Our featured photo of the week from Amesville, Ohio
"Community Cider Pressing in Amesville!" - Gary Goosman, Amesville, Ohio
Want to have your photo featured in our newsletter and on our social media pages?
The Rural Assembly Partners with Rethinking Rural
We are excited to announce our partnership with Rethinking Rural, a national network of millennials dedicated to creating resiliently vibrant communities.

"The Rural Assembly is committed to celebrating and amplifying the voices of young people who are choosing to build their lives in small towns and rural communities," says Rural Assembly Coordinator Whitney Kimball Coe.

"Rethinking Rural is a natural partner who shares our passion for supporting rural leaders. We look forward to linking arms with their network of engaged, devoted rural millennials."
Picture from the 2012 Rural Arts and Culture Convening at Double Edge Theatre , Ashfield, MA
New report showcases the role of arts in rural economic development

"Rural America has a robust cultural history that has enriched the nation and its people. Rural America is also beset with social and economic challenges. Population migration and persistent poverty are contributing to a widening urban-rural divide in many states. By using the creative sector ― specifically, arts and cultural assets ― governors have a viable approach for strengthening economic opportunities and vibrancy into rural communities."
Friends in the news

Bush Fellows are Announced

Ashley Hanson, friend and partner of the Rural Assembly, was recently named a 2019 Bush Fellow with the Bush Foundation! Hanson of Granite Falls, Minnesota, is an artist and founder of two organizations, PlaceBase Productions and the Department of Public Transformation.

Congrats, Ashley! Learn more about what drives her work here!
Whitney Kimball Coe delivers the first civic sermon at Civic Saturday in her hometown of Athens, TN.
Photo by Lauren Griffith Trew
Ashley Hanson, artist + organizer + trailblazer
Photo from West Central Tribune
From the National to the Local

Citizen University , a non-profit working to build a culture of powerful, responsible citizenship across the country is supporting citizens in their efforts to spur civic engagement in their own communities.

Our own Whitney Kimball Coe is involved in Citizen University's Civic Seminary and is cultivating her own community of practice in Athens, Tennessee. Read all about it in this Shareable article.
A Healthy Attitude- Rural Leaders in Tenn. County Organize to Address Well-Being

"Grundy County, Tenn., ranks near the bottom of the state in the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps. But that hasn’t stopped the small county from initiating a top-tier response to improving community health. In the new rankings released today, the county improves its position from a last-place 95th to 93rd."
Remember to check out our new "All Things Rural" calendar of events here and submit your events to be featured on the calendar here !