A Message from Caroline Griffin, Director of Rural & Civic Engagement
Welcome to the first edition of the Rural & Civic Engagement Division Newsletter. This Summer launch marks an exciting milestone for our team and for rural communities across the Commonwealth.
Earlier this spring, we proudly introduced the Rural & Civic Engagement Division at the Capitol Rotunda—a moment that reflected both our mission and our momentum. With thoughtful remarks offered from Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn, DCNR and Heidi Secord, Deputy Secretary of Farm, Food and Market Access at the Dept of Agriculture, we reinforced our commitment to expanding rural connections, elevating community voices, and ensuring PHRC’s services reach every community in Pennsylvania. Their focus on inclusion, collaboration, and environmental connection continues to shape the work we do every day.
In this inaugural edition, you’ll see highlights from our statewide partnerships, including DCNR’s Outdoors for All initiative, which has strengthened rural outdoor access, community‑centered recreation, and multigenerational engagement. You’ll also find features from the America250 TTour, where rural residents came together to celebrate heritage, community pride, and Pennsylvania’s historic landscape.
This year has also marked a personal milestone: completing the Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Development Institute as part of the 2026 cohort. Several members of PHRC leadership graduated and the experience has already enriched our civic engagement strategies, youth leadership concepts, and rural‑focused outreach efforts.
Since our rollout, we have engaged with boroughs, townships, agricultural partners, housing advocates, and community organizations across Luzerne, Hazleton, Lancaster, and many additional rural regions. These conversations and collaborations remind us why this work matters: rural voices deserve to be heard, represented, and connected to civil rights resources.
As we look ahead to Summer and Fall programming—from Outdoors for All events to rural leadership visits, civic participation outreach, and education—our focus remains clear: strengthening relationships and building partnerships.
Thank you for your continued engagement and for standing with us in advancing a more inclusive and resilient future for and within rural communities.
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Spring Rollout at the Capitol Rotunda
Earlier this spring, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission proudly introduced the Rural & Civic Engagement Division at the Capitol Rotunda. This rollout marked the beginning of our renewed effort to strengthen rural connections, elevate community voices, and ensure PHRC’s services reach every corner of the Commonwealth.
We came together with partners and stakeholders from across Pennsylvania, filling the Capitol Rotunda with a strong sense of purpose and momentum. The event brought together a wide and engaged cross‑section of attendees, creating an atmosphere where meaningful conversation and collaboration could truly thrive. Cindy Adams Dunn, Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Heidi Secord, Deputy Secretary for Farm, Food and Market Access, offered remarks that reinforced our commitment to inclusion, accessibility, and the shared responsibility we hold in supporting rural communities. Representative Joe Ciresi (House District 146) also spent time interacting with participants, lending supportive dialogue throughout the event.
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West Mahanoy Township Supervisors
In Shenandoah, the West Mahanoy Township Supervisors welcomed the PHRC for a training session focused on sexual harassment awareness, gender bias, and cultural competence. Caroline Griffin, PHRC’s Director of Rural and Civic Engagement, led the session with additional township and public safety personnel also taking part. Their involvement reflects the strong leadership present across rural Pennsylvania.
| | We proudly highlight PHRC’s partnership with Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)’s Outdoors for All initiative, which promotes accessible, inclusive outdoor recreation across Pennsylvania’s parks and forests. Partnering with DCNR underscores our commitment to ensuring that access to the outdoors is recognized and upheld as a fundamental civil right. By supporting ASL and Spanish interpretation, ADA accommodations, and robust inclusion strategies, we’re working to dismantle barriers—whether cultural, linguistic, or physical—that have historically excluded marginalized communities. With each event, we affirm that the outdoors must be a place where every Pennsylvanian feels safe, welcomed, and represented. | | |
At the June 27 Philadelphia kickoff along the Schuylkill River, over 25 local organizations came together at BLJ Community Rowing—the first Black‑owned and operated rowing boathouse in the country—to celebrate the spirit of connection and belonging. Attendees enjoyed rowing, yoga, music, environmental education, and more. DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn noted how such events foster mental and physical well‑being and a true sense of belonging—core aspirations of "Outdoors for All."
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DCNR will hold two more Outdoors for All events
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Harrisburg at Italian Lake Park on Saturday, August 8, from 11 AM to 3 PM. This rain‑and‑air‑quality‑rescheduled event offers yoga, disc golf, art, face painting, live music, food trucks, and hands‑on exhibits—all with ASL and Spanish interpretation, and planning supports ADA accommodations for inclusive access. Details: https://events.dcnr.pa.gov/event/outdoors-for-all-day-in-harrisburg
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Pittsburgh – Allegheny Commons Park on Saturday, August 15, from 11 AM to 3 PM. The day will feature family‑friendly activities, environmental education, games, music, food, and more—registration helps ensure language interpretation and accessibility logistics are in place https://events.dcnr.pa.gov/outdoors-for-all
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America250 Union Pacific “Big Boy” Train Tour
Just days before these photos were taken in Schuylkill County, Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 was featured in Philadelphia as part of its nationwide 250th‑anniversary tour
By the time it reached rural Pennsylvania, Big Boy was running alongside the Reading & Northern’s No. 1776 locomotive, creating a moment that linked national history with local tradition. The tour’s path — moving from major cities into small towns and rural corridors — highlights how America’s story is shaped by both urban centers and the rural communities that supported the railways. Together, these stops remind us that the nation’s heritage is shared across landscapes, and that moments like this help bridge those histories into one connected celebration.
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The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission is proud to have several team members in the 2026 cohort of the Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Development Institute, whose graduation took place on Sunday, June 14, 2026, at the Rose Lehrman Arts Center on the Harrisburg Area Community College campus The MLK-LDI provides rigorous training in community leadership, collaboration, and public service—preparing graduates to build stronger, more inclusive communities across Pennsylvania.
For Director Caroline Griffin, completing the program brings renewed capacity and insight specifically to her rural and civic engagement work—equipping her to bring resources, representation, and a stronger voice directly to the rural communities she serves.
| | Upcoming Events & Outreach | | PHRC Events (August 2026) | | |
Humanity & Civility Workshop
The event will be co-hosted by Moving Circles, Not in Our Town (NIOT) Carlisle, the Greater Carlisle Community Response Network (CRN), and the Cumberland County Advisory Council to the PHRC.
- Date: August 11, 2026
- Time: 7:00 p.m.
- Location: Cumberland County Historical Society, 21 N. Pitt Street, Carlisle, PA 17013
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Register today.
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Fair Housing Roundtable
Join the Fair Housing Law Center and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission for a discussion about ensuring fair housing options in our communities in Butler, Beaver, and Lawrence Counties.
- Date: Thursday, August 13
- Time: 10:00-12:00 p.m.
- Location: Butler Area Public Library, 218 N. McKean Street, Butler, PA 16001
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Register today.
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Do-It-Together Housing: Creating Affordable Homes Through Community Cooperation
This Fair Housing Empower Hour will explore how Common Roots, a nonprofit member-based organization and community land trust, is deploying bottom-up strategies to catalyze affordable housing development.
- Date: Wednesday, August 26
- Time: 12:00-1:00 p.m.
- Platform: Microsoft Teams
- Featuring: Julie Wilson, Executive Director, Common Roots
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Register today.
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Regional Events (August–September 2026)
Pennsylvania communities are hosting cultural, agricultural, civic, and pride events across the Commonwealth this late summer.
🌲 Central PA
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One Community Northwest Pride (Aug. 8 – Clearfield) – Pride celebration focused on visibility, equity, and community resources. Details: https://www.onecommunitypride.org
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Penn State Ag Progress Days (Aug. 11–13) – Farm technology demos, safety exhibits, and research tours at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center. Register: https://apd.psu.edu
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Centre County Grange Fair (Aug. 21–29) – The nation’s only remaining tenting fair in Centre Hall. Details: https://www.grangefair.com
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Bloomsburg Fair (Sept. 25–Oct. 3) – One of PA’s largest agricultural festivals with food, livestock, and entertainment. Details: https://www.bloomsburgfair.com
🔔 Southeast PA & Greater Philadelphia
🌊 Northwest & Western PA
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NWPA Pride (Aug. 15 – Erie) – Lakefront pride march and community celebration. Details: https://www.nwpapride.org
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Crawford County Fair (Aug. 22–29) – One of the largest agricultural expos east of the Mississippi. Details: https://www.visitpa.com
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Westmoreland Agricultural Fair (Aug. 21–29 – Greensburg) – Livestock judging, demolition derbies, and rural food vendors. Details: https://www.westmorelandfair.com
⛰️ Northeast PA & Lehigh Valley
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Wayne County Fair (Aug. 7–15 – Honesdale) – Traditional rural fair with livestock pulls and grandstand entertainment. Details: https://waynecountyfair.com
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Lehigh Valley Pride (Aug. 30 – Bethlehem) – Large pride festival at SteelStacks with queer marketplace and performances. Details: https://www.bradburysullivan.org
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Farm & Food Autumn Market (Sept. 13 – Orefield) – Local growers, food vendors, and autumn market at Shankweiler’s Drive-In.
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Podcasts & Public Learning
Mind Matters | 90.5 WESA (Public Radio)
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August 20, 2026 — “Mental Health in Rural Western PA” A look at challenges rural communities face accessing mental health care and what organizations are doing to close the gaps.
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September 17, 2026 — “AI in Mental Health” Exploration of how AI tools may support, supplement, or challenge mental health care delivery in community settings.
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Statewide Public Health & Safety Resources
Pennsylvania Measles Dashboard
The PA Department of Health has launched a statewide Measles Tracking Dashboard with county-level cases, age distribution, hospitalization rates, and vaccination status. Updated Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons, it offers essential data for public health partners.
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Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to advancing the PHRC’s mission. Together, we continue fostering awareness and advancing the principles of equity and dignity that strengthen every community. | | |
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Harrisburg, PA 17101-2210
(717) 787-9537
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