Welcome to the Rural Assembly

Rural Assembly is a nonprofit dedicated to championing a movement that celebrates and empowers rural people and places. Our goal is to reshape perceptions, foster healing, and forge unity in a divided nation by amplifying rural voices through advocacy, partnerships and gatherings. Learn more about our mission to connect diverse voices, challenge harmful narratives, and recognize the untold stories, opportunities, and interconnected futures that bind rural and urban communities together.

Who we are

Welcome
to the Rural Assembly

Rural Assembly is a program of the Center for Rural Strategies dedicated to championing a movement that celebrates and empowers rural people and places. Our goal is to reshape perceptions, foster healing, and forge unity in a divided nation by amplifying rural voices through advocacy, partnerships and gatherings. Learn more about our mission to connect diverse voices, challenge harmful narratives, and recognize the untold stories, opportunities, and interconnected futures that bind rural and urban communities together.

We invite you to join us in naming the connections that unite us, shaping a future of inclusivity and shared success for all.

What we're working on now

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Rural Health Disparities: Navigating the Healthcare Landscape of our Communities
A new series from the Rural Assembly tackles the issues surrounding rural health disparities. 

Rural Remix podcast
Listen to our new podcast investigating how meth went from a rural-coded chemical moonshine to an endemic drug problem present in all the nation’s major cities.

From Our Blog

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A new series from the Rural Assembly to explore health disparities in rural communities​

The Rural Assembly is kicking off a series of blog posts which will explore the challenges faced by rural citizens with chronic health conditions, the consequences of limited healthcare access, and the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to bridge this healthcare gap. By addressing the unique challenges faced by these individuals, we can work towards building a healthcare system that is inclusive, efficient, and responsive to the diverse needs of all citizens. Bridging the healthcare gap is not just a matter of policy: it is a commitment to the well-being and dignity of every individual, regardless of where they call home.

Drawing Resilience: Autumn Cavender

Wicanhpi Iyotan Win (Autumn Cavender) is Wahpetunwan Dakota and a midwife from Pezihutazizi K’api Makoca (Upper Sioux Community). Autumn is finding new ways to see, visualize and encode designs using traditional Dakota aesthetic and design processes. Her current practice explores quillwork Dakota methodology and its applications through ancestral, digital, and generative technologies.

Gatherings

Rural Assembly has a long history of bringing together rural leaders and allies. Check out recordings of our past events.

Summer 2023

View individual sessions from summer 2023.

Spring 2022

View individual sessions from spring 2022.

Fall 2021

View all of the sessions from  Fall 2021.

View all of the sessions from Spring 2021.

Issue

Issue

The Rural Assembly
is a program of the

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