Many people think rural America is in decline, and while many rural communities struggle, there are also many inspiring examples of innovation. So, a pair of rural nonprofit executives are launching Rural Homecoming to celebrate rural communities across the nation Oct. 18-20.
"Rural Homecoming encourages communities to host or build upon existing events driven by local community leaders that highlight what makes each community special," Nathan Ohle and LaMonte Guillory write for The Daily Yonder. "This could mean high-school alumni socials, community service days, historical remembrances, innovation days, or streaming of sporting events like local high-school football games. Each will be unique to every community, collectively highlighting the innovation that makes them special." Ohle is the CEO of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, a network of nonprofit partners facilitating access to sage drinking water, sanitary wastewater and economic development in rural areas. Guillory is chief communications officer for LOR, a family foundation that aims to increase rural prosperity in the Mountain West.
"Rural Homecoming encourages communities to host or build upon existing events driven by local community leaders that highlight what makes each community special," Nathan Ohle and LaMonte Guillory write for The Daily Yonder. "This could mean high-school alumni socials, community service days, historical remembrances, innovation days, or streaming of sporting events like local high-school football games. Each will be unique to every community, collectively highlighting the innovation that makes them special." Ohle is the CEO of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, a network of nonprofit partners facilitating access to sage drinking water, sanitary wastewater and economic development in rural areas. Guillory is chief communications officer for LOR, a family foundation that aims to increase rural prosperity in the Mountain West.
Ohle and Guillory have furnished a free online toolkit to help communities participate and celebrate, including customizable event invitations, press releases and social-media graphics. "It’s up to each community to decide how to design its homecoming events, but the goal is the same, to give current and former residents a reason to reconnect to their hometown," Ohle and Guillory write. "For those who do physically return to their hometown next month as part of a Rural Homecoming event, we’re not expecting them to necessarily move back for good. But we do hope that Rural Homecoming will foster ways to stay connected in some way, and to give back to their community. Whether in person or virtually, we hope people contribute to a national dialogue on what being rural truly means."
No comments:
Post a Comment