As part of the April 2021 Rural Assembly Everywhere Event, the Rural Youth Catalyst Project (RYCP) hosted a breakout session with rural youth development practitioners from across the country. Kathy Moxon, RYCP Co-Founder offers her reflections from that conversation.
Young Rural Poets Share Their Work This spring, the Rural Youth Catalyst Project invited rural young people from across the country to
My American Dream: Borderlands and Belonging This past fall, the Rural Youth Catalyst Project announced our partnership with PBS American Portrait:
Aiden Wolf, a high school student in Athena, Oregon, shares what growing his hair long taught him about his family and heritage.
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.
What is your perspective on the American Dream? How have your experiences of borderland and/or belonging shaped your own sense of the American dream or for your family, or your community?
The Rural Youth Catalyst Project asked rural young people from across the country to respond to the prompt “I was raised to believe…” Over the next few weeks, we are excited to share their submissions. This week we start with the responses that we received from Raychel Kool and Franklin Edwards, along with a Daily Yonder essay by RYCP co-founder, Kim Phinney, as they share their lived experiences of growing up LGBTQ in rural America.
Raychel Kool bought into the idea that narrative that queer people can only be happy in big cities, but learned it is possible to embrace a rural upbringing.
Frankie Edwards believed he did not belong in a rural community. He shares how he came to reject that belief, and how paintings by his late uncle played a part.
The Rural Youth Catalyst Project is an independent working group aligned with the Rural Assembly. Working nationally, the Rural Youth Catalyst Project aims to strengthen and create opportunities that allow rural and Native youth to realize their hopes and dreams while remaining in or returning to their communities.
We work across all aspects of youth development but carry a specialized focus on rural and Native opportunity youth. We believe that when given the opportunity, rural and Native young people want meaningful leadership, real work and to contribute their skills and service to their communities. Learn more.
