4 Social and Cultural Themes Are the social and cultural resources in smaller places sufficient to provide meaningful entry into social and civic life for newcomers? How are small cities accommodating the demands of old and new? How can small cities invite participation in the social life of their places, expanding access for all residents, including newcomers, to help shape the future of their communities? And can they begin to dismantle the insider-outsider structures that have, for over a century, determined who gets to belong? Four themes surfaced consistently across Social and Cultural discussions: Distillation Guidebook Co-Lab • 9.18–9.19 2025 Insider and Outsider Small cities are often celebrated for their close-knit communities and social networks, but participants questioned who gets to belong. Many described a divide between those who are “from here” and those who “came here” later, shaped by decades of economic and demographic change, including recent immigration and in-migration.
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