Radically Rural Summit: Regenerate Rural
September 25 & 26, 2024
Join us for an immersive 2024 Radically Rural Summit as we explore ways to regenerate rural across sectors. Regeneration is about radical change, but it is also about considering the ideas, cultures, and dreams that came before and have nourished our rural realities today.
As we all grapple with the political and social divides in our communities, we will look to history with a screening of and discussion about Join or Die, a documentary following the research of legendary social scientist Robert Putnam, which explores the decline of social capital and how we can reverse it.
We will also look to the future through our keynote panel as we hear from rural leaders across the country who are actively reweaving the social fabric through innovative methods of youth engagement, health access, equity and belonging, food justice, and more.
As always, you will leave feeling energized, inspired, and equipped with tangible skills and concrete models for the work you are doing. Stay tuned for additional session announcements!
Why You Should Attend
How would having coffee with someone working in rural health change the way you approach your entrepreneur support services? Returning attendee Andrew Button from MashupLab tells us that these kinds of experiences are the reason that he comes to Radically Rural. We all have something to offer, no matter how separate our work may seem. Building collective knowledge, skills, and experiences across sectors and geographies allows us to amplify and multiply impact in our own communities.
A Closer Look at the Keynote
Regenerating Rural by Reweaving our Frayed Social Fabric
Trust is the foundation we need for any community development to succeed. After a half century of civic unraveling, America is reeling from a crisis of connection, with many feeling isolated, divided, and lonely. Our lack of connection and trust has led to problems as diverse as declining life expectancy and mental health, rising deaths of despair (suicide, addiction, violence), persistent social and racial tension, and political gridlock. Solutions don’t just require systems and legal changes. They require cultural change.
The Aspen Institute’s Weave: the Social Fabric Project started six years ago to support and invest in the local leaders weaving a strong, inclusive social fabric. You’ll hear from the program’s executive director and three innovative, grassroots, rural “weavers” who are bringing their communities together around what people share. From farming and food systems to travel clubs for rural youth, you’ll hear how to unleash the power of community to tackle the pressing needs and hopes where you live.
- Frederick Riley, Executive Director, Aspen Institute’s Weave: The Social Fabric Project
- Fatuma Emmad, Co-Convener, Project Protect Food Systems and Executive Director, FrontLine Farming
- LB Prevette, Bar Owner, LGBTQ Advocate, and Community Organizer
- Megan Helberg, English Teacher and Community Foundation Leader
