Rural Assembly Everywhere kicked off April 20 with Whitney Kimball Coe in conversation with Margaret Renkl, author of Late Migrations: A Natural History of Love and Loss.

We are thrilled to introduce our newest Rural Assembly team member, Tyler Owens. Tyler is the new program associate for the Center for Rural Strategies.

Eliza Blue is a shepherd, writer, and folk singer who lives on a ranch in South Dakota with her husband and two children. The ranch has been in her husband’s family for five generations, but Eliza took a more circuitous route to South Dakota, growing up and living in cities before what she thought was a sabbatical from city life became a life on the prairie. At Rural Assembly Everywhere, Eliza shared both a performance and a glimpse into her favorite place. 

At Rural Assembly Everywhere, Ellen Nissenbaum, Senior Vice President for Government Affairs for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, shared an in-depth analysis of the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit benefits in rural America, as well as resources for understanding and promoting both tax credits.

We are proud to present a diverse slate of performers and artists at Rural Assembly Everywhere April 20 and 21st. From poets to singers to graphic artists, the group of performances interspersed through each day will bring you joy and inspiration.

Throughout the pandemic, communities looked to the local and federal government for support in meeting their everyday needs. Although disproportionately affected, many Tribal Nations across the country took the response upon themselves, successfully staving off and addressing the pandemic, providing food, words of support and other necessities for those living in remote areas, often with limited supplies at their local grocery stores or gas stations. Learn about Tribal successes in protecting, providing and paving a path forward for their people in this challenging time. 

Poet Nikky Finney to open Rural Assembly Everywhere on April 20. Register at ruralassembly.org/everywhere.

Aiden Wolf, a high school student in Athena, Oregon, shares what growing his hair long taught him about his family and heritage.

Join the Pinkerton Foundation’s Erickson “EB” Blakney, an award-winning writer and reporter who has worked for WOR Radio, Bloomberg and CBS News, for a conversation with leading rural organizers, election analysts, and media specialists about disinformation campaigns in rural America. April 20 at Rural Assembly Everywhere, presented by The Rural Assembly

As part its collaboration with the PBS American Portrait initiative, The Rural Youth Catalyst Project asked rural young people from across the country to respond to the prompt “I was raised to believe…” This week, we are pleased to share the the voice and experience of Opal Besaw, a high school junior in Kalispell, Montana.

On March 30, join us for a conversation with journalists and other experts about the storm and what it revealed about public health, housing, energy, and economic and climate justice.

We’re building a virtual stage for Rural Assembly Everywhere. We hope you’ll join us. See a glimpse of a video we’ll share during the two-day virtual conference.