Advancing the Next Generation of Rural and Indigenous Leaders

Thrive Rural Open Field Session

Friday, Feb 10, 1 – 3 pm ET

Our discussion questions: In what ways are younger leaders helping to transform your community? What makes this type of leadership different and important for rural places? How is your community identifying and cultivating a diversity of new and existing rural and Indigenous leaders?

The challenge: As older rural leaders look to support the next generation, younger rural leaders need space to develop and hone skills and connections to lead their communities toward equitable prosperity. Younger leaders, particularly BIPOC leaders, have too often been excluded from positions of power, intentionally by design or due to a limited understanding of barriers to participation. 

The opportunity: A wider range of participation, including from youth leaders and young professionals, builds more durable and inclusive community leadership, ultimately leading to a wider range of community benefits.

Communities that diversify their leadership and ensure that leadership structures are accessible to all community members make it more likely that the whole community will engage and share perspectives in planning and doing.

We want you to join the discussion! Youth and young professional leaders living and working in rural places, we want to hear from you! Additionally, this conversation will be enriched by those interested in techniques for fostering youth leadership and mentoring young professionals. Please think about a success story or experience you’d like to share.  

We will kick off the gathering with a whole group conversation moderated by Bonita Robertson-Hardy, Aspen CSG’s Co-Executive Director, followed by optional small group breakout discussions. You don’t have to share your voice to participate in the event; we encourage you to send insights in the chat or simply listen. All are welcome.

related publications

publications
Farmworkers hoeing fields
Broadening Authentic Leadership: Student Action with Farmworkers

This short case study has insights and suggestions for how rural-serving organizations can effectively welcome and truly empower leaders from all backgrounds.

blog-posts
Autumn tree in rural area
Lessons from the Field: Rural & Indigenous Leadership for Opportunity Youth

Takeaways from the Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions fall convening valuable for equitable rural development

blog-posts
Young adult being welcomed home with hugs and excitement
Ensuring Rural Communities Welcome Everyone

Resources and best practices to ensure that each and every person is welcomed to the community, feels connected, and is able to exercise and influence power in community decision-making.

page
Pair walking up stairs icon
Prepare Action-Able Leadership

Communities have and prepare leaders with the will, skills, relationships, diversity, knowledge, and power needed to fully engage the community and the region to establish, align, and achieve priorities that increase both well-being and equity outcomes.

Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group
Latest From Aspen CSG
publications
outdoor rec report page cover
Mapping a New Terrain: Call to Action

As new rural outdoor recreation economies take root, we can meet this moment by improving how we do outdoor recreation development to better support rural families, businesses, and workers, create more sustainable and equitable economic systems, and improve local health and wellbeing.

event
Wealth Creation in Rural and Indigenous Places

Sep. 19th, 2023, 2PM

Learn how rural practitioners are advancing equitable prosperity and economic development in a way that embraces and strengthens the unique assets of rural regions.

blog-posts
WealthWorks: A Powerful Tool for Thriving Rural Places

WealthWorks is an approach to doing economic development differently that inspired and continues to inform the Thrive Rural Framework. Learn more about the WealthWorks approach.

blog-posts
Broadband technician working
Broadband Resources

A collection of broadband resources for funding, advocacy, and community program opportunities for rural community leaders.

blog-posts
collaborating partners
How To Organize a Rural Action Infrastructure

Discussion with rural leaders on the opportunity equitable outdoor recreation economies pose to rural areas.

blog-posts
Queer youth in celebratory gathering
Rural and Native Celebrations of the LGBTQ+ Community

A collection of rural, queer organizations and stories about rural communities and Native nations celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. Explore these moments to learn more about how queer people are celebrated in rural spaces. 

media
Brookings logo
Rural Policy Resources

A collection of resources provided by the Brookings Institution emerging from their rural research.