Rural Knowledge Center

Rural Resources, Insights, and Collaborations by Aspen CSG and Partners

Collaborative Strategies for Rural Health & Economic Prosperity

Insights and recommendations to do rural development and rural health differently—moving collectively toward equitable rural development with projects grounded in place and a people-centered vision of community impact.

Community and Economic Development Topics

Product Type

Resource Type

Case Study
Latin American customer handshaking the retail clerk that help him while buying tools at the hardware store
From Belonging To Thriving: Rural Communities Welcoming Newcomers

Short case study with lessons learned, gaps in current approaches, and potential models for community leaders to move forward together.

Case Study
Black person is working in data center with laptop
Making Broadband Work for Rural Communities and Native nations

Discover strategies to improve rural internet access, emphasizing broadband as an essential utility and highlighting the need for alignment, sustainability, and continuous learning.

Case Study
Safe Drinking Water: Rural Economic Justice Case Study

Learn about the barriers rural communities face to accessing safe drinking water, and how they're working to develop clean water systems.

Case Study
Building Funder Capacity to Work with Communities

This short case study has insights and tips on how funders are shifting gears to learn communities’ processes and practices, enabling more equitable partnerships and impactful projects that meet community needs.

Case Study
Rural Environmental Justice: Community Flooding Case Study

This short case study has insights and tips on addressing the causes and conditions contributing to flooding in rural places, as well as to envision and build thriving futures of equitable rural prosperity.

Case Study
The North End Connect Project

The Indigenous Connectivity Institute

The Indigenous Connectivity Institute supported North End Connect to develop a network providing no- and low-cost service in Canada’s largest urban Indigenous community.

Case Study
The Kids Are Online

Aspen Digital

A repository of stories about diverse communities across America that are uniting to close the digital divide for young people. Curated by Aspen Digital.

Case Study
Practitioners with name tags sharing to a group off camera
Communicating to Connect: moving beyond neutrality

This short case study has insights and tips to move beyond neutrality and still communicate effectively across the political spectrum.

Case Study
Group of Black practitioners smiling at camera
Using Relational Leadership to Build Power Together

This short case study has insights and tips on how communities that have been historically and systematically excluded can develop authentic and effective leadership that builds power to challenge the status quo.

Case Study
Smiling colleagues sitting together in a meeting room.
Translating Federal Opportunities into Local Resources

This short case study has insights and tips on how rural communities with limited staffing and resources can understand, prepare for, and compete for finite federal funds.

Case Study
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.

Case Study
Racial Equity Case Stories

United Philanthropy Forum

United Philanthropy Forum commissioned Community Centered Evaluation and Research (CCER) to uplift and share PSO members’ racial equity learning journeys through the development of in-depth case stories.