Crazy words rights? For the most part, the Economic Development Group of Fargo knows that they must listen to the entrepreneurs and truly embrace a supportive role in the community. Entrepreneurs are the customers not the product of a community. After speaking with Jim Gartin, President of the Greater Fargo Moorhead EDC, he gets it. Empower the entrepreneurs to be the change that they want to see in the community. Show up and be supportive. Listen and serve where you are able. And most importantly, “leave the egos at the door — it’s about the process not our agenda.”

There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing an economic development organization that understands its place in serving entrepreneurs. Jim and his team are loved in the Fargo community because they know they must support the entrepreneurial leaders and grassroots community efforts led by entrepreneurs. Good work!

One Big Brother Company Is All It Takes

I’ve been on a two year rant in Kansas City about how we don’t have enough “Big Brother Companies.” What I mean is that of the startups that are doing well in Kansas City, there are very few that regularly give back to the community of younger entrepreneurs with their time and resources. And don’t get me wrong, if you ask for help you can definitely find it in Kansas City. However, in Fargo, there’s one amazing company that regularly takes it upon themselves to create educational programming for entrepreneurs, to support almost all startup events in the community, to help build products for students with no money, and the list goes on and on. Let me introduce you to the team at Myriad Mobile. These guys are shaking up Fargo in some pretty amazing ways. I just had the pleasure of visiting them during their second annual Midwest Mobile Summit which their staff planned the entirety of. I mean, that’s pretty incredible.

In Nebraska, it’s Hudl. In Iowa, it’s Dwolla. These companies become prolific because they give back to the community from which they grew. This is the beginning of a vibrant startup community. Not to mention, it’s just good business. What’s easier than buying pizza and beer and creating evangelists for your company?

Wrap It Up

I could go on and on about Fargo. But here’s the point.. It is Fargo’s time. For ten years Fargo’s evangelists have been joking that their city could become a major hub for art and innovation, a haven for misfits and creatives, and be a fertile community for aspiring entrepreneurs. For ten years this has been tongue and cheek. Well, the more you articulate something the more people believe it can come true. And it is coming true right now. Enjoy these moments Fargo because the town is in the midst of a creative and cultural explosion.