What Is the Cost of Not Investing? | Sally Miskavige | TEDxFargo

Quick Overview

The cost of not investing in community and youth development—like creating a children's museum in Fargo—is the potential loss of future talent, as demonstrated by speaker Sally Miskavige who chose to stay in North Dakota because of local investment, contrasting with friends who left for bigger cities.

Key Points: Speaker Sally Miskavige advocates for investing in community development, specifically mentioning the creation of a children's museum in Fargo, North Dakota. Miskavige chose to stay in North Dakota and invest in the community despite many friends leaving for larger cities for what they perceived as better lives. She cites the example of the late Dale Chahley, who, with his family, made significant contributions to the community, including the Chahley Wellness Center and the Thelra Center. Miskavige emphasizes that children's curiosity and career paths are shaped early; by age 12, much of who they are is already formed. The presentation concludes by urging the audience to choose to build, stay, and invest in their community, highlighting that one project isn't enough, but it is a start. The negative cost of not investing is losing potential talent and having families that do not feel connected or welcome in their communities.

Context: Sally Miskavige, from Groundwork Fargo, delivered this TEDxFargo talk centered around the theme 'THREAD: Where Every Thread Tells a Story.' She uses her personal history—growing up watching her family run a construction company and later deciding to stay in North Dakota despite peers leaving—to argue for the critical importance of local investment in community spaces, using the proposed Children's Museum as a prime example of building foundational support for future generations.

Detailed Analysis

Sally Miskavige begins by contrasting her decision to stay in North Dakota with friends who left for bigger cities seeking better opportunities. She emphasizes that her family's construction business was more than just a business; it was her family, and they raised her to invest locally. Miskavige recounts the story of Dale Chahley and his family, who made substantial contributions to the community, such as the Chahley Wellness Center and Thelra Center, showing the impact of dedicated local investment. She argues that children begin forming their identities, curiosities, and career paths by age 12, making early investment crucial. She showed visuals of a proposed Children's Museum with 'Land' and 'Sky' exhibits designed to foster exploration and community gathering. Miskavige challenges the audience to consider the cost of not investing—losing talent, fracturing community connection, and failing to build places where generations can gather. She concludes with a call to action: choose to build, stay, and invest in their community, stressing that while one project won't change the world, it is a necessary start for future growth.