Community Development

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How To Organize a Rural Action Infrastructure

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

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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. 

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Rural Policy Resources

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

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Connecting Minority-Serving institutions and Rural Research

Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) – universities and colleges that enroll a significant percentage of minority students – are located throughout the nation in nearly every...

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Rural Disaster Preparedness: Partnering for Resilience & Resources

Aug. 1st, 2023, 2PM

Join this hybrid event to explore how rural communities can be better prepared and be more resilient so that when disaster strikes, not just the entire community but the entire region can band together and ensure a swift recovery.

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African American man practicing with power band on exercise class in nature.
Pathways to Health Equity: Rural Wellbeing and Regional Assets

How the health equity and economic development fields intersect and can collaborate to bring prosperity to rural communities.

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MSI research report cover
Building Trust and Visibility Through Community-Based Participatory Research at Rural Minority-Serving Institutions

This research brief explores how rural MSIs and approaches to community-based participatory research can be used to better understand MSIs’ nature and practices.

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Rural Community College Excellence

A new report by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program identifies four pathways that the best rural and Tribal community colleges use to capitalize on strengths and overcome challenges to achieve student success.

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A summer street festival, with vendors under canopies on a hot day.
Recent Learnings from (and for) the Rural Field

New opportunities with value to rural and Native nation communities are being generated across fields, from public health to environmental justice and beyond. Check out a few ideas and opportunities to help spur equitable rural prosperity in your community.

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Communicating for Connection: West Virginia Community Development Hub

This short case study has insight 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.

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Five high school students sit around a table in the library
Advancing the Next Generation of Rural and Indigenous Leaders

Insights and tips to identify, establish, and sustain youth leadership in rural and Indigenous communities.

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Agricultural fields at sunrise
Advancing the Next Generation of Rural and Indigenous Leaders

Feb. 10th, 2023, 1PM

How is your community thinking and acting on the issue of next generation leadership?